Maikal Hills

The Maikal Hills are a mountain range in central India forming the eastern part of the Satpura-Maikal landscape. They straddle parts of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and are characterised by forested ridges and valleys.

The hills support dense forests, wildlife habitats and several protected areas that attract nature-based visitors for wildlife viewing and trekking. The terrain includes plateaus, seasonal streams and higher ridgelines used by local communities for grazing and forest produce.

Historically the Maikal Hills have been inhabited by indigenous tribes and governed as part of regional kingdoms and colonial districts; over the 20th century sections were designated as protected reserves and wildlife areas. Conservation efforts and protected-area designations grew through the latter half of the 20th century to preserve forests and wildlife.

The range lies in central India across the border region of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, forming part of the watershed between several major rivers. The landscape is inland from India’s eastern plains and is accessed from regional towns and park entry points.

• Geographical role: Forms the eastern section of the Satpura-Maikal landscape and bridges central Indian highlands with the Chhota Nagpur and Deccan zones.
• Ecology and people: Covers forested hills and valleys that are important for biodiversity, seasonal streams and local tribal communities.

What to See#

• Kanha National Park: A large, protected reserve best known as one of central India’s major tiger and wildlife areas, covering core protected blocks and buffer zones and designated under Project Tiger in the 1970s.
• Amarkantak: A pilgrimage plateau and hill town on the eastern edge of the range that is the source area for the Narmada River and an important local watershed.

The Maikal Hills span parts of central India; the nearest regional towns depend on the specific area visited (parts lie in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh regions). Access typically involves road travel from larger nearby cities like Jabalpur or Raipur and then local roads to hill villages. Hiring local guides or contacting state forest departments is advised for trekking.

• Hire a local guide for trekking routes to navigate trails and find culturally significant sites tied to the indigenous forest communities.
• Plan for remote travel times - distances between villages and services can be long.
• Visit in the dry season to avoid monsoon-slippery trails and leech activity.