Kanger Ghati National Park (also called Kanger Valley National Park) was declared a national park in 1982 by the Government of India. Near Jagdalpur in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, it is one of India's densest national parks, and is known for its biodiversity, landscape, waterfalls, and subterranean geomorphologic limestone caves, and as the home of the Bastar hill myna, the state bird of Chhattisgarh. Located amidst the 34-km-long scenic Kanger Ghati , a biosphere reserve, it is one of the most picturesque national parks of India. It covers an approximately consisting mainly of hilly terrain. It derives its name from the Kanger River, which flows throughout it. The park is noted for its highly heterogeneous land formations, from low, flat areas to steep slopes, plateaus, valleys, and stream courses. Its vast, undulating terrain harbours habitats for diverse flora and fauna. It has a sizable tribal population, and is a popular destination for hikers, wildlife enthusiasts and researchers. Coordinates and area The location and area of the park can be seen on the map of the region. The national park lies within the following geographical coordinates: Latitude: 18° 45' 00" N to 18° 56' 30" N Longitude: 81° 51' 30" E to 82° 10' 00" E The total area of the national park is . The valley starting from the Tirathgarh waterfalls to the Kolab River (Odisha State boundary) is nearly long and the average width is about Flora and fauna in the park Flora The flora in the park consists chiefly of mixed moist deciduous type of forests with predominance of sal, teak and bamboo trees. In fact, the Kanger Valley is the only region in the Peninsular India where one of the last pockets of virgin and untouched forests are still left. According to the survey done by the Botanical Survey of India and other research organizations, the national park has 553 floral species out of which 12 species are new to Chhattisgarh; 43 species are reported rare. Floral diversity includes in situ gene bank of medicinal plants, grasses, climbers, wild sugarcane, canes, ferns, epiphytes, Sal, teak, bamboo and their rich associates. Fauna Major wildlife of the Kanger Valley National Park are tigers, leopards, mouse deer, wild cat, chital, sambar, barking deer, jackals, langurs, rhesus macaque, sloth bear, flying squirrel, wild boar, striped hyena, rabbits, pythons, cobra, crocodiles, monitor lizards and snakes. The avian fauna at the park