Kanha’s landforms support good multi-tiered forests. The various soil types are rich in humus. The Deccan trap is the principal geological formation of Kanha.
Kanha is located in the central Indian highlands, which accounts for more than half of India’s forests. The park is located amidst the Maikal range which forms the eastern base of the triangular Satpura range.
The Maikal range of hills runs along the eastern boundary of the Reserve. The range has many plateaux, locally known as ‘dadar’, and its elevation varies from 2,000 feet (600 m) to 3,000 feet (900 m) above sea level.
The central Indian highlands are also the source of several important rivers like the Narmada and the Mahanadi which are also considered as the life line of the state. The two important rivers flowing through the tiger reserve are: the Banjar and the Halon.