The tribal district of Mandla forms a part of the
Satpura Range that separate the cotton growing of the south and the wheat growing Malwa Plateau in the north. It lies almost entirely in the catchment area of the river
Narmada and its tributaries.
Gonds and
Baigas are the most significant tribes. The total area is 5,800 sq km and the population is about 800,000. The climate is moderate.
The famous tiger sanctuary, Kanha National Park, is one of the favorite destinations for both domestic as well as foreign tourists. Neelkanth Mahal, Niwas and Nainpur are other major tourist spots.