Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1975 and was declared as a tiger reserve in 2009. The legend has that a British man was killed by a sudden (‘achanak’) attack (‘maar’) of a tiger at this forest. And hence the place came to be known as Achanakmar or the sudden attack.

Another legend elobarates as When the Britishers have engaged both the Gonds and the Baiga tribes as labourers for execution of Forest works in the place where the ACHANAKMAR rest house is currently situated, these two groups engaged themselves in the rivalry saying that one has got more job and another has got less job opportunities, so suddenly the attack took place between themselves without any prior motive and plan. The British officer in-charge was elaborated about the incident as "SIR Achanak Maar Ho Gai" since then this place has got the name " Achanak-Mar"

The tropical moist deciduous vegetation which covers the majority of the area lends a high floral and faunal diversity to the park. Forming a part of the larger Achanakmar Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, this area is known to have more than 1400 species of flora and more than 300 species of fauna. The meandering Maniyari river that flows right through the heart of the reserve is its lifeline. Achanakmar has a corridor connecting to Kanha and Bandhavgarh Tiger reserve and plays a critical role in dispersal of tigers among these reserves.

The sanctuary is home to the Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, striped hyena, Indian jackal, Dhole, Sloth bear, Gaur, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Nilgai, Four horned antelope, Barking Deer, Wild boar, among many other species. It has more than 150 species of birds flying across the landscape.

Achanakmar’s rich vegetation, plains and hills still retains that feeling of being an untouched and unexplored landscape. It offers wild lifers and researchers an opportunity to discover many rare species which are yet not in record of the Zoological Survey of India.

The drive through the lushest of green canopy, inhaling the freshest of air and that sudden spotting of a wildlife gives a high like no other.