Pench National Park
An impeccable place to walk down the memory lanes of your childhood days of the famous story ‘The Jungle Book’.
Pench National Park is located in the heart of India- Madhya Pradesh and covers a total area of 758 sq.km. It is located on the southern part of Madhya Pradesh, to be specific, in the districts of Seoni and Chhindwara, which also shares a boundary with Maharashtra. An additional area of 257 sq.km of this park lies in Maharashtra but is also accessible from Madhya Pradesh. A treasure of rich flora and fauna, this national park has its area segregated in two divisions- a) Priyadarshini National Park and Mowgli Pench Sanctuary which covers an area of 299 sq.km and b) 464 sq.km which is considered as the buffer area. The national park is named after the river- Pench, which while flowing from north to south, divides the national park in almost equal halves namely eastern and western halves. The park is just not home to wildlife but also to humans. There are 10 villages in and around the park out of which one is inside the park named Fulzari and other nine on the periphery.
In the heart of India, Madhya Pradesh, Pench National Park is located in the districts of Seoni and Chhindwara. Named after the pristine River Pence which flows through the park, Pench National Park is one of the most popular wildlife reserves in India. The park also has its mention in the famous story of 1894, ‘The Jungle Book’, penned down by the renowned English Author Rudyard Kipling. The story was worldwide applauded, and hence, the national park became one of the popular national parks in the world in the 1970s and also a prominent tourist attraction in India. Since then, every year oodles of wildlife buffs flock to this place just to spot the famous characters of the book, Akela (The Indian Wolf), Raksha (the female Wolf), Baloo (Sloth Bear), and the vicious Shere Khan (Royal Bengal Tiger).
Not always a national park, Pench was declared as a sanctuary in 1965 but in 1975, it rose to the status of a National Park. And since it is home to a huge amount of tigers, it was established as a tiger reserve in 1992 and now is working under Project Tiger. Also the beauty of this place has been mentioned in the classic “ The Jungle Book” by the great Rudyard Kipling.
Pench National Park comprises 758 km2 (293 sq mi), out of which form a core, the Pench National Park core area and Mowgli Pench Sanctuary. The remaining 464 km2 (179 sq mi) form the buffer zone.
The protected area is covered with small hills and well-stocked teak mixed forest in the southern reaches of the Satpura Ranges. Elevation ranges from 425 to 620 m (1,394 to 2,034 ft). The temperature varies from 4 °C (39 °F) in December to 42 °C (108 °F) in May. Average rainfall is 1,300 mm (51 in).
The forest cover in the park area includes teak mixed with other species like saja, bijiayasal, lendia, haldu, dhaora, salai, aonla, amaltas. The ground is covered with maze of grasses, plants, bushes and saplings. Bamboo is also found at places. Scattered white kulu trees, also referred to as 'ghost tree', stand out conspicuously among the various hues of green. Another important tree for both wildlife and tribal people of this region is mahua. The flowers of this tree are eaten by mammals and birds, and also harvested by the tribal people as food and to brew beer.
The Bengal tiger is the main cat species of the park present in good numbers but since last one year due to 6 new born cubs their sightings have increased and being sighted almost everyday. As per latest Tiger Census, there are approx. 40 tigers in the park, 39 species of mammals, 13 species of reptiles, 3 species of amphibians. Commonly seen wildlife is chital, sambar, nilgai, wild boar, and jackal. Also Indian leopard, sloth bear, indian wolf, wild dog, porcupine, monkey, jungle cat, fox, striped hyena, gaur, four-horned antelope and barking deer live in the park.
The park is rich in bird life too. According to an estimate of the wildlife authorities, the park harbours more than 210 species including several migratory ones. Some of them are peafowl, junglefowl, crow pheasant, crimson-breasted barbet, red-vented bulbul, racket-tailed drongo, Indian roller, magpie robin, lesser whistling teal, pintail, shoveller, egret and herons, minivet, oriole, wagtail, munia, myna, waterfowl and common kingfisher.
The best time to visit the park is between November and May. The park is open to visitors between 6 am and 10:30 am and between 3 pm and 6 pm. The park remains closed during July, August and September. Open jeep safaris are allowed from each of the gates twice in a day, with a fixed quota for each gate, for each schedule. Elephant safaris used to be conducted at one time, but have been discontinued these days.
Jungle Safari
Pench National Park is heaven adventure lovers and wildlife photographers. Wildlife viewing in 4 WD Open gypsy is the best way to explore the flora & fauna of Pench National Park’s untamed nature and unspoiled landscapes. It consists of mixed vegetations ranging from tall grasslands to thick Sal forest and so is the perfect habitat of variety of animals and birds. Jeep safaris keep one enthralled for the adventure and provide the flexibility to explore especially those places, which are difficult to travel via any other mode of transportation.
By Road :Pench National Park is well connected from the nearby town & cities like Jabalpur, Nagpur. Distance & approx driving time of kanha National Park from some of the nearby cities are mentioned below:
Jabalpur : 210 Kms / 04 Hrs Drive
Nagpur : 110 Kms / 2 Hrs Drive
By Train : The nearest railway stations for Pench National Park is Nagpur is 100 Kms (02 Hrs drive) from Pench.
By Air :The nearest Airport for Pench National Park is Nagpur.
Weather in Pench
The best time to visit Pench is between the months of February and April. Visitors should keep in mind that from July to September the Tiger Reserve of India remains closed. Hence Pench should be visited during the months of February and April to experience the real beauty of Pench in its National Park.
Summer time in Pench is from April to June. During the summer months the temperature range is from 26 degree Celsius to 42 degree Celsius. The maximum temperature can go up to 45 degree Celsius and the climate becomes scorching hot. The summer season is not ideal for visiting Pench.
Monsoon in Pench starts from July and continues till the end of September. Travelers can experience heavy rainfall during this time which is mainly caused by the south west monsoons. Visitng Pench during this time of the year is not advisable as sight-seeing can be hindered because of heavy rain.
Winter Pench experiences a chill weather between the months of November and February. During this time the minimum temperature drops below the freezing point and the maximum temperature is approximately 16 degree Celsius. Visitors can visit during this time, provided they carry woolen clothes.
Pench Safari Packages
Pench Tiger Safari Packages
3 Day Pench Tiger Safari
Duration: 3 Days & 2 Nights
Price Onwards: Indian: Rs.25500/ Foreign: USD450
3 Days Tiger Safari in Pench National Park which conjures up images of Mowgli, Bagheera and the "bear necessities". Immortalised by Rudyard Kipling in The Jungle Book, it is still sometimes unfairly given the step-sibling treatment next to Bandhavgarh. When, in fact, the Pench river meandering through its entire stretch, along with the open hilly terrain, teak forests and jungle streams form a heart-stoppingly beautiful landscape. A landscap......
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4 Day Pench Tiger Safari
Duration: 4 Days & 3 Nights
Price Onwards: Indian: Rs.25500/ Foreign: USD450
4 Days Safari in Pench National Park known for large population of chital and sambhar and has the highest density of herbivores in India. This is famous for large heards of gaur, nilgai and wild dog. The tiger, leopard, barking deer and chinkara found in large numbers along with over 285 species of resident and migratory birds. The area of the present tiger reserve has a glo...
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