Pench Tourism

Pench is a national park located in central India. This park is inhabited by many species of animals such as the tiger or the Asiatic lion and several species of deer and monkeys. Within the region of Madhya Pradesh, known as the Land of the Tiger, there are three exceptional national parks to try to find the mighty Bengal tiger: Pench National Park, Kanha National Park, and Bandhavgarh National Park. Among these three parks, Pench National Park is where it is most challenging to see tigers, but it is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Going on safari in Pench National Park, declared a Tiger Reserve in 1992, is an impressive experience for any nature lover. Touring the mahu and teak forests, which paint a parched and arid landscape during the summer, offers excellent possibilities to see birds, a variety of deer, and some of the most famous predators of India. This park is famous for its populations of leopards and wild dogs, two carnivores much more challenging to see than the tiger. There is nothing like entering the jungle at dawn and listening to how, little by little, the orchestra of birds begins to activate with the heat of the sun... Are you ready for Pench tourism?

All about Pench National Park

Pench is one of the top destinations for wildlife tourism in Madhya Pradesh, although somewhat less famous and popular than the other star attractions of Madhya Pradesh Tiger Circuit - Kanha and Bandhavgarh. Much like the wildlife tourism system in most of India, tourist activity in Pench Tiger Reserve is limited to 20% of the core area. It is achieved through game drives conducted daily in the early morning and the night. The Forest Department limits the number of jeeps allowed to enter the reserve. For tourism purposes, there are two main gates on the Madhya Pradesh side of the Pench Tiger Reserve. Pench National Park is the only one in India divided into Madhya Pradesh state and Maharashtra state. In total, the park has 11 areas where you can do safaris. In any national park where safaris are done in India, it is essential to differentiate between core and buffer zones. The core areas are those with a higher density of animals and tigers; therefore, they are usually the most spectacular where to go on a safari. The buffer zones, which generally border the core zones of the park, have a lower density of animals, and there is some human presence. Many species of animals are found in the Pench Tiger Reserve, where wild guar, tiger, leopard, monkey, and deer can be easily seen. This Tiger Reserve is near National Highway 7 Pauni and very close to Maharashtra and Nagpur. This Tiger Reserve has two famous gates for the entry of tourists, which are named Turia and Karmajhiri.

Some interesting facts about Pench Tiger Reserve

• Pench Tiger Reserve has an area of ??7 to 58 square kilometers, of which 299 square kilometers are covered by Priyadarshini Pench National Park and Mowgli Pench Sanctuary.
• Since this national park is the home of the national animal of India, tigers, this park has been included under Project Tiger and has been a Tiger Reserve since 1992.
• Pench Tiger Reserve is considered a significant part of Madhya Pradesh as it is located in Seoni and Chhindwara districts, but it also shares its share with Maharashtra. An additional area of ??257 square kilometers is located in Maharashtra and can also be reached from Madhya Pradesh.
• Various types of flora and fauna are found in Pench Tiger Reserve.

What animals and flora to observe in Pench?

Pench has a high concentration of herbivores with many axis deer, sambars, gaurs, and nilgai antelopes. You can also see many jackals throughout the day and, with some luck, Asian wild dogs, and the dholes. Their social behavior is very reminiscent of their African cousins, the wild dogs. The park is also home to hyenas and wolves, but their sightings are rare. On the other hand, langur and rhesus macaques are easily found, generally near the tracks and always in more funny poses than the other. On the feline side, these are the Bengal tigers that we come to see above all. Their population has increased in recent years to reach around forty individuals. We were lucky enough to observe seven in two days of safari. They are not fearful! The other star is, of course, the leopard. It can be seen from time to time here in Pench much stealthier than its congener. The park also brings together some 300 species of birds. While the Bengal woodpeckers, Gingi hornbills, and Malabar hornbills hide in the trees, the blue peacocks and bankiva roosters run in the forest at the approach of the lightest car. Gray crab eaters, Smyrna kingfishers, magpie kingfishers, and Vieillot cormorants are always near water points. Finally, the colorful Indian rollers and the Alexandrine, ring-necked, or Plum-headed parakeets will follow you everywhere throughout your safari!

Tiger leopards are easily visible.

Pench National Park, located around the Pench River in the Seoni district, is crowded with tourists. There are three gates to enter the park's core area: Karmajhiri, Jamtara Gumtara, and Turia Gate. Apart from this, there are two gates to enter the buffer area, Khawasa, and Rukhad Gate. In these, 34, 10, and 10 gypsies enter every day. These days all the vehicles are getting packed full. These days, tourists are quickly getting the sight of the tiger. Apart from this, other creatures like peacocks, leopards, and deer are also easily visible.

The wildlife of the park

The undulating topography supports a mosaic of vegetation from moist, sheltered valleys to open, dry deciduous forests. More than 1200 plant species have been recorded from the area, including many rare and endangered plants and plants of ethno botanical importance. The region has always been rich in wildlife. It has a relatively open canopy, mixed shrubs with many shrub covers, and is dominated by patches of open grass. High habitat heterogeneity favors high populations of chital and sambar. It has the highest density of herbivores in the incredible country of India. Pench National Park is particularly famous for its large herds of gaur, axis deer, sambar, nilgai antelope, and whiskered wild boar. The park's key predators are the Bengal tiger, leopard, dhole, and Indian wolf. The reserve can also observe the sloth bear, muntjac, jackal, fox, small Indian civet, chaus, hyena, porcupine, and many more. Over 285 resident and migratory birds, including the Malabar hornbill, Bengal bream, osprey, grey-headed eagle, and white-eyed buzzard. In winter, thousands of migratory birds, including shelduck, pochard, bar-headed goose, and coot, visit the water reservoirs within Pench Park. It is also in the tiger reserve that we find the best places for bird watching. 4 species of threatened or endangered vultures are visible in good numbers in reserve. The fauna of Pench National Park also includes 50 species of fish, ten species of amphibians, 30 species of reptiles, 45 species of butterflies, 54 species of moths, and many other species of insects.

The flora of the park

More than 1,200 plants have been identified within the grounds of the park, including several scarce species. The forest cover of Pench National Park includes, among others, the great teak, the magnificent saj, the incense tree, the lendi, the Kadam, amla, cassier, or false senna, dhowra, and bijiayasal. The forest is mainly mixed, and given the high rainfall, large areas of Sal, a humid broadleaf forest tree of central and northern India, are found. Sal is good quality wood. The other tree species belong to the genus Terminalia Large grassy meadows are an integral part of the park to support the food needs of herbivore populations. Finally, no list of the park's flora can be complete without mentioning the luxurious Mahwa. The flowers of this tree are beneficial for human food and very popular local liquor, often compared to ambrosia, also called the "liquor of the gods."

Tourist Places near Pench Tiger Reserve

It is nestling in the lower southern reaches of the Saptuda Hills and is named after the Pench River, which flows through the park from north to south. It is situated on the southern border of Madhya Pradesh, bordering Maharashtra in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts. There are also some main tourist places near Pench Tiger Reserve, making your trip even more fun.

Sitaghat

Sitaghat is undoubtedly the most beautiful place in the park. The road through it comes to a dead-end, bringing you to the edge of the Pench River, dotted with rocks and trees. In summer, shrubs with white flowers cover the entire length of the area. To see these flowers in full bloom, it is essential to visit the place in the morning, as they close in the early evening.
The only problem is that you are fully exposed, and the animals suspicious of human presence will leave before you even know they are there. The evenings have a charm of their own with the light of the setting sun and offer a painting of a magical landscape with astonishing contrasts of shadows. Make sure when you visit that you have your binoculars with you.

Nagjira National Park

The wildlife of Nagjira National Park is nestled in the lap of nature and is filled with a picturesque landscape and abundant vegetation. This small reserve is an important corridor that connects central and southern Ban areas such as Kanha Tiger Reserve and Tadoba Andhari National Park.

Alikatta

The Alikatta area seems to be the hub around which the park is planned. The vast meadow that covers this area offers the possibility of encountering any animal that can be encountered within the park. It is the country where one can see herds comprising thousands of spotted deer grazing peacefully on the grassy plains. Where there are deer, there are predators. So keep your eyes peeled. This is also where elephant rides start.

Chhindimatta Road

This road that breaks off and leads to the vast Pench Reservoir is a must-see place when visiting the park. Although most of the reserve is flat, this area comprises high and low rocky hills dotted with forests. Although not very high, the rocky cliffs are exciting places to encounter the leopard. It is also an excellent spot for vultures, eagles, and falcons.

Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh National Park is 338 km from Pench Tiger Reserve, where nature and history blend together. Situated amidst the Vindhya hills, this national park has a series of ridges running successively through it. However, the main attraction of this area is the center of the park, along with the 32 beautiful forested hills.

Bodhanala range

This area is worth seeing for the variety of its topography. It ranges from stunning hills and bamboo forests to a narrow pond at the park's edge. Although very few animals can be seen in this area, you will be fascinated by the number of bird species that live here. Comparable to the Chhindimatta road, it is an excellent lookout post to observe raptors. The small reservoir is also an excellent place to see aquatic birds such as cormorants or species of ducks that come to bask in the water.

Kanha National Park

This beautiful park is situated in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh. This park is also a tiger reserve spread over ??1945 square kilometers. More than a thousand flowers and plants are found in this National Park, along with animals like Royal Bengal Tiger, Sloth, Reindeer, and Indian Wild Dog.

Raiyakassa

This is the location of a tower built by the park authorities. The roof of this one offers an excellent view of the Pench River. The facilities are fundamental, but the night spent on the’s roof of towers roof will be an unforgettable moment. With a bit of luck, you will even have the opportunity to see a tiger in this area.

Road to Doob

This track, near the edge of the water bodies, is an excellent place to encounter a wide variety of animals. However, after the monsoon season, much of the sector is submerged. During the rest of the year, it is not uncommon to come across huge herds of deer and bison. The leopard can also be observed in this area.

Tadoba National Park

Situated in Chandrapur district of North Eastern part of Maharashtra at a distance of only 256 km from Pench Tiger Reserve. This National Park is also popularly known as the Jewel of Vidarbha. The park is also widely popular for its various plants and wildlife.

Climate

The Pench Tiger Reserve land is covered by small hills and a well-stocked teak mixed forest in the southern part of the Satpura ranges. This tiger reserve has a tropical continental climate with distinct monsoons, winters, and hot summers. The height MSL of this tiger reserve ranges from 425 meters to 620 meters. The temperature of this region reaches four °C in December and 42 °C in May and June.

Best time to go to Pench

The park is open from October to June; within this period, any time is good to visit. Starting in October and during the winter, the park's vegetation is exuberant after the rainy season. There is an even higher concentration and variety of birds. And besides, there are usually fewer visitors. However, the best time to see tigers is during the hottest and driest months of the year: from the end of March to the end of May. During these months, the density of the vegetation is much lower; the tigers are also concentrated around the pools of water. On the contrary, it is the time when there are usually more tourists, and there are times of the day when the heat can become unbearable.

How to get there Pench National Park

Pench National Park is relatively close to Nagpur airport, where you can fly from Delhiquicklyy. It is necessary to hire a taxi or transfer service from Nagpur airport to the national park, which is about 145 km away.

By air
Sonegaon Airport is the closest to Pench National Park, located at a distance of 132 km. The airport is also well connected to other major cities in India. From the airport, tourists can take taxis to get to Pench.
By train
Located at a distance of 30 km, Seoni Station is the closest railway station to Pench National Park. The station connects Pench National Park with major cities like Nagpur and Pune. Tourists arriving at the train station can take buses or taxis to get to the park.
By highway
Seoni Bus Junction is the closest bus stop to Pench National Park and is located at a distance of 30 km. Seoni is well connected to all Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh cities by public and private buses.

Final thoughts

It is situated in the heart of India, about a hundred kilometers from Nagpur. Pench is nestled on the side of the hills of Satpura in Madhya Pradesh. It is here that R. Kipling would have had the idea to write the famous "Jungle Book" after a child was discovered in a village where he had grown up alongside wolves! The book thus takes up many places in the region, starting with the small town of Seoni, which gave its name to the clan of wolves who welcomed Mowgli. In the West, tourists forbid access, and the animals benefit from a veritable sanctuary. To the east, we drive aboard gypsies through extensive teak forests in search of the famous Bengal tiger. So, Pench tourism will be the best way to enjoy your holidays full of excitement.