Head to the jungles and experience nature at its glorious best! The vast jungles of Satpura are so enchanting that it enabled the literary legends like Rudyard Kipling and Abul Fazlto pen down the class act like Jungle Book and Ain-i-Akbari respectively. When you plan a day out in the lush environs of the Pench National Park you know that it’s the vibes of the untamed wild that leave you overwhelmed. One of the leading national parks of Madhya Pradesh, Pench is spread across Seoni and Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh.
The rich tiger reserve and diverse wildlife need a special mention here as it offers some of the most enthralling spectacles ever. The national park awarded best in the management category, has 3 gates to enter. Among all, Turia Gate is certainly the most accessible of them all.
Pench National Park – An Overview
Popular as one of the best national parks in India, Pench encompasses over 292 sq km of forest area covering Seoni and Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh. The biodiversity reserve is particularly known as the natural habitat of leopard, sloth bear, deer, porcupine, jungle cat, and striped hyena. The national park area majorly comprises of the canopy, mixed forest, and wide stretch of grassy patches.
Pench is also known as a birders paradise with over 285 bird species of residents and migratory birds found in the park. These birds are one of the major attractions of the national park. There are about 4 species of endangered vultures protected inside the park premises. Leopard and deer make the limelight of the Pench National Park and they can be easily spotted venturing the wild.
Facts About Pench National Park
- Pench National park is spread across an area of 758 sq kms and surrounded by the Priyadarshini Pench national park and Mowgli Pench sanctuary. The rest of the area of around 464 sq kms is the buffer area for the national park.
- The national park is abode of the tigers and included under the project tiger and thus it has been converted into a tiger reserve in 1992.
- The Pench National Park was an inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle book.
- This national park is a home to a wide range of flora and fauna.
Best Time To Visit Pench National Park
November – June is the ideal duration to plan a visit to Pench National Park. The chances of spotting a deer and leopard in the Pench during the winter months are higher.
Popular Things To Do In Pench National Park
Here is a list of some of the exciting things to do in Pench National park for the wildlife and nature buffs.
1. Jungle Safari
Are you a married couple looking for exciting honeymoon places in Madhya Pradesh? A honeymoon safari could be one of the most exciting things to do in Pench. Watch the wildlife of Pench roaming free with someone special. The whole experience of animals chasing each other for food, playing around, or reaching out to the waterhole to fetch some water makes jungle safari a must do activity in Pench. Venturing into the wild and watching the animals in their natural habitat is the most enthralling thing to do in a national park.
Winter safari timings: Morning – 7:30 am to 10:30 am, Evening – 3 pm to 5:30 pm
Summer safari timings: Morning – 6:30 am to 9:30 am, Evening – 4 pm to 6:30 pm
Pench National Park entry fee: INR 15 (Indian), INR 150 (Foreigner)
Entry fee for vehicle: INR 150 (includes vehicle fee)
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2. Bird Watching
The water tank area in Pench is a prime location for bird sighting. Pench is also known for the indigenous bird species that migrate to the national park during winters. Brahmini Duck, Pochards, Bar Headed Geese, and Coots are among the popular birds spotted in the water tank and lake region.
Don’t forget to carry your binoculars and cameras to enjoy the best and uninterrupted shots of the exotic visitor birds in the park premises. The park is most popular for the 4 species of vultures found in abundance in the national park region: White-rumped, long-billed, white scavenger, and king vulture.
3. Night Drive & Night Safari
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6 pm to 9 pm is the best time to enjoy the night safari in Pench. It’s around this time that the flora and fauna species in the park can be spotted at their nonchalant best. The animals can be found at their playful best exuding their nonchalance around. Deers, hyenas, wild dogs, a few exotic birds can be seen at the day end in the national park premises. There are a few safari resorts like Village Machaan that arrange for night safaris. Make sure that you have a proper plan in advance.
4. Elephant Ride
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Enjoy the game drive at its best by sitting on an elephant’s back. The wildcat, one of the most prominent attractions of Pench National Park, can be spotted the best while riding an elephant. Also, an elephant ride ensures that you enjoy a far and better visibility of the wildlife in the national park.
5. Jungle Walk And Treks In The Park
Jungle trek is another prominent attraction of the Pench National Park. Explore the jungles of Satpura while walking through the dense forests in the able guidance of the guides. The jungle treks can be organized after seeking special permission from the forest officials. Knowledge of the special zones and their specialties is important and one must know when and where to be to experience the biodiversity of the park at its best.
Jungle trek is highly recommended for those who are more keen about the flora species found inside the national park.
Places To Visit Near Pench National Park
Here is a list of best places to visit near Pench national park and enjoy a great time away from the hustle-bustle amidst the nature.
1. Bandhavgarh National Park
Situated at Umaria district in Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh National Park is known as one of the hidden paradise for all the wildlife lovers. This is particularly famous for being one of the reserves for tigers and has the highest density of tiger population. Spread across the widest areas of the Vindhya mountains in Central India, this place is also a home to white tigers. The national park is divided into two parts – Core Area and Buffer zone. The core region is spread across an area of 105 sq kms but on the other hand the buffer zone covers an area of 820 sq kms. Inside the national park there are around 37 species of mammals and also 250 species of birds which can be explored.
Location: Madhya Pradesh, India
Distance from Pench National Park: 358 Kms
2. Kanha National Park
Surrounded by the Sal and bamboo forests, the Kanha national park is considered to be one of the largest reserves in India. A home to the majestic Royal Bengal tiger, this place has the highest density of tiger population. There are around 60 tigers inside the national park which can be seen wandering around. This national park came into existence during the year 1879 and later in the year of 1933 it was changed into a wildlife sanctuary.
Location: Madhya Pradesh. India
Distance from Pench National Park: 207 Kms
3. Nagzira National Park
Considered as the green oasis of India, the Nagzira national park is blessed with rich vegetation. This place is located at the eastern part of Maharashtra and was declared a wildlife sanctuary around the year 1970. This place is a home to a vast variety of flora and fauna which can be witnessed while exploring this place. Inside this national park there are variant species like Indian wild boar, Mouse deer, Sambar deer, Bengal tiger, chitkul, leopard and many more. Alongside that there is also a wide range of mammals and reptiles which can be explored inside this park.
Location: Bhandara, Maharashtra 441801
Distance from Pench National Park: 111.6 Kms
4. Tadoba National Park
This is one of the largest and beautiful national parks in India which is known for a vast variety of wildlife. The Tadoba national park is located at the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra which is spread across an area of 1727 sq. kms. This widely spread wildlife park is considered a treasure quest of flora and fauna. A home to a vast variety of wildlife animals, this place is one of the ideal locations to witness the diversity of nature.
Location: Chandrapur, Maharashtra 442401
Distance from Pench National Park: 224.6 Kms
Accommodation In Pench National Park
Experience the most amazing under the stars at one of these finest accommodations in Pench National Park.
1. Tathastu Resort Pench
Tariff: INR 8000 per night onwards
What’s special: Treehouse, cave room, and mud house are the most popular stays
2. Village Machaan
Tariff: INR 6500 per night onwards
What’s special: Jungle safari, night drive, bird watching, and nature walk
3. Tuli Tiger Corridor Resort
Tariff: INR 7000 per night onwards
What’s special: Jungle safari arrangements, tent accommodation
4. Pench Jungle Camp
Tariff: INR 8000 per night onwards
What’s special: Hot air balloon, swimming pool, and spa
5. Baghvan Wildlife Resort
Tariff: INR 25000 per night onwards
What’s special: Safari arrangements and wildlife viewing
One of the hottest places for a safari honeymoon in India, Baghvan is one of the Pench National Park resorts specially for romantic couples. The state of the art facilities of the stay is carefully curated to meet the need of a discerning traveler.
Suggested Read: 15 Best Wildlife Resorts In India For A Thrilling Experience
Travel Tips For Pench National Park
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- A guide from a trip operator is highly recommended. Plan your trip with the help of an expert.
- Go for an elephant safari. It increases the chances of spotting a tiger.
- Monsoon is not the right time to plan a trip to Pench National Park. The park remains closed from mid-June to mid-October
- Don’t bank too much on mobile network connectivity. The network coverage in the jungle is poor.
- Avoid wearing flashy clothes, wear light and dull color clothes instead. Flashy clothes irritate animals, while light clothes will keep you comfortable during the safari ride.
- Private vehicles aren’t allowed inside the park gates. If you are traveling by your own vehicle you will have to park the vehicle outside the allotted area for parking.
How To Reach Pench National Park
By air: Nagpur Airport, at a distance of 93 km, is the closest airport to Pench National Park. Private vehicles are available to form the airport to the national park area.
By rail: Seoni Railway Station, at a distance of 30 km, is the nearest railhead to Pench. Seoni is well connected with cities like Pune and Nagpur in Maharashtra.
By road: Seoni bus stop located close to the Seoni Railway Station has good connectivity with the major cities nearby. Government buses, as well as private vehicles, are available from the bus stop to the national park.
Further Read: 40 Tourist Places In Madhya Pradesh That You Should Be Visiting Right Now!
Call of the wild is so tempting! Let your spirit feed on the wilderness of nature. A trip to Pench National Park is all you need to experience the best of wild and wilderness. So if all this excites, then while you’re planning your vacation in Madhya Pradesh, make sure to not miss out on this amazing wildlife park in the vicinity.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pench National Park
Which is the best resort in Pench National Park?
Tathastu Resort Pench is the most sought-after resort in Pench National Park as per the TripAdvisor reviews. Which is the best park Kanha National Park or Pench National Park?
Considering the diversity in wildlife found in the park and number of activities offered, Pench National Park is better than Kanha National Park. What is the best way to reach Pench National Park?
You can enter Pench National Park through 3 gates so it depends upon the side you are visiting it from. Turia Gate is the nearest and the most convenient gate to enter.
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A perpetual nature seeker, Amit is on a mission to explore the best of planet Earth. Much famed as the Whistling Hound, Amit’s is currently based out of Wroclaw in Poland, and is experiencing the best of his life in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.
