Pench National Park A Traveller's Guide 2024
Travel Guide to Pench | Safari Zones - Core Buffer | How to Reach
About Pench National Park
The Pench Tiger Reserve and its environs are the jungle that is mentioned in Rudyard Kipling’s well-known novel ‘The Jungle Book’ and is also referred to as Mowgli Land. The Pench River, which rises in the Mahadeo Hills and flows 24 km from north to south through the National Park, is the source of the park’s name.
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Historical Background of the Pench National Park
- In 1977, the Pench Sanctuary was created, encompassing 449.39 square kilometres.
- In 1983, Pench National Park was established, encompassing 292. 8 square kilometres.
- In 1992, the National Tiger Conservation Authority’s Project Tiger designated it as the 19th Tiger Reserve.
- In 2002, the sanctuary was renamed as “Pench Mowgli Sanctuary” and the national park as “Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park.”
- In 2007, a portion of the national park was incorporated into the central regions of Pench Tiger Reserve.
Flora and Fauna at Pench National Park
Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh
The Pench Tiger Reserve’s Madhya Pradesh portion is situated in the southern Madhya Pradesh districts of Seoni and Chhindwara. The 1179.632-kilometer region is made up of the Pench Priyadarshini National Park (292.86 square kilometres), Pench Mowgli Wildlife Sanctuary (118.47 square kilometres), and an extra buffer zone measuring 768.302 square kilometres.
Flowers and Plants
Southern Indian tropical wet deciduous forest, southern tropical dry deciduous forest, and southern dry mixed deciduous forest are the three main types of forests found in the Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh. Pench Tiger Reserve is a great example of a teak (Tectona grandis)-)-dominated forest with wide grassy areas and lots of shrub cover is Pench Tiger Reserve, which overlaps with bamboo and other species.
Wildlife
A wide variety of species can be found in the Pench Tiger Reserve due to its highly heterogeneous habitat. These include the sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), grey wolf (Canis lupus), striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), wild pig (Sus scrofa), barking deer (Muntiacus vaginalis), four-horned antelope (Tetracerus quadricornis), chinkara (Gazella bennettii), tiger (Panthera tigris), leopard (Panthera pardus), sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), wild dog (Cuon alpinus), grey wolf (Canis lupus), striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), and golden jackal (Canis aureus).
Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra
The Satpura Maikal hills in the Nagpur district are home to the Maharashtra state portion of the Pench Tiger Reserve. Pench National Park (257 sq km) and Man Singh Deo Wildlife Sanctuary (195 sq km) are part of this tiger reserve.
Flowers and Plants
Southern tropical dry deciduous woods make up the vegetation of the Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. The most notable trees in the reserve are teak (Tectona grandis) and its relatives, which also include Terminalia bellirica, Diospyros melanoxylon, Madhuca longifolia, Aegle marmelos, Terminalia arjuna, Cassia fistula, and some bamboo species.
Wildlife
The tiger (Panthera tigris), leopard (Panthera pardus), and wild dog (Cuon alpinus) are the three main predator species that can be found here. Of the ungulates were the sambhar (Rusa unicolor), chital (Axis axis), gaur (Bos gaurus), barking deer (Muntiacus vaginalis), nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), and mouse deer (Moschiola indica).
Zones and Kinds of Tiger Safaris in Pench National Park
Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh are the two states that oversee reservations for tiger safaris at Pench National Park. Different gates allow access to different areas of Pench National Park in each of the two states.
Kinds of Tiger Safaris in Pench National Park
You probably already know that if you’ve decided to visit a national park, you won’t be leaving without taking a wildlife safari excursion. You’re in luck because, out of all the national parks in India, Pench National Park offers one of the most interesting safari experiences.
Night Safari
The Forest Department counter is where you make your reservation for a Night Tiger Safari on the same day as the Safari Date. Depending on whether it’s summer or winter, it begins after dusk and lasts for around three hours. If one stays near Turia gate, they may take advantage of a nighttime tiger safari in the Khawasa and Rukhad zones.
Jeep Safari
In Pench National Park, Jeep tiger safaris are offered in two shifts: morning and afternoon, based on sunrise and sunset times, respectively. Reservations for Madhya Pradesh regions open 120 days in advance. Reservations for Maharashtra’s part-tiger safari open around 60 days in advance of the scheduled safari date.
Full-Day Jeep Safari
The Full-Day Jeep Safari is a popular choice for photographers who are tracking a specific species or documentarians filming a family. It includes lunch in between the wilderness and allows all safari vehicles to enter the park prior 15 to 20 minutes. Full-day permits allow guests to explore the park for longer periods of time, they are allowed to leave 15 minutes after the evening safari ends. Tiger Safari is not restricted to any one zone, and guests are free to move around the park during their visit, with the exception of the Maharashtra region.
Half-Day Jeep Safari
Safari may be divided into two further categories: morning and evening. Safari in the morning begins at around 0600. Depending on when sunrise occurs, they might be gone for four to five hours. The safari tourist returns to the lodge after breakfast. Take a little break for lunch before continuing your forest adventure in the evening. Depending on when the sun sets, the nighttime safari lasts three to five hours.
Pench Tiger Safari Zones, Madhya Pradesh
There are seven gates in the Madhya Pardesh portion of Pench, with a combined carrying capacity of 159 jeeps, some of which can be reserved at the gate.
Safari Gates: The core zone of Pench, Madhya Pradesh
In Pench, Madhya Pradesh, there are three gates leading into the core zone. Every Wednesday afternoon, these gates are locked for tiger safaris.
1. Turia Gate
- The Turia gate is the oldest and most frequently visited safari zone of Madhya Pradesh Pench National Park.
- It is situated on the boundary of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. You can visit the Pench Wildlife Museum, which is located at the gate.
- The Zone Forest features small streams, scrublands, and mixed vegetation, with a predominant Acacia Catechu.
- The most popular locations in the Touria zone are the Baginnalla waterhole, Joda Munara, Junewani waterhole, Pyorthadı, Alikatta, and Kala Pahad (the highest point in Pench).
- Because of its close proximity to NH-7, this gate is heavily used and only permits the maximum number of jeeps to enter the park.
- A total of 74 jeeps are permitted, of which 37 are permitted for the morning and afternoon shifts of the tiger safari.
- Wednesdays are closed for the afternoon tiger safari.
2. Karmajhiri Gate
- Less crowded and offers fewer lodging choices.
- You can choose to stay at the forest rest house.
- In certain regions of Zone Forest, plantations of teak and bamboo predominate.
- Prominent attractions in the Karmajhiri zone are Bodhanalla, Sitaghat, and Alikatta.
- A total of 16 jeeps are allowed, including 8 jeeps in the morning and afternoon safari shifts.
- The zone is good for spotting packs of wild dogs.
- It is closed on Wednesday for morning and afternoon safaris.
3. Jamtara Gate
- This park’s third gate provides access to explore the limited region.
- Notable plants in this area include camel foot climbers, banyan trees, and sindoori.
- Key locations in this zone include Chendia Ghat, Tikari, and Alikatta.
- There is a permit for nine jeeps in total; five in the morning and four in the afternoon safari shift
- Sloth bear sightings are good in this area
- Morning and afternoon safaris are closed on Wednesday.
Safari Gates: The buffer zone in Pench, Madhya Pradesh
The Pench (Madhya Pradesh) buffer zone has four gates, which are as follows:
1. Rukhad
- This region’s damp deciduous vegetation is a result of its mountainous terrain.
- There are many bamboo, jamun, and Arjun trees, flowing streams, and lots of butterflies.
- This area is essential for the Tiger corridor of Pench and Kanha.
- 36 jeeps are permitted, of which 18 are used for the morning and afternoon tiger safari shifts.
- Kuraigad is a fort with a viewpoint where visitors can disembark.
- Dhamanda is the ideal breakfast spot.
- The Rukhad zone offers nighttime tiger safaris. For the night tiger safari, a maximum of 5 jeeps are permitted.
2. Teliya
- Breakfast is at the Interpretation Centre.
- It can be reached conveniently from the 4 km away Touria gate.
- The Teliya buffer zone is popular for wolf sightings, and there have been reports of Black Panther and Melanistic leopard sightings in recent years.
- A total of 37 jeeps are permitted, of which 19 are used for the morning tiger safari shift and 18 for the afternoon shift.
3. Khawasa
- It’ll be convenient if lodging is near Turia gate.
- Breakfast spot at the Interpretation Centre.
- 36 jeeps in total are permitted, with 18 jeeps being used for the morning and afternoon shifts of the tiger safari.
- 15 jeeps are permitted to conduct the nighttime safari from Khawasa gate.
- Wolves, foxes, porcupines, and owls favour these areas because of their open vegetation.
4. Khumbhpani
• Five jeeps each during the morning and afternoon safari shifts are permitted in a new buffer zone that may accommodate a maximum of 10 jeeps.
Pench Tiger Safari Zones, Maharashtra
Safari Gates: The core zone of Pench, Maharashtra
The Pench’s (Maharashtra) core zone can be accessed through three gates.
1. Sillari Gate
- The well-known main entrance of Pench, Maharashtra, is located here. Sillari is around 40 kilometres from the Turia gate.
- It is closed every Wednesday during the morning and afternoon shifts for tiger safari.
- The forest has a lot of water features and waterfalls, along with dense bamboo and teak.
- Swarg and Bamboo Ban are two significant spots.
- The Totladoh Dam, which is being constructed on the Pench River is also one of the attractions that can be seen from this gate.
- In this section of the forest, sloth bears and wild dogs can be spotted.
- Nearly 100 jeeps are permitted in a single day from Sillari gate. There are two tiger safari shifts: 45 in the morning and 55 in the evening.
2. Khursapar Gate
- The distance between this gate and Turia Gate is 12 km. Good tiger sightings in recent years have contributed to its increasing appeal.
- There are views of Chowsingha, Chinkara, and Gaurs on the undulating ground.
- Among the few natural sources of water in this area is Bakhari Lake.
- Other significant locations are Bandra Talab and Chitgohta.
- Every Tuesday, both the morning and afternoon tiger safaris are closed.
- About 60 jeeps in total are permitted from Sillari gate in a single day—30 during the morning tiger safari shift and another 30 during the evening tiger safari shift.
3. Chorbahuli Gate
- Chorbahuli was opened to visitors on January 1, 2013.
- This is the first gate you would come to when travelling from Nagpur to Jabalpur.
- A lesser-known tiger safari area is Chorbahuli, which lies on the Maharashtra side of Pench National Park.
- The deep forest section here leads to Pench Tiger Reserve.
- A maximum of 28 jeeps are permitted, with 14 authorised for each of the morning and afternoon safari shifts.
- Closed for morning and afternoon tiger safaris every Monday.
Safari Gates: The buffer zone of Pench, Maharashtra
The Pench, Maharashtra, has four gates that go into the buffer zone. These gates are:
1. Kolitmara
- On the Maharashtra side, Kolitmara gate is one of the entrances to the Pench Tiger Reserve. Nagpur is around 80 kilometres away from here.
- You may take your own car for a jungle safari.
- You can take boat trips on the river, with the original deep jungle serving as the major draw.
- In the morning, seven cars are permitted entry into the Kolitmara Zone; while in the evening, thirteen.
.2 Surewani (Nagalwadi)
• Seven jeeps are permitted each shift for the morning and afternoon tiger safari, for a total of 14 jeeps.
3. Khubada (Saleghat)
• Twenty-four jeeps in total are permitted, twelve for each morning and afternoon shift of the tiger safari.
4. Paoni (Buffer)
- Umred Paoni Karhandla Sanctuary includes a part of the Pench Tiger Reserve’s buffer region.
What is the best route to get to Pench National Park?
Organising your trip to Bandhavgarh National Park is essential as little decisions on the season, date, and place to stay may make or ruin your trip. The optimal time to visit isn’t actually determined by anything. That is totally up to you and what the park is offering when that time of year comes around.
By Rail
Nagpur Railway station: 80 kilometres (2 Hr)
Jabalpur Railway station: 220 kilometres (4 Hr)
Chhindwara Railway station: 85 kilometres (2.5 Hr)
By Air
Nagpur airport: 120 kilometres (2.5 Hr)
Jabalpur airport: 240 kilometres (4.5 Hr)
By Road
It takes two hours to go from Nagpur which is 100 kilometres from the Pench.
Location of Pench National Park
Most Famous Tigress of Pench National Park
Queen of Pench: Collarwali - The Tigress
Pench lost one of his most well-known tigress Collarwalis on January 15, 2022. Due to numerous organ failures brought on by advanced age, she passed away at the age of sixteen and four months. Born in October 2005, she was one of the world’s most well-known tigresses.
How did the name Collarwali originate?
Collarwali’s real name is T-15. The tigress had a radio collar fitted in March 2008 by a team of researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. The radio collar was misplaced in the Pench National Park jungle in 2016, and it was never found again until her passing.
What makes Collarwali so popular?
Throughout her life, Collarwali gave birth to 29 cubs, setting a record for the most cub litter ever given birth by a tigress in India according to the Guinness Book of World Records. She had a significant role in the Pench National Park tiger population growth. Giving birth to eight litters in a 16-year lifespan is quite uncommon, tiger experts say. Her contribution to the growth of the Tiger population in Pench National Park was noteworthy.
Collarwali gained notoriety at a young age when she appeared in the BBC program “Spy in the Jungle,” which followed her siblings as they grew older and moved away to establish their own lives.
Wildlife enthusiasts from all over the world continued to show her love, respect, and admiration even after they passed away. Visit Pench National Park to witness Collarwali, the Pench queen,’s legacy.
