Untamed Pench

Untamed Pench

Madhya Pradesh is India's heritage heartland. This central region of India is blessed by nature and home to wild animals, delving into the history which is alive with flora and fauna. Holidays in Madhya Pradesh are a pleasure for people who live their life to the fullest and go beyond the conventional to discover the thrill and adventure of the woods. 201 km from Jabalpur and 93 km from Nagpur, Pench is famous for its Tiger Reserve propagated majorly in Madhya Pradesh and is the best place to visit in Pench. It is named after the Pench river that flows through it.

The Jungle Book connection 

No child has come to their teenage years, without reading or watching 'The Jungle Book.' The escapade of the little boy Mowgli, the Bagheera, and the villain Sher Khan written by Rudyard Kipling was inspired by the beauty of Pench National Park. The places described in 'The Jungle Book' are the locations marked at Alikatta village and the Seeonee hills. This is the reason, Pench Tiger Reserve is also popularly known as 'Land of The Jungle Book.'

Flora and Fauna 

The vegetation of the Reserve is southern tropical, it is a bit moist teak forest and dry mixed deciduous forest.

A magnificent expanse in Madhya Pradesh, Pench Tiger Reserve, though is a tiger territory, it also shelters a dense population of cheetal (Spotted Deer), followed by leopard, sambhar, gaur (Indian bison), chousingha (four-horned antelope), chinkara (Indian gazelle), barking deer, small Indian civet, and porcupine. It is also home to the migratory birds such as Malabar pied hornbill, Indian pitta and osprey.

From deer to wild boar to tigers, MP has a realm of wildlife. A tour of Madhya Pradesh's wilderness is a kind of never to miss opportunity. It is also interesting to know that the one of the best wildlife series on tigers so far, 'Tiger: Spy in the Jungle' is also filmed in Pench National Park. The series was shot with the use of 'trunk cams'; the cameras held by elephants' trunks, to follow four newborn tiger cubs all the way to adulthood.

Things to do in Pench

The major attractions of the Pench Tiger Reserves are jungle walks and jungle safari. You can book your slot for safari by visiting https://forest.mponline.gov.in

People also explore short treks and wildlife viewing in the presence of trained guides and guards. It is a good way to burn calories along with capturing some spectacular wildlife shots to draw an interesting Instagram feed.

Photographers also visit the reserve with their big zoom lenses to enjoy bird watching and wildlife photography. Who knows? You can try your luck capturing the endangered species of vultures at Sita Ghat or Raiyakassa and elusive leopards at Piyorthadi looking for food and water.

Tourists can also experience the rural lifestyle while staying among Gond families at Khamba Village and create one of its kind memories.

You can also try your hands at the potter wheel making some black earthen pots at the potter's colony which is well-known for black pottery. The Potter colony in Pachdhar village is 10 km from Turia gate. It is a delight to make a souvenir by yourself to remember your visit to Pench. 

Watching tigers, birds and several other animals strolling in the woods during the day or night jungle safari or visiting the Kariya Summit hill (popularly known as Kalia hill) at Pench Tiger Reserve will bring back the thrill you used to have while watching Mowgli battle Sher Khan.

Best time to visit Pench National Park

October to February can be considered the best time to visit Pench when the weather is pleasant and the jungle looks lush. However, November to March could be the best months for bird watching when birds come to central India from colder areas to spend winter. You should avoid Monsoon season if you are looking forward to jungle safari as it is kept closed for the safety of both tourists and animals.

How to reach Pench National Park

By air: Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur and Jabalpur Airport are the two best options for travel if you decide to take a flight to Pench. Jabalpur airport is situated at approximately 213 kilometres away and can only be utilised by domestic flyers, the Nagpur Airport is situated at a distance of about 130 km and is seen to be an easy method to get if travellers are arriving from both domestic and international destinations. Taxis are fairly accessible from both airports and make for a nice ride to Pench.

By rail: Nagpur railway station is the closest railhead from Pench with good connectivity, and it is situated approximately 130 kilometres away. Another option is the Jabalpur railway station located at a distance of 210 kilometres. Both www.irctc.co.in and www.indianrail.gov.in allow for online details checking and train booking.

By road: The Nagpur-Jabalpur Highway can lead you to Pench Tiger Reserve. From Jabalpur or Nagpur, you can travel by road and it takes approx. three to four hours to get to Pench. Khawasa or Seoni are the closest bus stops to Pench, and hourly buses run from Nagpur.