Pench National Park

Pench National Park

Pench National Park is a lesser-known but most conveniently located Tiger habitat. It is only 2 -1/2 hrs driving distance from well-connected Nagpur Airport. The panoramic beauty of this region that has been described as early as the beginning of the 20th century by naturalists like Captain J. Forsyth in 'Highlands of Central India'. In The Jungle Book, Rudyard Kipling's vivid, life like characters live in the jungles of Seonee—afictional forest modeled on the jungle adjoining the Seoni district, a jungle now know as Pench National Park.

Pench National Park

About Pench National Park

Park takes its name from Pench River. The Park has mainly southern tropical dry deciduous and dry mixed deciduous forest dominated by teak trees. During the dry season, the river ceases to flow, forming pools that provide the primary watering holes for Tigers and its prey. Mugger Indian Marsh crocodile, Indian Flap Shell Turtle and Peninsular Black Turtle can also be seen in the waterbodies.The Park has the highest density of herbivores in India. Almost all the animals seen in central India are inhabitants of Pench like Gaur, Wild Boar, Common Langurs, Sambar, Spotted and Barking Deer. With luck, we might also see sloth bears, Dhole (wild dog) or even a Leopard, which are generally seen in the peripheral areas of the Park where they can more easily avoid Tigers. Brilliant birdlife of over 220 species is recorded here.

Pench Tiger Reserve

Cycling in Pench

Visitors can enjoy a more diverse safari offering in Pench compared to the region's more significant tiger parks and escape the confines of the safari 4WD. With prior permissions and planning, one can head out on Mountain Bikes accompanied by naturalists and parks guide to exploring adjoining Rukhad Wildlife Sanctuary and tribal villages of the Gond people. The fascinating village to visit is Pachdaar. The village is home to a community of potters that mold clay into beautiful artifacts. One can try their hand at pottery here, or watch the potters on the hypnotizing potters-wheel outside their homes. Rukhad is part of the important Kanha - Pench wildlife corridor and has resident Tigers in it.

Pench Tiger Reserves

Books On Pench

The Pench forests have a glorious history. A description of its natural wealth and richness occurs in Ain-i-Akbari. 16th-century document recording the administration of the Mughal Empire. Several natural history books like R. A. Strendale's 'Seonee - Camp life in the Satpuras', Forsyth's 'Highlands of Central India' and Dunbar Brander's 'Wild animals of Central India' explicitly present the detailed panorama of nature's abundance of Pench. Sir Rudyard Kipling wrote " The Jungle Book" in 1894, based on William Sleeman's book, the Rambles, and Recollections, in which Sleeman narrated the story of the Wolf Child. Many of The Jungle Book's locations are actual locations in Seoni District, like the Waingunga river with its gorge where Sherkhan was killed, Kanhiwara village and the 'Seeonee hills'.

Pench India, Pench National Park India

Getting There:
Pench is just 2.5 hrs drive from Nagpur International Airport & 4 hrs from Jabalpur Airport.

Recommended Circuit:
Big 7: Delhi - Jabalpur - Bandhavgarh - Kanha - Pench -Kolkatta - Kaziranga - Delhi.

Tigers & Elephants: Delhi - Bhopal - Satpura - Pench - Tadoba - Nagpur - Bangalore - Nagarhole