Pench

Pench National Park

The Pench National Park took its name from the Pench River that actually divides the park into two halves. Pench claimed its name as a sanctuary in 1977. After that in 1983, it was declared as a national park, and finally, in 1992, it was called a Tiger Reserve. It is the 19th tiger reserve project in India.

The total area of the Pench National park is about 1179 sq. km, out of which the core area is 411 sq. km while the buffer area is about 768 Sq. km. The park terrain is undulant; due to the prevalence of small hills around the park and tropical moist deciduous forests.

Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book takes some of its inspiration from Pench as well. The national park is magnificent and awe-inspiring due to the rocky trails, wooded hills, clear rivers, and pouring streams. Pench National park was later named ‘Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park’ in the year 2002 and was awarded the ‘Best Maintained Park’ in 2011. This is responsible for attracting tourists from all across the world.

The Pench National Park serves as one of the coziest nests for a huge variety of wild creatures including the Royal Bengal tiger. According to the Tiger Census Report 2019, the park has 53 tigers, 39 mammal species, 13 reptile species, and 3 amphibian species. Besides tigers, one can easily observe Wild boar, Chital, Indian leopard, striped hyena, Nilgai, Jackal, Sambar, Indian wolf, Sloth bear, gaur, four-horned antelope, wild dog, and barking deer in the park. Also, the park nurtures more than 210 species of birds consisting of several species of migratory ones.

The Pench national park lying near Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra comprises around 12 entry gates. The entry gates that fall under Madhya Pradesh are Turia, Karmajhiri, Wolf Sanctuary, Rukhad, Jamtara, and Teliya while the gates that fall under Maharashtra are Khursapar, Sillari, Saleghat, Kolitmaara, Chorbahuli, and Surewani. Out of all of these Turia & Sillari Gates are among the most popular ones.

General Information – Pench

Area: 1179 sq km

Temperature: 12 C – 42 C

Altitude: 200-1000 meters above sea level

Best time to visit: 15^th Oct to 30^th June is the Park opening time. Guest usually preferred to visit this place from Oct to mid of March as winter season is going on. If summer doesn’t disturb you you may also visit The Park in April, May and June. Its closed in July, Aug and Sep as Monsoon touches the entire India.

By Air – Airport – Sonegaon Airport, Nagpur is the nearest Airport which is approx 93 kms from Pench National Park. Nagpur is well connected to Mumbai, Delhi and other main places by regular flights.

By Rail – Railway Station – Seoni Railway Station (30 km from Pench National Park) Seoni is the nearest railway station connected to Mumbai and other places in the region by regular trains.

By Road – The nearest bus stand is at Seoni which is well connected with Major cities Mumbai, Nagpur etc.