Pench Tiger Reserve

 

Pench National Park is placed in Chhindwara and Seoni districts of Madhya Pradesh (India). The name is derived from the Pench River, flows through the National Park. The river flows from north to south that divides the park into equal eastern and western halves-the well woody areas of both districts. The park has several species of animals among which wild guars, tigers, leopard, monkeys and deer, etc., are easily observed. The park is nearby from Pauni on National Highway 7 and very close to Maharashtra & Nagpur. There are two famous gates for tourist entry, which is named as Turiya and Karmajhiri.

An impeccable place to walk down the memory lanes of your childhood days of the famous story ‘The Jungle Book’.

In the heart of India, Madhya Pradesh, Pench National Park is located in the districts of Seoni and Chhindwara. Named after the pristine River Pence which flows through the park, Pench National Park is one of the most popular wildlife reserves in India. The park also has its mention in the famous story of 1894, ‘The Jungle Book’, penned down by the renowned English Author Rudyard Kipling. The story was worldwide applauded, and hence, the national park became one of the popular national parks in the world in the 1970s and also a prominent tourist attraction in India. Since then, every year oodles of wildlife buffs flock to this place just to spot the famous characters of the book, Akela (The Indian Wolf), Raksha (the female Wolf), Baloo (Sloth Bear), and the vicious Shere Khan (Royal Bengal Tiger).

Sprawls over a massive area of 758 sq km, including the core area, Pench National Park has a rich wildlife which proffers visitors an opportunity to indulge into one of the finest wildlife experiences in India. Since its inception in 1965 as a wildlife sanctuary, the park has serving as the cosy nest of numerous wild creatures including the Royal Bengal tiger, jackal, peafowl, wild dog, wild boar, sloth bear, Indian leopard, fox, striped hyena, monkey, gaur, barking deer, four-horned antelope, Indian wolf, and more such enthralling species. However, later in the year 1975 and 1992, the sanctuary got the recognition of national park and tiger reserve, respectively.

Here is an overview of its history:

1. Early History: The Pench region has a historical significance that goes back to ancient times. It is mentioned in ancient texts and scriptures, including the Ramayana, which is one of the major epics of ancient India. The region was known for its lush forests and abundant wildlife.

2. Modern Conservation Efforts: The modern history of Pench National Park as a protected area began in the 1970s. In 1977, it was declared a sanctuary and later expanded to become a national park. The park was named after the Pench River, which flows through it.

3. Joint Efforts: Pench National Park is unique in that it spans two states in India - Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The park was divided into two parts, with the Madhya Pradesh portion named "Pench National Park" and the Maharashtra portion named "Pench Tiger Reserve." The division was done to effectively manage and protect the wildlife in the area.

4. Tiger Conservation: Pench National Park gained prominence for its efforts in tiger conservation. It is one of the prime tiger habitats in India and was recognized as such by the National Tiger Conservation Authority. The park is part of the larger Satpura-Maikal landscape, which is crucial for the long-term survival of tigers in the region.

5. Wildlife and Biodiversity: Pench National Park is not only home to tigers but also hosts a diverse range of flora and fauna. The park is known for its populations of leopards, Indian bison (gaur), sambar deer, spotted deer, and various bird species. It's a popular destination for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers.

6. Tourism and Conservation: Tourism plays a significant role in Pench National Park's history. It helps generate revenue for the park's management and raises awareness about wildlife conservation. However, it also poses challenges in terms of managing visitor impact on the ecosystem.

7. Conservation Initiatives: Over the years, various conservation initiatives have been undertaken in Pench National Park, including anti-poaching efforts, habitat restoration, and community-based conservation programs to involve local communities in protecting the park's resources.

8. Recognition: Pench National Park gained international recognition when it served as the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book." The park's landscapes and wildlife are reminiscent of the settings described in the book.

Today, Pench National Park continues to be an essential center for biodiversity conservation and is a symbol of India's commitment to preserving its natural heritage. Efforts are ongoing to balance conservation with sustainable tourism, ensuring that future generations can enjoy and appreciate the park's natural beauty and wildlife.

 

Tourist Attractions in Pench National Park

Sitaghat- This spot is winding path that is close to the bank of river Pench, speckled with rocks and artistic looking trees. During summer season, white flowers and bushes lope all along with bank. To view these flowers in full blossom, it is must to visit in the early morning hours.  The place also appears to be a splendid spot for wildlife sightseeing.

Alikatta- This place is another exciting attraction that has fascinating area of grassland, where animals are also observed.  In evening time, there is excellent view of grazing herds comprising of thousands of spotted deer. One can also enjoy elephant rides that begin from this place.

Chhindimatta Road- Journeying over rocky hills, it is considered as place of interest in the huge Pench reservoir. The rocky cliffs make tremendous places for leopards. Other species like Eagles, Buzzards, and hawks are observed looming over their nests.

Bodhanala Range- This area is worth sightseeing for visitors. It starts from slopy hill, bamboo forest to a huge pond close to the border of the park. It is a perfect area for raptors.

Above all, there are some other attractions to explore in Pench like Raiyakassa, Doob Road, and Kalapahad. Travelling to all these places give wonderful opportunity to come across huge herds and king of jungle.

Tourist Places near Pench National Park

There are some main tourist attractions nearby Pench National Park, which add more fun and excitement in trip. They are:

Bandhavgarh National Park- This park is 338.7 Km away (approx.7 hours) from Pench and it gives a wildlife retreat where nature and history meet together. Positioned amidst the Vindhyan hills, the park has a series of ridgelines successively running through it. The major attractions of the area are however in the heart of the Park with its 32 beautiful wooded hills.

Kanha National Park- Just 2 hours drive (136.5 kms) from Pench National Park, there resides Kanha National Park. Situated in the district of Mandia (Madhya Pradesh), the park is a Tiger Reserve that leads over 1945 sq. km of undulating country. It is an abode to over 1000 species of flower plants. It has important population of leopards, royal Bengal tiger, sloth bear, barasingha, Indian wild dog, etc.

Nagzira National Park- The wildlife of this park is sheltered in the arms of nature and festooned with a picturesque landscape and exuberant vegetation. Only 3 hours drive (176.5 km) from Pench National Park, this park is placed in the Bhandara district of Maharashtra. The small reserve is a vital corridor that connects central and southern forested areas such as Kanha Tiger Reserves and Tadoba-Andhari.

Tadoba National Park-Just 256.4 km away from Pench, Tadoba National Park lies in Chandrapur district of the north-eastern part of Maharashtra. Popular as ‘The Jewel of Vidharba’, this park is placed in the core of a reserved forest. The park is widely popular for its plants life and wildlife. It has tropical dry deciduous forest where teak is the dominant species.

 

Wildlife in Park

Pench National Park is very rich in fauna and it’s an abode to a large number of endangered species. The most dominant predator is Tiger and there are around 25 of them in these prey-rich woodlands. There are some other predators like dhol (Indian Wild Dog), leopard, hyena, wolf, jackal and jungle cat. Some prey species observed in the park are sambhar, chital, gaur, muntjac, langur, wild boar, and rhesus macaques.  Commonly seen species are herd of deer.

There are more than 170 species of birds comprising various migratory ones like peafowl, crow pheasant, junglefowl, red-vented bulbul, crimson-breasted barbet, magpie robin, lesser whistling teal, racket-tailed drongo, egret, pintail, shoveler, herons to name a few.

As per the study in the year 1, 25 tigers were found under the umbrella of the park along with 39 mammals, 13 reptiles, and 3 amphibians. Aside from mammals and other land-based flora & fauna, the park is also rich in bird life. As per the evaluation of the wildlife authorities, 210 species of birds was observed in this park like munias, barbets, minivets orioles, bulbul, waterfowls, wagtails, mynas, and blue kingfishers.

 

Flora & Fauna

• The forests found in Pench Tiger Reserve are divided into three parts as follows: -

  • Southern tropical wet deciduous forest

  • Southern tropical dry deciduous teak forest

  • Southern tropical dry deciduous mixed forest

• Dry mixed forest spreads in about one-third area of ??protected area. Whose main species are salai, pickle, moyan, tendu etc. Kahua (Arjuna), Jamuna, Guular and Saja are found along the banks of river streams. Trees of Mahua, Palash, Plum etc. are found scattered around the open forests of displaced areas of old villages. Teak forests are found in about one quarter area. There are about 82 types of grass species and Bamboo found in this forest area.

• The major Carnivores are Tiger, leopard, wild cat, wild dog, hyena, jackal, fox, wolf, weasel among the vegetarian species, Gaur, Nilgai, Sambar, Chital, Chasinga, Chinkara, Wild Pig etc. are prominent. In this Tiger Reserve, birds of about 325 species can also be seen in various seasons of the year. In the sunny areas of the Totladoh reservoir situated inside the park limits, there is a lot of migratory birds seen in the cold season. Among the migratory birds, Ruddy shelduck, Pintail, Whistling Teal and Vegtel etc are prominent

 

Climate

Pench National Park is situated at 21° 40′ 17.76″ North and 79° 18′ 11.88″ East. The Pench land is surrounded with small hills and well-stocked teak mixed forest in the southern part of Satpura Ranges. The park has a tropical continental climate with distinct monsoons (July-September), winters (November-February) and summers (April-June). The altitude variegates from 425 to 620 meters above msl. The temperature of this region is 4°C in December and 42°C in May & June. Average rainfall is 1300 mm.

During summer, casual summer clothing of natural colors is perfect from March to May while from November to February, carrying warm apparels for chilly mornings and hazy evening is very important.

How to Reach

By Air- Nagpur Airport (88 Km) is the nearest one to reach the park. Other option is Jabalpur Airport, which is 200 km away from the park.

By Rail- The nearest railway station is Nagpur (90 km), well connected to all the cities of India.

By Road- Nagpur is 88 km away from Pench through Seoni (NH No. 7).