Quick Facts
Location - Corner of the southern Satpura Hills.
How To Reach - Nagpur is the nearest railhead and airport and it is
connected with all major cities in India. From Nagpur to Khawasa is 80km.
Buses are easily available from Nagpur.
Where To Stay - There is forest rest house. Advance booking is
necessary. Also lodges and dormitories are available.
When To Go - The park is open to the visitors from October 01st to
June 30th each year and closed during the rainy seasons (July- Sept).
758 sq.km Pench National Park is nestled in the extreme of southern of the
Satpura Hills. The park is named after Pench river that flows from north to
south through the park. The park is covered with tropical deciduous forests
and tropical dry deciduous teak. This ferine forest is crisscrossed with
number of streams. The small Pench river dries up in April end but large
water holes remains for wild animals. To combat with water scarcity Pench
Reservoir has been made, which is the major source of water during summer.
Pench river area is a good place to see every types of animal. As a prey
concentration is high in that area so that predators are also seen. Leopards
are frequently seen predator here and sometimes tigers.
The predominant flora of the park is teak and bamboo trees. The commanding
forests are mainly of deciduous and tropical mixed deciduous trees. There
are various kind of shrubs are found here but the variety of teak is
fascinating. The wild terrain is enshrouded with small hills and forests of
diverse kind such as teak, saja, bija, lendia, haldu, dhaora, aonla, amaltas
etc. The sparkling white Kullu trees are scattered around singly in midst of
green.
Pench has the highest number of prey of any park in India. There are
approximately more than 10000 different kind of deer. The park is also
crowded with gaur(Indian bison), 13 species of reptiles, some species of
amphibians and 250 species of birds. It is also home to number of predators
like tigers, leopards, wild dogs, hyenas, fox and other ferocious animals.
Sights And Activities
Alikatta
The place is wide grassland, a center stage around the which park is
planned. Almost all the animals can be seen around the grassland. It is also
a good place to view of taming elephants.
Chhindimata Road
This road leads to the huge reservoir, which is an absolute must see place
for you. Unlike other parts of the park, this rocky place has lots of ups
and down and passing through excellent teak forest.
Bodhanala Range
One of the beautiful part of the park where you can venture through slopy
hills, bamboo forest and a large pond close to the edge of the park.
Safari
There are two types of safari available in the park. One is to explore the
park by your own vehicle or forest jeep. Forest vehicles are specially
designed for wildlife sightseeing with different level of sitting
arrangement. Another one is elephant ride. Elephant ride is truly a great
thrill and ideal for tiger spotting. Elephant rides are available from
Alikatta. You have to book in advance for a ride.
Mowgli Was Here
The boy raised by wolves and adored by every animals in the Jungle except
'Sherkhan' the fiery tiger. Generations of children have followed the
adventures of Mowgli in Rudyard's Kipling Jungle Book. The idea of Mowgli
likely comes from a case recorded in 1831 by William Henry Henry Sleeman of
a wolf boy captured in the Seoni district. Kanha National Park has also laid
claim to The Jungle Book, but 'Seonee' Hills, Kanhiwara village and
Waingunga river gorge where Sher Khan meets his end, are all actual
locations around Pench.
