Flora Fauna
The Pench Tiger Reserve located in the southern reaches of the Satpura hill ranges constituted in 1992 has a total area of 757.90 sq km out of which 292.86 sq km is the core area of the reserve, 118.30 sq km of Pench wildlife sanctuary & 346.7 sq km of area is the buffer zone. The forest cover belongs to the southern tropical moist teak & dry teak forests & the southern dry mixed deciduous forest. The ground is covered with a maze of grasses, plants bushes & saplings. Bamboo is restricted to some valleys, dazzling white kulu (sterculia urens) trees scattered around singly in the forest stand out conspicuously among the various hues of green.
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PENCH NATIONAL PARK FAUNA
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| COMMON NAME |
SCIENTIFIC NAME |
COMMON NAME |
SCIENTIFIC NAME |
|
MAMMALS
|
REPTILES
|
| Tiger |
Panthera tigris tigris |
Rat Snake |
Ptyas mucosa |
| Indian Gaur |
Bos Gaurus |
Green Vine Snake |
Ahaetulla nasuta |
| Sloth Bear |
Melursus ursinus |
Indian Rock Python |
Python molurus |
| Nilgai or Blue Bull |
Boselaphus tragocamelus |
Checkered Keelback |
Xenochrophis piscator |
| Indian Leopard |
Felis bengalensis |
Buff Striped Keelback |
Amphiesma stilatum |
| Wild Dog (Dhole) |
Dhole cuon alpinus |
Red Sand Boa |
Eryx johnii |
| Stripped Hyena |
Hyaena hyaena |
Common Sand Boa |
Eryx conicus |
| Indian Wolf |
Canis lupus |
Common Fringe Flowered |
Vine Trisy eclipta prostate |
| Jackal |
Canis aureus |
Banded Kukri Snake |
Oligodon arnenesis |
| Indian Fox |
Bulpes bengalensis |
Indian Flapshell Turtle |
Lissemys punctata |
| Wild Boar |
Sus scrofa |
Indian Gamma Snake |
Boiga trigonata |
| Sambar |
Cervus unicolor |
Common Wolf Snake |
Oligodon arnenesis |
| Black buck |
Cervicapra |
Russell's Viper |
Daboia russelli |
| Spotted Deer |
Axis axis |
Little Glory |
Evolvus alsinioides |
| Munjtak/ Barking Deer |
Muntiacus muntjak |
Madras Pea Pumpkin |
Mukia Maderaspatena |
| Rhesus Macaque |
Macaca mulatto |
Graham's Groundsel |
Senecio grahamilXconvolvulaceae |
| Common Langur |
Semnopithecus entellus |
Spectacled Cobra |
Naja naja |
| Rusty-spotted Cat |
Felis rubiginosa |
Saw-scaled Viper |
Echis carinatus |
| Jungle Cat |
Felis chaus |
BUTTERFLIES
|
| Honey Badger |
Mellivora capensis |
Crimson Rose |
Pachliopta aristolochiae aristolochiae |
| Small Indian Civet |
Viverricula indica |
Cabbage whit |
Pieris canidia indica |
| Palm Civet |
Paradoxurus hermaphroditus |
Yellow Swallowtail |
Papilio Machaon |
| Grey Musk Shrew |
Suncus murinus |
Baronet |
Symphaedra Nais |
| Indian Tree Shrew |
Anathana elliotti |
Common MormoPrinceps |
Polytes romulus |
| Malabar Giant Squirrel |
Ratufa indica |
Common Sailer |
Neptis hylas varmona |
| 3-Stripped Palm Squirrel |
Funambulus palmatum |
Great Mormon Princeps |
Memnon agenor |
| Indian Flying Fox |
Pteropus giganteus |
Common Jezebel |
Delias eucharis |
| Porcupine |
Hystrix indica |
Common Tiger |
Danaus genutia |
| Common Mongoose |
Herpestes edwardsi |
Great Egg Fly |
Hypolimnnas bolina |
| Indian Gerbille |
Tatera indeca |
Danaid Egg Fly |
Hypolimnas missipus |
| Long-tailed Tree Mouse |
Vandeleuria oleracea |
AMPHIBIANS
|
| Indian Field Mouse |
Mus booduga |
Common Tree |
Frog polypedates maculates |
| Common House Rat |
Rattus rattus |
Indian Bull |
Frog hoplobatrachus tigerinus |
| Four-horned Antelope |
Tetracerus quadricomis |
Skitterid |
Frog cuphlystis cyanophlyctus |
| Bearded Shealth Tailed Bat |
Taphozous melanopogon |
Jerdon's Bull |
Frog hoplobatrachus crassus |
| Chinkara |
Gazella bennettii |
Common Toad |
Bufo melanostictus |
| Indian False Vampire |
Megadema iyra |
Marbled Toad |
Bufo stomaticus |
| Black-naped Hare |
Lepus nigricollis nigicollis |
Ornate Microhylid |
Microhyla ornate |
| Indian Pipistrelle |
Pipistrella coromandra |
Indian Cricket |
Frog limnonectes limnocharis |
The animal species like Chital, sambhar, nilgai, wildboar & jackal are commonly seen. Leopard, sloth bear, wild dog, porcupine, jungle cat, fox,striped hyena, guar, chowsingha & barking deer are also found. The population of tigers as recorded in 2001 census is estimated at 40m number. Pench boasts of more than 250 species of birds including several migratory ones. Some of them are peafowl, jungle fowl, crow, pheasant, red-vented bulbul, magpie robin, lesser whistling teal, pintail, shovellar, egrets & heron. The Pench National Park is open to visitors from early November to end of June each year and closed during the rainy season (July- October).
History
Pench forest is spread over Satpura mountain range in which other tiger reserves like Kanha National Park & Satpura National Parks are also situated. Its is a historical forest in which Rudyard Kipling's classic "The Jungle Book" is based. Pench forest is spread over a large area and is connected with Seoni city also. Incident of real-life wild boy was of Amodagarh, near Seoni town about which, content is available in book of William Henry Sleeman. Taking inspiration from those books, Rudyard Kipling wrote this book. Their is no such fact in the statements that Rudyard Kipling visited Pench forest for writing this classic book. Their is wildlife corridor which connects Pench Tiger Reserve from Kanha Tiger Reserve. Many time it has been noticed that Kanha tigers have reached Pench national park or vice versa. In past during British India period, under mysterious circumstances some villagers near Seoni dis-appeared in forest. Col. W. H. Sleeman send a team from Jabalpur to the spot for investigation in which fact was revealed that a wolves group is active their in which a human-boy was also gang member who lives like wolf and was later captured and put to human society but he didn't survived long. Mowgli character was inspired from that boy. In reality, Sir Rudyard Kipling never visited Pench forest. It is a popular myth that he visited Pench forest and wrote The Jungle Book at the same forest. That forest area was first declared as Pench Wildlife Sanctuary in year 1977. In 1983 it was declared as Pench National Park and later in year 1992 it was included as 19th Tiger Reserve of India under Project Tiger.
How to reach
Pench national park lies in border of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra state border. Majority of the tiger reserve area lies in Madhya Pradesh state. It can be reached from both Nagpur city of Maharashtra and Jabalpur city of Madhya Pradesh. Thus tourists uses both the cities for arrival and departure purpose. As per convenience, tourists may use any one of city for reaching Pench Tiger reserve. At present, forest area of Madhya Pradesh state is move developed in terms of infrastructural facilities, availability of number of hotels, safari facilities and popular safari areas but now Maharashtra government is also paying due attention towards development of infrastructural facilities, better safari services etc. Let us check some more specific information on how to reach Pench national park by various means of transport.
Pench by Air :
The nearest airports to reach Pench National Park is at Nagpur & Jabalpur. Nagpur airport is about 110kms and Jabalpur Airport is about 215 kms from Pench Tiger Reserve. Pench to Nagpur & Pench to Jabalpur can be reached easily by using taxi service that operates frequently between them. In compare to both of them, connectivity of Nagpur airport is better than Jabalpur. Nagpur Airport is a International Airport with more flight connectivity to other destinations like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Raipur, Dubai etc. Jabalpur airport is a small airport with connectivity from Delhi only.
Pench by Train:
Nearest railway station for reaching Pench by train is at Nagpur city (105kms). Second option could be Jabalpur railway station (200kms) having connectivity with most of the major tourist destinations & cities of India like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Jaipur, Agra, Bangalore, Delhi, Varanasi, Lucknow, Sawai Madhopur etc.
Pench by Train:
There are state owned transport buses from Nagpur through which you can reach Khawasa Border (Madhya Pradesh-Maharashtra Border) on NH-8. From here, you are need to take some vehicle for go for Turai entrance gate where all major resorts & lodges are located. Turia entrance gate is the popular & most frequently used entrance gate for Pench Jungle Safari.
Tourist attractions inside Pench
Sitaghat: The spot is undoubtedly the prettiest location in Pench national park that takes you to the awesome bank of the river with rocks & artistic looking trees. It is must to visit the location either in the morning or in the evening has it has charm with sunrise & sunset. It’s a good spot for bird lovers as well.
Alikatta:
it is located in the center of the pench National park with mesmerizing grass land around & where one can spot any of the animals. However among few places that left in the country this is one of them, where every evening one can see the amazing spectacle of grazing flocks consisting of thousands of spotted deer. Where there are deer, there will be predators. So keep an eye open here. It is also the site from where the elephant rides initiate.
Chhindimatta Road:
It’s a boundary line between Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. During & after monsoon one can easily watch beautiful water birds & also an excellent area for spotting buzzards, eagles & hawks as well. This section is full of ups and downs over rocky hills although rest of the park is quite flat.
Bodhanala range:
The spot worth for those who love watching birds also called as a paradise for birds lover. A large number of migratory birds can also be seen here. The spot with sloping hills, bamboo forests and a huge pond has a unique charm of its own & make this site significant as well.
Raiyakassa:
A watchtower has been built by the Park authorities at Raiyakassa that provides great views of the Pench River. & it is clear from the watchtower that authority also provides night stay here to watch animals like bison & tigers as well many times.
Doob Road:
The trail running is an excellent area for spotting all species of animals. After the monsoon most of the migratory submerged species once again recede. Although rest of the year, it is quite frequent to come across huge flocks of deer and bison, while driving along this trail. Habitually Leopards have also been seen in this area.
Kalapahad :
The Kalapahad Hill which is at an elevation of 650 meters. Here the track splits in two- one leading to Alikatta and other to Chhindimatta. It is a hilly terrain with impenetrable forest cover. Langurs, leopards and wild boars are common here. The Great Hornbill is a bird found in this area.
Climate & Wether
Here in Pench national park, we can experience all popular seasons i.e. Winters, Summers and Monsoon season. Park is open from October till June month during which winter season starts from December till February month. During winter period, morning temperature remains around 5°C and day temperature will be 24°C. Here summer season begins from March till mid of June during which morning temperature is around 30°C and day temperature reaches 42°C. Here duration of summer period is long thus hat and sun-glasses are very much required. During summer season, safari drives are more challenging as it is done on open jeep, directly exposed to sunlight and heat-waves. During Summers, park seems fully dry land and birding is also reduced but chances of tiger sighting is high. After mid of June, we may expect arrival of monsoon season and it prevails till September month. October & November months are moderate period in which we can expect average day temperature around 37°C with high humidity.
Best time to visit
Pench national park is open for visitors from 16-October to 30-June. During this period, anyone can visit the park and enjoy the jungle safari. It has been seen that most of the Indian tourists prefers to visit park as per their festival holidays or children school holidays due to which their presence in better in period of October -December and April - June. Where as foreigner tourists prefers the period from November to April due to severe cold in their countries and holidays in their countries. Best time to visit Pench national park varies as per interest of visitor. Still if your are interested in core wildlife than
January to June is the best time to visit Pench national park. During this period, you can enjoy some best moments of jungle safari. On the other hand if you are not serious wildlife and visiting park as leisure tour then October to April is the best time to visit. During this time wildlife sighting is good, climatic conditions are good and most of the festival falls during this period. Safari tickets are main challenge during this period. In order to enjoy better discounts, May-June months are good as most of the resorts offers some good summer discounts. If you are wildlife photographer and interesting in Tiger photography, then we recommend to visit from March to June month, i.e. peak summer time and heat waves poses challenge in safaris but results will also be very good with nice shots.
Accommodation
In Pench National Park, you can find number of resorts & lodges for accommodation purpose of visitors. Most of the safari lodges & resorts are located close to Turia gate as it is the popular entrance gate and almost all tourists do their safari through this entrance gate. Here some of the popular resorts and safari lodges Kipling Court, Pench Jungle Camp, Taj Baghvan, Mahua Van, Tuli Tiger Corridor Pench, Jungle Home etc.
Next to Pench National Park
Pench national park have many tourist destinations close to it. Most of the Pench surrounding tourist destinations are wildlife reserves or nature tourism destinations. Some of the must visit tourist destinations includes Kanha national park, Tadoba national park, Pachmarhi, Satpura National Park, Nagzira Navegaon Tiger Reserve, Jabalpur etc. After Pench safari tour, wildlife photographers usually moves towards Tadoba national park or Kanha national park. Leisure tourists prefers to move towards Pachmarhi hill station. If you would like to relax in wildlife destination or more interested in birding then move towards Satpura national park (best time is from October to March).
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