Pench National Park is a remarkable wildlife sanctuary that straddles the border between Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra in central India. Named after the Pench River that flows through its heart, the park is a vast mosaic of dry deciduous forests, rolling meadows, and meandering streams. It is one of the finest tiger reserves in India, celebrated for its healthy population of Bengal tigers and a stunning variety of other wildlife. The park’s picturesque landscapes, which are said to have inspired Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, offer an immersive jungle experience unlike any other.
While tigers are the park’s biggest draw, Pench is teeming with diverse flora and fauna. Leopards, dhole (Asiatic wild dogs), sloth bears, and herds of chital (spotted deer) roam the forest, while the tree canopies come alive with birds such as Indian rollers, Malabar pied hornbills, and grey-headed fish eagles. Morning and evening safaris through the park provide thrilling wildlife encounters, with knowledgeable guides helping visitors track elusive predators and discover the rich biodiversity that makes Pench a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts.
Pench is an excellent choice for those looking to experience India’s wildlife in its raw and natural form. It is one of the best places in central India to see the majestic Bengal tiger in the wild, and with its relatively open forest terrain, sightings of leopard, dhole (wild dogs), and other large predators are more frequent compared to other reserves. The park is also home to over 300 species of birds, making it a paradise for birdwatchers.
Unlike some of the more famous and heavily visited parks like Ranthambore or Bandhavgarh, Pench offers a quieter and less crowded safari experience. The park is well-managed, and with multiple entry gates, visitors can explore different landscapes and wildlife habitats. Whether you are here for a thrilling safari, a relaxed birdwatching experience, or to simply soak in the beauty of the forest, Pench has something for everyone.
Short answer: Jeep safaris, birdwatching, nature walks, boat safaris, and visiting local villages.
Long answer:
Jeep Safaris: The main attraction of Pench is the jeep safari, which allows visitors to explore the park’s rich biodiversity. Safaris are conducted in the early morning and late afternoon, providing the best chances to see wildlife, especially big cats. The safari experience is divided into zones, with Turia, Karmajhiri, Jamtara, and Khursapar being some of the most popular ones. Turia Gate is the most frequently used entrance.
Birdwatching & Nature Walks: For those interested in birds and smaller wildlife, guided birdwatching tours and nature walks around the buffer zones and nearby villages offer an up-close experience with Pench’s rich avian life, including hornbills, eagles, and kingfishers.
Boat Safari on the Pench River: While not always available depending on water levels, a boat safari on the Pench River is a unique way to see crocodiles, turtles, and water birds while enjoying the serenity of the landscape.
Visit Local Villages & Tribal Communities: Pench is surrounded by small villages where visitors can experience local culture and traditions. Some lodges offer village walks or interactions with indigenous communities, giving insight into rural life in central India.
Best time to visit: October to June
Pench National Park remains open from October to June and is closed during the monsoon months (July to September).
- Winter (November – February): The most pleasant time to visit, with cool mornings and evenings. Wildlife is active, and birdwatching is excellent.
- Summer (March – June): The best time for tiger sightings, as animals congregate around water sources. However, temperatures can soar above 40°C (104°F), so be prepared for intense heat.
- Monsoon (July – September): The park is closed during this time, as heavy rains make the forest lush and inaccessible.
For photography and a mix of lush scenery with good wildlife sightings, October and March are ideal months.
Pench is well-connected and accessible by road, rail, and air, with Nagpur being the closest major city and transportation hub.
- By Air: The nearest airport is Nagpur International Airport (110 km / 2-hour drive), which has frequent domestic and international flights. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or arrange transport through your lodge. Jabalpur Airport is another option (190 km away).
- By Train: The nearest major railway station is Nagpur Railway Station (110 km), which is well-connected to major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore.
- By Road: Pench is easily accessible via well-maintained highways. The most common routes are:
- From Nagpur: 2-hour drive via NH44
- From Jabalpur: 4-hour drive
- From Pachmarhi: 4-hour drive
- From Kanha National Park: 5-hour drive
Most visitors choose to stay in lodges near Turia Gate, which has the best accommodation options and easy access to safaris. It is recommended to book accommodation and safaris in advance, especially during peak season.
In April 2023, I went to Pench as the third park out of four on a two week tour to see and photograph tigers. I got here after having spent two days in Bandhavgarh, and three days in Kanha, where I got see a total of 13 tigers (9 of them in Bandhavgarh). I only stayed at Pench for two nights, which meant I had one whole day here, including one morning safari and one evening safari.
Because of the success in finding tigers in the other parks, we did not go out of our way to look for tigers here. We therefore did not see any tigers in Pench during our two safaris. We did, however get one of the more spectacular days on our two week tour, as we got four separate leopard sightings, which is extremely rare in any park. One of the sightings was of a mother with her three cubs, which we got stay with for a while. A second sighting was of a breeding pair of leopards, were the female was up in a tree (the male was mostly hidden in the grass below). We also had a fantastic sighting of a pack of dhole (wild dogs), a male and female with their two pups. They got really close and were quite active near our vehicle. Apart from the carnivores, there were chital and langurs all over this park, with plenty of other species, such as sambar, gaur, and wild boar, in between.
I am also very interested in birds and bird photography, so a lot of time was spent on trying find and photograph as many species of birds as possible. Even though we saw many bird species we had already seen in the previous parks, I got some of my best photos of many species here, particularly of the Indian roller and Oriental honey-buzzard. For a more comprehensive look at the species I saw and all my observations, check out this link to iNaturalist.
On the evening of our arrival, before our first night, and thus before our safaris in the park itself, we did a night drive in one of the villages to the East of Pench, where we looked for Indian wolf (which are not found inside the park). This might not be an easy thing to arrange for everyone, but our tour leader and guide, Saurabh, did know someone who made this possible. We got one glimpse of a wolf (a few seconds only), but the night drive was exciting and got us other nocturnal species as well (such as a jungle cat and an Indian nightjar).
If you want a more in depth recollection of my experience at Pench, with photos, more details from my accommodation, the drives, and how the observations happened, be sure to check out my blog post about this trip!
