Pench National Park is a national park in India's Madhya Pradesh state, established in 1975 with an area of 257.26 km2 (99.33 sq mi). It includes Pench Tiger Reserve and derives its name from the Pench River that flows through the park from north to south dividing the park into almost equal western and eastern halves, the well-forested areas of Seoni and Chhindwara districts respectively. It was declared a sanctuary in 1965, raised to the status of national park in 1975 and enlisted as a tiger reserve in 1992.

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Flora

  The forest cover in the park area includes teak mixed with other species like saja, bijiayasal, lendia, haldu, dhaora, salai, aonla, amaltas. The ground is covered with maze of grasses, plants, bushes and saplings. Bamboo is also found at places. Scattered white kulu trees, also referred to as 'ghost tree', stand out conspicuously among the various hues of green. Another important tree for both wildlife and tribal people of this region is mahua. The flowers of this tree are eaten by mammals and birds, and also harvested by the tribal people as food and to brew beer.

 

Fauna

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            The Bengal tiger is the main cat species of the park present in good numbers but since last one year due to 6 new born cubs their sightings have increased and being sighted almost every day. As per latest Tiger Census, there are approx. 40 tigers in the park, 39 species of mammals, 13 species of reptiles, 3 species of amphibians. Commonly seen wildlife is chital, sambar, nilgai, wild boar, and jackal. Also Indian leopard, sloth bear, indian wolf, wild dog, porcupine, monkey, jungle cat, fox, striped hyena, gaur, four-horned antelope and barking deer live in the park.

The park is rich in bird life too. According to an estimate of the wildlife authorities, the park harbours more than 210 species including several migratory ones. Some of them are peafowl, junglefowl, crow pheasant, crimson-breasted barbet, red-vented bulbul, racket-tailed drongo, Indian roller, magpie robin, lesser whistling teal, pintail, shoveller, egret and herons, minivet, oriole, wagtail, munia, myna, waterfowl and common kingfisher.

 

Safari Gates In Pench

          Pench Tiger Reserve has three entry point(Gate)  in  Madhya Pradesh namely, Turia, Karmajhiri, Jamtara & two Entry Point(Gate) in Maharashtra namely, Sillari & Khursapar.

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Turia Gate​

Jabalpur – Seoni – Khawasa – Turia :  215 km
Nagpur – Khawasa – Turia : 85 km
Balaghat – Seoni – Khawasa – Turia : 200 km
Seoni – Khawasa – Turia : 110 km.

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Sillari Gate

Nagpur – Vanpaoni – Sillari : 67 km

 

Khursapar Gate

Nagpur – Morphata – Khursapar : 81 km

 

Karmajhiri Gate

Nagpur–Suktara–Karmajhiri: 135 km
Balaghat–Seoni–Suktara–Karmajhiri: 150 km
Jabalpur–Seoni–Suktara–Karmajhiri: 195 km

Seoni – uktara – Karmajhiri : 50 km

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Jamtara Gate

Chhindwara – Bichhua – Pathri – Thotamal – Jamtara: 80 km.
Chhindwara – Chand – Maghdoun – Thotamal – Jamtara : 59 km.

 

How to Reach

Nearest Airport : Nagpur (85km) & Jabalpur (215km)
Nearest Railway Station : Nagpur (85km) & Jabalpur (215km)