Straddling the states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, Pench is named after the Pench River that meanders through its teak forests and open grasslands. Gentle hills, bamboo thickets, and scattered meadows create an inviting habitat for herbivores and carnivores alike. The park inspired Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, and sightings of tigers, leopards, and wild dogs continue to thrill visitors. Pench is equally rich in birdlife, with Malabar pied hornbills, owls, and raptors often spotted.

Pench National Park, straddling Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, is another “Jungle Book” landscape, home to tigers, leopards, and wild dogs. It has a strong prey base of chital, sambar, nilgai, wild boar, and gaur. Jackals, foxes, and jungle cats are also common. Pench hosts more than 285 bird species, including Indian pitta, grey-headed fishing eagle, Malabar pied hornbill, and ospreys. Reptiles like monitor lizards and pythons are also found here. The Pench River and its tributaries add to the park’s ecological richness.

Safari Timings:

• Morning: 6:30 AM – 10:30 AM
• Evening: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
   

Key Info:

• Open: October to June.
• Best Time: March–June for tigers.
• Inspiration for Kipling’s The Jungle Book.
• Rich in wild dogs, leopards, jungle cats, and diverse birdlife.
   

Pench National Park Fact

• Location of Pench: Seoni & Chhindwara Districts, Madhya Pradesh & Nagpur District, Maharashtra
• Nearest Access to Pench: Nagpur (92 km), Jabalpur (200 km)
• Coverage Area of Pench: 758-sq-kms
• Climate of Pench: Winter: 7°C – 22°C, Summer: 28°C – 42°C
• Major Wildlife Attraction in Pench: Tiger, Leopard, Wild Dog, Jungle Cat, Chital, Nilgai, 250+ bird species
• Best Time to Visit Pench: November to May