PENCH NATIONAL PARK

Welcome to another important park of India called Pench. Pench park is located in two states viz Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The park drives its name from river Pench which starts from Mahadeo hills of Satpura Ranges. For better understanding we should divide them as Madhya Pradesh’s Pench & Maharashtra’s Pench as there is some difference in ruling. Although, for both parks mostly hotels are located in one area called Touria which is in Madhya Pradesh. Mostly important gates/ zones are easily feasible from this Gate.

Madhya Pradesh’s Pench, all together spans through 1179 sq. kms along southern slope of Satpura ranges. This has high level of mixing in Biodiversity. It has three type of forest as: –

A.      Southern Tropical Wet Deciduous forest

B.      Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous teak forest.

C.      Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous mixed forest.

Location & how to reach Pench

The main location called Touria Gate/ area for hotels can be reached from Nagpur 85 kms (02:30hrs), from Jabalpur is 215 kms (04 hrs), from kanha is 200 kms (03;30 hrs). The nearest airports are Jabalpur, Nagpur. The second gate Jamtara is 80 kms from Chindwara. One has to reach this places form Nagpur & other places. The third gate is Karmajhiri which is 135kms (03:30 hrs) from Nagpur, 195 kms (04:30 hrs) from Jabalpur.

Safari Zones & Gates - From tourism point of view, the park is divided into 03 zones. Out of them Touria is core area & Telia , Rukkhad  are buffer area. In this part of Pench you entre by any gate like Touria, Jamtara & Karmahjiri safari area remains same. You are entering same zone but with other directions only.

Number of Jeeps/ canters for safaris in Madhya Pradesh’s Pench. - Pench has below distribution of jeeps for direct tourists at various gates. Touria: Morning shift 37 & afternoon 37 , Karmajhiri: Morning shift 08 & afternoon 08 , Jamtara: Morning shift 05 & afternoon 04

The main forest of this part is Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous forest with sub types of Dry Teak bearing & Southern Dry Deciduous forests. The undulating topography presents a lot of variations in vegetation from moist sheltered valleys to open Dry Deciduous forests. The main trees groups consist of Teak and its relative like Garari, Salai, Mowai, Tendu etc.

Safari Zones & Gates in Maharashtra ’s Pench - From tourism point of view, the park is divided into 06 zones. Out of them Khursapar, Sillari & Chorbhauli are core area & Surewani, Kolitmara & Khubala are buffer area. - Khursapar is 08 kms (15 minutes) from Touria/Hotel area, Sillari is 20 kms (40 minutes) from Touria / Hotel area, Chorbhauli is 30 kms (60 minutes) from Touria / Hotel area.

All above zones have different gates & areas. This is the difference between two Pench.

Opening & closing date of Maharashtra’s Pench & weekly off. - This Pench opens from 01”st October to 30”th June every year.  This park does not open in monsoon season i.e. July, August & September.

Number of Jeeps/ canters for safaris in Maharashtra’s Pench.Pench has below distribution of jeeps for direct tourists at various gates. Khursapar: Morning shift 19 & afternoon 19 , Sillari: Morning shift 24 & afternoon 24 , Chorbhauli: Morning shift 07 & afternoon 07