Pench Tiger Reserve, in Madhya Pradesh, comprises the Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park, the Mowgli Pench Sanctuary (for real!!) and a buffer. The Park nestles in the Southern slopes of the Satpura ranges of Central India. The river Pench, which splits the National Park into two, forms the lifeline of the Park.The reserve and its neighbourhood is the original setting of Rudyard Kipling’s most famous work, The Jungle Book. Kipling borrowed heavily from Robert Armitage Strendale’s books ‘Seonee’, ‘Mammalia of India and Ceylon’ and ‘Denizens of the Jungle’ for the topography, wildlife, and its ways. Mowgli was inspired by Sir William Henry Sleeman’s pamphlet, ‘An Account of Wolves Nurturing Children in Their Dens’ which describes a wolf-boy captured in Seoni district near the village of Sant Baori in 1831. Many of The Jungle Book’s locations are actual locations in Seoni District, like the Waingunga river with its gorge where Sherkhan was killed, Kanhiwara villlage and the ‘Seeonee hills’.
Pench has been in the news recently as in literally “Raining Tiger Cubs”!! In the month of June, the park has been fortunate in three tigresses giving birth to as many as ten cubs.
pench tiger reserve @ MP
The terrain of the park is undulating with mainly gentle slopes criss-crossed by streams and nullahs. Most of these water courses are seasonal. Many of the hills are flat-topped and allow fine vistas of the forests around. The best known of these is ‘Kalapahar’ with an altitude of 650 mts. The Pench river flowing through the centre of the Reserve is dry by April but a number of water pools locally known as ‘dohs’ are found, which serve as waterholes for wild animals. A few perennial springs also exist. Recently a number of earthen ponds and shallow wells have been developed leading to well distributed sources of water all around the reserve.
The area is especially famous for large herds of Gaur (Indian Bison), Cheetal, Sambar, Nilgai, Wild Dog and Wild Pig. The key predator is the Tiger followed by Leopard, Wild Dog and Wolf. Other animals include Sloth Bear, Chousingha, Chinkara, Barking Deer, Jackal, Fox, Palm Civet, Small Indian Civet, Jungle Cat, Hyena, Porcupine etc.
There are over 285 species of resident and migratory birds including the Malabar Pied Hornbill, Indian Pitta, Osprey, Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, White-eyed Buzzard, etc. In winter thousands of migratory waterfowl including Brahmini Duck, Pochards, Barheaded Geese, Coots, etc visit the tanks and the Pench reservoir within the Park.
Nagpur (95 kms) is the nearest airport connected to Delhi & Mumbai and other places by regular flights. It is also the nearest railway station connected to most major metro cities. Jabalpur (192 kms) also serves as a convenient railhead connected to Delhi and other parts of the country. A 2 hour drive from here will take you to the reserve. Start early to avoid city traffic.
Highly recommend is Mahua Vann Resort for a stay if you are going on a Tiger trail. The resort is the latest on the scene in Pench and is beautifully merged with the surroundings making it a serene and relaxing stay in the wild. The rooms and resort are comfortable and are refreshingly simple yet offer all the amenities needed. The staff is extremely caring and since majority of them are locals are very helpful and informed of the area. The food too has local flavors which is much appreciated.
