Straddling Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra across the Seoni and Chhindwara districts, Pench takes its name from the river that runs through it. These are the forests that inspired Kipling’s The Jungle Book, a landscape of teak-clad hills and grasslands supporting a strong population of tigers and their prey.
The park opens from mid-October to June, with the core closed through the monsoon months of July to September. October to February is mild and green, while March to June is hotter and best for tiger sightings.
Several gates serve the reserve. On the Madhya Pradesh side these include Turia, Karmajhiri and Jamtara, with further gates on the Maharashtra side; Turia is the most popular entry point.
Nagpur airport is the closest of the central Indian parks at roughly 90 to 100 km, with rail also to Nagpur and a road transfer onward.
New shared safaris coming soon.
The forest holds Bengal tiger, leopard, dhole, sloth bear, gaur, chital, sambar and nilgai, together with more than 300 species of birds.
Morning and evening jeep safaris are the standard experience, with some buffer and night safaris available. Permits should be booked in advance.