Discover India's Wild Heritage
Explore the diverse ecosystems and magnificent wildlife across India's national parks
Explore ParksExplore the diverse ecosystems and magnificent wildlife across India's national parks
Explore ParksMowgli's Land
Madhya Pradesh
Image: Nandkishordudhe / CC BY-SA 4.0Welcome to Pench National Park! Use the resources below to plan your adventure in one of India's most treasured wild spaces.
Safaris, bird watching, nature walks, and more
Safari timings, open seasons, and park schedules
Entry fees, safari charges, and camera fees
How to reach by air, rail, and road
Official booking links, permits, and offline reservation guidance
Nearby stays, forest rest houses, and booking resources
Book safari permits through the Madhya Pradesh forest booking portal.
Jeep safaris on maintained forest roads. Terrain is relatively gentle compared to other MP parks. The Turia gate area is accessible. Most resorts have ground-floor rooms. Night safaris in the buffer use the same jeep format.
Pench National Park straddles the border of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, with the Pench River flowing through its heart. This is the landscape that Rudyard Kipling described in The Jungle Book — the 'Seeonee hills' (Seoni district) are the very hills where Mowgli's adventures unfolded. The park's open teak forests and gentle terrain make wildlife sighting remarkably rewarding. Pench gained further fame through the BBC documentary 'Spy in the Jungle' and National Geographic's coverage of its tiger families. The park's dholes (wild dogs) — Kipling's 'Red Dogs' — are among the most frequently sighted in India.
| Season | Morning Safari | Evening Safari |
|---|---|---|
| Winter (Oct - Feb) | 6:00 AM - 11:00 AM | 2:30 PM - 5:30 PM |
| Summer (Mar - Jun) | 5:30 AM - 10:30 AM | 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM |
Two main gates on the MP side: Turia and Karmajhiri. Turia is closer to the core zone and more popular. Wednesday afternoon safaris are closed.
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Entry Fee (Indian) | INR 80 per person |
| Entry Fee (Foreigner) | INR 1,600 per person |
| Jeep Safari | INR 4,000 - 6,000 per trip |
| Guide Fee | INR 500 per trip (mandatory) |
| Camera Fee | INR 200 (still), INR 500 (video) |
Book through MP Online portal. Core zone permits are limited per day. Buffer zone safaris available with separate permits and are less crowded.
Pench National Park, Seoni District, Madhya Pradesh 480881
21.7500° N, 79.2500° E
Nearest airport is Nagpur (92 km from Turia gate). Regular flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and other cities.
Nearest railway station is Seoni (30 km) or Nagpur (92 km). Nagpur is on the Mumbai-Howrah main line with excellent connectivity.
92 km from Nagpur (2 hours) on NH-44. Well-maintained highway. Taxis available from Nagpur airport and station. State buses run to Seoni.
Safari jeeps available at Turia and Karmajhiri gates. Most resorts provide transfers from Nagpur. Limited local transport near the park.
Open teak-dominated dry deciduous forests — less dense than Kanha or Bandhavgarh, making wildlife more visible. Mixed forests with Mahua, Tendu, Arjun, and Bamboo. River habitats along the Pench.
Home to approximately 55-60 tigers, leopards, and one of India's most visible dhole (wild dog) populations. Also hosts gaur, sambar, chital, nilgai, wild boar, jungle cats, and mugger crocodiles in the river.
Pench was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1965 and a national park in 1975. It became a tiger reserve under Project Tiger in 1992. The park's connection to Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book was established through geographical references — Kipling set his stories in the 'Seeonee hills' (Seoni district) where Pench is located. Though Kipling never visited India's jungles, his detailed descriptions remarkably match Pench's landscape of teak forests, river valleys, and wolf-inhabited rocky outcrops.
