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 ParksWalk With the Wild
Madhya Pradesh
Image: LRBurdak and later editors / CC BY-SA 3.0Welcome to Satpura 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.
This link opens Booking.com, a third-party site.
Jeep and boat safaris are accessible for most visitors. Walking safaris require moderate fitness over uneven terrain. Madhai gate area and most lodges are accessible. The gorge terrain inside the park is challenging.
Satpura National Park is one of India's best-kept wildlife secrets and one of its most innovative parks for safari experiences. Set in the dramatic Satpura Range of central Madhya Pradesh, the park is unique in offering walking safaris — a rarity in India where most parks confine visitors to vehicles. The rugged terrain of deep gorges, narrow valleys, sandstone peaks, and dense forest creates an atmosphere of true wilderness. The Denwa River and Tawa Reservoir form the park's northern boundary, adding boat safaris to the experience. Despite having a good tiger population, Satpura remains uncrowded — offering the solitude that most famous tiger reserves have lost.
| 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 |
Three types of safaris: jeep, boat (on Denwa River), and walking. Walking safaris are typically 3-4 hours in the morning with an armed guide. Madhai gate is the main entry.
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Entry Fee (Indian) | INR 80 per person |
| Entry Fee (Foreigner) | INR 1,600 per person |
| Jeep Safari | INR 3,500 - 5,000 per trip |
| Walking Safari | INR 2,500 - 4,000 per person |
| Boat Safari | INR 2,000 - 3,000 per trip |
| Guide Fee | INR 500 per trip (mandatory) |
The combination of walking, boating, and jeep safaris makes Satpura one of the most diverse safari experiences in India. Walking safaris require reasonable fitness.
Satpura National Park, Hoshangabad District, Madhya Pradesh 461111
22.5234° N, 77.8910° E
Nearest airport is Bhopal (Raja Bhoj, 150 km). Regular flights from Delhi, Mumbai, and other cities.
Nearest stations are Pipariya (55 km) on the Mumbai-Howrah line and Itarsi Junction (90 km), a major railway hub.
150 km from Bhopal (3.5 hours). 55 km from Pipariya. The park gate at Madhai is accessed from the Pipariya-Pachmarhi road.
Taxis from Pipariya to Madhai. Safari vehicles and boats arranged through lodges or the park office at Madhai.
Teak-dominated dry deciduous forests, mixed forests with sal, bamboo thickets in valleys, and grasslands on plateaus. Medicinal plants are abundant. The rugged sandstone terrain creates unique micro-habitats.
Home to about 50 tigers, leopards, sloth bears (one of the highest densities in India), dholes, Indian giant squirrels, sambar, chital, gaur, marsh crocodiles, and smooth-coated otters in the Denwa River.
Satpura was declared a national park in 1981 and a tiger reserve in 1999. The park is named after the Satpura mountain range ('Seven Folds'). British naturalist Captain James Forsyth explored these forests in the 1860s and wrote the classic 'The Highlands of Central India.' Satpura pioneered walking safaris in India — an innovative approach that set it apart from conventional vehicle-based tourism.
