Vanam / Parks / Madhya Pradesh
पेंच टाइगर रिज़र्व
Mowgli's forest on the Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra border.
Pench Tiger Reserve lies in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh, along the border with Maharashtra, where the Pench river flows north to south through the park. A separate Maharashtra side, the Pench (Priyadarshini) reserve, lies across the border. The Madhya Pradesh side became a national park in 1983 and a tiger reserve in 1992.
The forest is mostly dry and moist deciduous, with teak, mahua and bamboo, and the Totladoh reservoir in the south. The landscape is linked to Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book. Tigers, leopards, dhole, sloth bears and gaur live here, along with a long list of birds. Pench is also known for Collarwali, a tigress that raised dozens of cubs.
Taller bars mean better wildlife viewing. Select a month to read what it is like.
The dots show how likely you are to see each animal on a typical safari.
India's national animal and the reason most visitors come to a safari.
Pench has a healthy tiger population, with regular sightings in the Turia zone.
The most common deer on safari, and the main prey of tigers and leopards.
A red, pack-hunting wild dog that whistles to keep its pack together.
The largest wild cattle in the world, with a muscular shoulder hump.
A long-tailed monkey whose alarm calls often reveal a hunting tiger or leopard.
A secretive spotted cat that often hunts at night and rests in trees or rocks.
India's national bird; the male spreads a train of long feathers when displaying.
Asia’s largest antelope, with a bluish-grey coat.
The largest deer in India, whose alarm call warns the forest of a predator.
A shaggy, long-clawed bear that feeds mainly on termites and fruit.
Distances and travel times are approximate. Closure dates and permit rules change, so confirm them with the forest department before you book.
The forests around Seoni, in and near Pench, are often said to have inspired Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book.
A tigress, also called T-15, that raised 29 cubs over her life and died in January 2022.
About 90 km, or around 1.5-2 hours by road (approx.).
The Madhya Pradesh side became a national park.
Declared a tiger reserve.
The tigress Collarwali, named after the radio collar she wore, raised 29 cubs in eight litters. She became one of India’s best-known tigers and died in January 2022.
Tell us your dates and group size. We will arrange the safari permits, stay and transfers.
