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About Pench National
Park
The India Eco-development project was started in Pench Tiger
reserve in 1996-97 with the aid from Wor ld
Bank. Under this project 99 villages around the tiger reserve have
been identified in order to develop their own resources, so that their
dependency on the project area is mitigated. In return , they will
co-operate and participate in protection of Tiger.
General
Information :
Pench National Park: 292.85 sq km
Sanctuary: 118.31 sq.km
Other forest Area: 346.89 sq km
Total Pench Tiger Reserve: 757.89 sq.km
Location :
Main Entrance Gate at Turia is 12 kms from Khawasa. Khawasa lies on
Nagpur Jabalpur NH-7 just on border of Madhya Pradesh & Maharashtra.
Khawasa is 80 kms from Nagpur and 190 kms from Jabalpur end.
Pench Tiger
Sanctuary:
Pench National park, nestling in the lower southern reaches
of the satpuda hills is named after Pench river, meandering through
the park from north to south. It is located on the southern boundary
of Madhya Pradesh, bordering Maharashtra, in the districts of Seoni
and Chhindwara.
The undulating terrain of Pench is covered with small
hills and well stocked taek and mixed forest. The main flora being
Teak (Tectona grandis) , Saja (Terminalia tomentosa), Bija (Pterocarpus
marsupium), Lendia, Haldu, Dhaora, Aonla, Amaltas etc. The ground is
covered with a number of grasses, bushes, herbs & shrubs. Dazzling
white Kullu trees scattered around singly in the forest is conspicuous
among various hues of green. The old plantations of Teak & Bamboo add
orderly vistas in the otherwise general wilderness.
The fl ow
of Pench river stops in December, what remains are a
few scenic and serene pools in the river bed. There are a few
perennial springs and tanks. At the southern boundary of park, the
Pench river has been dammed for Pench hydroelectic project at Totladoh.
At the maximum capacity the reservoir submerges 54 sq kms of the park
area. This had been the loss of best valley forest, which was once
referred by Sir Rudyard Kipling in his book named "Jungle Book".
This large reservoir of Pench with sporadic islands attract a number
of winter birds from north.
Cheetal, SamBAR, Neelgai are commonly seen grazing on the open sites
on roadsides and banks of river & reservoir. Jackals can be seen in
search of food anywhere in park . Packs of wild dogs can also be seen
occasionally . Herds of Gaur can be spotted near streams and bamboo
patches, more common during summer months.
Langurs are very common. Whereas Rhesus monkeys may be seen
occasionally on the fringes There are around 50 Tigers and 30 Leopards
they are a shy lot and can be seen on roads and near water pools of
river during summer months. Pench boasts of more than 210 species of
birds including several migratory ones. Commonly seen are Pea fowl,
Red jungle fowl, Crow pheasant, Crimson breasted barbet, Redvented
bulbul, Racket tailed drongo, Magpie robin, Lesser whistling teal.
How to Reach
Pench Tiger Reserve :
Nagpur is the nearest rail head and all the south bound trains stop
here. Even Nagpur is the nearest airport, one can hire a taxi or board
a bus from Nagpur and come to Khawasa which is 80 Km from Nagpur on
Nagpur-Jabalpur NH-7. Also Tourist can come similarly from Jabalpur to
Khawasa which is 190 kms from Jabalpur. From Khawasa tourist has to
hire a petrol vehicle to enter into park through Turia gate which is
12 kms from Khawasa.
Tourist can use their own jeep/car or can hire from Nagpur, Jabalpur
or Seoni |
