Planning a trip to Pench National Park from Lucknow? You’re already making a great choice. Pench is one of those places where you actually stand a good chance of spotting a tiger, and the forest itself is worth the journey even if you don’t.
The distance between Lucknow and Pench National Park is roughly 734 km depending on the route you take. You can get there by road, train, or flight. All three are workable, and each has its own trade-off between cost, comfort, and time. Let’s break it down simply.
Lucknow to Pench National Park by Road (Self-Drive or Cab)
Road distance: Around 734 km
Travel time: 12 to 13 hours
If you are driving your own car or booking a cab, this is the most flexible way to travel. You leave on your own schedule, you stop where you want, and you reach the park gate directly without any transfers.
The best route to follow is:
Lucknow → Kanpur → Sagar → Narsinghpur → Seoni → Pench (Turia Gate)
This route mostly covers NH 44, which is the Nagpur-Jabalpur highway. The road condition is good for most of this stretch. Pench National Park is located right on the Nagpur-Jabalpur highway, so reaching it from the highway side is straightforward.
Lucknow to Pench National Park by Train
This is the most budget-friendly option and is very comfortable if you book an AC sleeper.
There is no direct train from Lucknow to Pench. You have to take a train to Nagpur first, then take a cab from Nagpur to Pench.
A direct train from Lucknow NE (LJN) to Nagpur takes around 15 hours.
Once you reach Nagpur, Pench National Park (Madhya Pradesh side) is about 110 km from Nagpur, which takes 2 hours by cab.
Best trains to check on IRCTC:
- Vidarbha Express (LJN to NGP)
- Gondwana Express
- Kamayani Express
From Nagpur station, prepaid taxi services are available.
Another option is to take a train to Jabalpur and then cab it to Pench. Jabalpur is approximately 185 km from Pench and takes about 4 to 5 hours by road. This works if you get a better train connection to Jabalpur from Lucknow.
Lucknow to Pench National Park by Flight
If time is a concern and budget is flexible, fly from Lucknow to Nagpur.
The total flight time between Lucknow and Nagpur is around 5 hours 20 minutes including airport time.
Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow has flights to Nagpur. Airlines like IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet operate this route.
Nagpur Airport is the closest major airport to Pench and is located approximately 2 to 2.5 hours from the park’s main gates depending on the specific entry point.
After landing at Nagpur airport, you hire a cab directly to Pench. The transfer takes about 2 hours.
Which Entry Gate to Use
Pench has multiple entry gates. The most popular one is Turia Gate, which is on the Madhya Pradesh side. Most safaris start from here. The nearest bus stand to Pench is Khawasa, which is about 14 km from the park. Seoni is the major town nearby, and Seoni bus stand also connects to local transport heading toward the park.
If you are coming from Nagpur, you will approach via the Maharashtra side gate called Karmajhiri. Both gates are good, but Turia is preferred for jeep safaris on the MP side.
Nagpur to Pench by Road — Final Stretch
Whether you fly or take a train to Nagpur, the final cab ride is the same:
- Nagpur to Pench (Turia Gate): around 90 to 100 km
- Time: 2 to 2.5 hours
- Route: NH 44 toward Jabalpur, exit at Khawasa
FAQs
The road distance is approximately 734 km depending on the route.
By road via Kanpur-Sagar-Seoni is the most direct route. The flight via Nagpur is the fastest. The train to Nagpur and then cab is the most budget-friendly.
No direct train. Take a train to Nagpur (around 15 hours) and then a cab to Pench (2 to 2.5 hours).
Nagpur Airport (Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport), about 90 to 100 km from the park.
Seoni railway station is the closest at 22 km, but Nagpur Junction has far more train connections and is easier to reach from Lucknow.
Turia Gate on the Madhya Pradesh side is the most popular and has the most safari slots.
Conclusion
Getting to Pench National Park from Lucknow is not complicated once you know your route. For most travelers, the train to Nagpur followed by a cab works well and keeps costs reasonable. If you want speed, fly to Nagpur and you’ll be at the park gate in under 5 hours total. Road trips work great too if you enjoy driving and want to stop along the way.
