Most people often like to visit the sea, beaches, mountains, or wildlife to enjoy vacations and spend time with their family or friends. The greenery of dense forests and the peaceful valleys of nature attract man towards themselves. Madhya Pradesh is one of those provinces of India which has the maximum number of national parks. One of the important and famous parks among them is Pench National Park, which is spread across both the states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Pench National Park was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1983 and was given the status of a Tiger Reserve in 1992. Spread over a vast area of approximately 411 square kilometers, this forest is located in Seoni and Chhindwara districts. Its total protected area is 1179 square kilometers which gives it a special identity.
This National Park has also been the inspiration source of Rudyard Kipling's famous story “The Jungle Book”. This forest is also called Mowgli Land because many stories related to the story of Mowgli are popular here. This is a place which gives a unique experience and is like a heaven for nature lovers and wildlife photography enthusiasts.
Flora and Fauna at Pench National Park
Pench National Park is not only an important part of the forest life of India but is also famous for its amazing natural beauty. During monsoon, it receives good rainfall, the effect of which is visible on the greenery of the place. This forest is full of trees like Sal, Ain, Saja, Arjun, Bija, Tendu, Palash. Trees like Flame of the Forest (Butea Frondosa) and Amaltas enhance the beauty of the place.
Pench National Park is also especially famous for its vibrant fauna. Here you can see animals like Barking Deer, Hyena, Porcupine, Cheeta, Nilgai, Sambhar, Jungle Cat, Fox, and Wild Pig. Royal Bengal Tiger is the biggest attraction here, which can be seen mostly in the core region. If you are lucky you can also spot leopard here.
In the dense forests of Pench, not only animals of the jungle but also many special bird species can be seen, like Coots, Brahmini Duck, Bar-headed Geese, Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, Malabar Pied Hornbill, etc. In total, 300+ animal species, 30+ reptile species and 50+ fish species can be found here. This is going to be a unique experience for the nature lovers and wildlife lovers who come here.
Different Zones of Pench National Park
Pench National Park is divided into different zones which are known for different types of travel and experiences.
Turia Zone: This is the most famous zone and most tiger spotting happens here.
Karmajhiri Zone: This area also falls in the core zone and one gets an opportunity to see dense forest and wildlife here.
Jamtara Zone: This is a peaceful area that is considered best for photography and wildlife observation.
Wolf Sanctuary (Rukhad Buffer Zone): Wild dogs, wolves, bears and other unique creatures can be seen here.
Sillari Zone (Maharashtra): This is an area situated on the Maharashtra side and jungle safari here is a different kind of fun.
Conclusion-
Pench National Park is not just a wildlife destination but a natural wonderland which gives you a real experience of the stories of Jungle Book. The Royal Bengal Tigers, dense forests, wildlife species and the abundance of birds make it a unique tourist spot. If you are near Madhya Pradesh or Maharashtra then a trip here will be a memorable experience which you will not be able to forget in your entire life.
If you want to spend some precious moments with your loved ones, then must visit this place at once in your life.