My Jungle Junction
Pench is Central India's most unique and beautiful tiger reserve. The forest that inspired The Jungle Book. It is home to thriving wildlife, legendary tigers, the Pench River, and landscapes that change with every turn.
My Jungle Junction’s Guide to Pench Tiger Reserve
Pench is one of India’s most distinctive tiger landscapes, spread across Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Pench is the forest that brought the world Mowgli, Bagheera, Baloo and Sher Khan. The forest described in The Jungle Book draws heavily from the wilderness that surrounds Pench today. A safari here takes you into the real world behind one of the most famous jungle stories ever written, where Bengal tigers, leopards, gaur, deer and wild dogs still move through the forest.
For My Jungle Junction, Pench is a forest we know through its safaris, wildlife behaviour, changing landscapes and the stories that emerge from the road. Our Pench safari experiences are built around understanding the forest, choosing the right safari options and making the most of your time inside it.
1,920
sq. km reserve
3 + 5
Core + Buffer zones
1983
Declared National Park
Watch thrilling encounters and wildlife stories by My Jungle Junction
Pench Safari Packages
Safari slots are limited and they fill fast. We recommend planning and booking in advance to maximise your chances of seeing your favourite tiger.
2N / 3D
Teak forests of Mowgli's jungle. Best Indian park for the elusive black panther.
2N / 3D
Experience Pench at its finest, from its iconic tigers to the wildlife that thrives around them.
3N/4D
A deeper Pench experience for travellers who want more time with the forest, its tigers and the wildlife that shares their habitat.
2N / 3D
A premium Pench stay with three safari drives, designed for travellers who want comfort without compromising time in the forest.
3N/4D
A premium Pench escape with four jungle safaris and a premium-category jungle resort stay.
2N / 3D
Two safari drives, stay at a premium forest resort, and experience the best of Pench.
2N / 3D
An exclusive Pench escape that combines a luxury jungle resort with three carefully planned safari experiences.
3N/4D
A luxe and private Pench escape with four jungle safaris, luxury accommodation and every essential curated for your comfort.
The Forest's Living Network
Teak gives Pench much of its character, growing alongside Dhawda, Saja, Lendia, Salai, Mahua, Tendu, Bija and Tinsa across its dry deciduous forests. Along the Pench River, Arjun and Jamun mark the watercourses, while bamboo forms dense patches through parts of the reserve. These forests create the cover, food and water systems that hold the landscape together.
Best Safari Zones
Pench offers a different safari experience across its tourism zones, with access from both Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The landscape, forest routes and wildlife activity can vary between zones, making the choice of gate an important part of planning a Pench safari. On the Madhya Pradesh side, Turia and Karmajhiri form the main tourism zone, while Jamtara operates as a separate tourism zone.
The best-known safari gateway into Pench, Turia gives access to the main Karmajhiri tourism zone. Its well-established safari routes, open landscapes and varied wildlife make it a popular choice for first-time visitors.
Karmajhiri takes you into the heart of Pench's core forest, with a more expansive network of forest roads. It is part of the reserve's Karmajhiri Range, with dense woodland, open patches and watercourses shaping the safari landscape.
Jamtara lies in the Gumtara Range and provides access to Pench’s core forest through a separate tourism zone. Its routes pass through mixed woodland and open patches supporting tigers, leopards, herbivores and birds.
Sillari is one of Maharashtra Pench’s best-known safari gateways, offering access to teak woodland, open forest and water bodies. The zone supports tigers, leopards, gaur, sambar, chital, wild boar and rich birdlife.
Khursapar is a prominent Maharashtra core zone with mixed teak woodland, open areas and water sources. Its habitat supports tigers, leopards, gaur, sambar, chital, wild boar and numerous forest bird species.
Chorbahuli provides access to Maharashtra’s core forest through mixed woodland and open stretches. The zone supports tigers, leopards, gaur, sambar, chital, wild boar and a wide variety of birds.
Rukhad forms part of Pench’s wider buffer forest, with extensive woodland and open patches surrounding the core. The area supports gaur, sambar, chital, wild boar, sloth bears, leopards and numerous resident forest birds.
Khawasa lies in the northern buffer landscape of Pench, extending forest habitat beyond the core. Its woodland supports herbivores, predators and birds, with wildlife moving between the reserve and adjoining forest corridors.
How to Reach & When to Visit
Fly into Nagpur (NAG). 3–4 hour drive to Pench. Connected to Mumbai, Delhi, Pune & Hyderabad.
Chandrapur is the closest major railhead — about an hour from many safari gates. Nagpur offers wider connectivity.
Mumbai 10–12 hrs, Pune 8–9 hrs, Hyderabad ~9 hrs via Maha Samruddhi Marg.
Pench's main tourism season runs from October to June. The cooler months bring comfortable safari conditions, while the hotter months can offer stronger wildlife-viewing opportunities as animals spend more time around available water sources.
Cooler weather, greener forest, comfortable safaris.
Hotter conditions, stronger wildlife-viewing opportunities.
Select buffer experiences may operate depending on state regulations
MJJ Insight : Decide on your gate first. Distances between gates vary sharply, and your stay should match your zone.
Wildlife Of Pench Tiger Reserve
Tigers, leopards, the famous black leopard called Blackie, gaur, wild dogs, sloth bears, huge chital herds and a birds that keeps wildlife enthusiasts excited.
Famous Tigers of Pench Tiger Reserve
Pench has produced some of India's most legendary tigers who are a part of the forest's modern history. Collarwali, or T-15, remains the most celebrated of them all. Born in 2005, she became known worldwide for her extraordinary reproductive success, raising 29 cubs during her lifetime.
Your Stay In Pench
Resorts near Turia offer the widest range of accommodation and are just minutes from the park entrance, making early morning safaris convenient. Karmajhiri and Jamtara offer quieter stays for travellers looking to escape the busier tourist belt. On the Maharashtra side of Pench Tiger Reserve, Sillari and Khursapar have accommodation ranging from budget stays to luxury resorts, with this landscape becoming well known for sightings of the elusive melanistic leopard, popularly known as the black leopard.
Plan My StaySafari Dos & Don'ts
Why Pench Tiger Reserve Matters
Pench Tiger Reserve offers unique experiences centred on wildlife behaviour, landscape, and the possibility of unexpected encounters. For travellers, the experience changes considerably across the year. Summer brings animals closer to remaining water sources, making it a popular period for wildlife viewing. Winter offers cooler safari conditions, active birdlife and a forest that is still relatively dense. Different safari zones reveal different parts of the landscape, while the Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra sides offer separate routes and entry points into the larger reserve.
Plan My SafariFrequently Asked Questions
Share your details and we'll call you at your preferred time.
