Pench Tiger Reserve

Spanning across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, Pench Tiger Reserve is the setting that inspired Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Jungle Book’. One of the premier tiger reserves in central India, Pench’s abundant ecosystem is home to 164 species of birds, 50 species of fish, 10 species of amphibians, 30 species of reptiles, and a wide variety of insect life. Among the mammals found here are tiger, gaur, cheetal, wolf, sambar, nilgai, wild dog, wild pig, jungle cat, hyena, porcupine etc. Pench has over 285 species of resident and migratory birds including the hornbill, Indian pitta, osprey, grey-headed fishing eagle, white-eyed buzzards, storks, green pigeon, waterfowls, white-eyed buzzard, endangered vultures white-rumped, longbilled, white scavenger and king vulture are found here among numerous migratory and resident birds. The other fauna present here includes 50 species of fishes, 10 amphibians, 30 reptiles, 45 butterflies, 54 moths and numerous other insects. Booking for the Pench Jungle Safari can be made online for all short (2-3 days) and long tours (12 days); usually beginning from Nagpur. Totladoh Dam, built on Pench River is also a must see for tourists visiting the Pench Tiger Reserve. Kanha National Park, Pachmarhi Hill Station and Pristine Tamia are some other popular tourist destination that offer breath-taking sights, especially during the monsoons.