Panna National Park, India is famous for Jungle Safari
Panna National Park is known for tigers and spectacular waterfalls!
A Guest Article by Hema Bisht
Feature Image: Pashan Garh Taj Safari (Source: MakeMyTrip.com)
Panna National Park is located in the Vindhyan Hills. It spans the Panna and Chattarpur districts of northern Madhya Pradesh. It is known for its tigers. The Panna National Park has a mix of plateaus and gorges bordered by dry deciduous forest. The Park is also known for its spectacular waterfalls. Mesmerizing natural beauty and archaeological remains surround the national tiger reserve…
The Panna National Park is India’s 22nd Tiger Reserve and the fifth in Madhya Pradesh. The National Park was established in 1981, but the Government of India designated it as a Project Tiger Reserve in 1994. The Ken River, which flows through the Panna Tiger Reserve from south to north, is thought to be the home of Gharial and Mugger. As well as one of the least polluted rivers as a tributary of the Yamuna.
Panna National Park: A History
According to mythology, the Pandavs of Mahabharat spent a significant portion of their exile here in the Panna National Park’s jungles. This was a long time ago, yet the park region continues to draw tourists from all walks of life. The Park was the royal family of Panna’s private hunting grounds. The Park was designated as a wildlife refuge when the country gained independence.
The rulers of Panna, Chhatarpur, and Bijawar states used the forest region of the Panna Tiger Reserve as a hunting reserve. These states have pledged to safeguard these forests. After combining the forests in the north and south, the Panna Forest division was formed in 1975. In 1978, the sanctuary was expanded to include the Chhatarpur forest division.
This Park was designated as a National Park in 1981, and it now draws a considerable number of animal enthusiasts. The Panna National Park covers 543 square kilometers. It was designated as a tiger reserve in 1996, but had almost no tigers in 2009. Tigers returned once again in 2014.
Panna National Park: Why to Visit
The main tourist attraction in this National Park is the fauna. The presence of the majestic tigers is especially notable. Small cats, Sloth Bear, Sambar, Chital, Chow singha, Nilgai, and Chinkara are just a few of the magnificent species one can find in this National Park.
Jungle Safari at Panna National Park
Panna National Park visitors can take jungle safari rides in safari vehicles. These safaris can be booked online or at the entrance gate ticket booth. The Panna jungle safari is a favorite attraction for all visitors, whether they are visiting the Panna national park or the Khajuraho monuments.
A Jeep safari or a canter safari are available to tourists. At the entrance gate, tourists must acquire an entrance ticket as well as pay for the safari vehicle and guide. Safari vehicles are often rented from private operators that have registered their vehicles with the park authority. Tourist can book their safari though their travel agent well in advance to avoid last minute inconvenience. Here, tourist can enjoy elephant safari, but this should be written on form from field director & the cost of an elephant safari is quite high.
Timing: Timing is depending upon the sunrise & sunset. It would depend upon the weather as well
Morning: 0600 – 1000 hrs.
Evening: 1430 – 1745 hrs.
Here, it is important point that the Park is closed for evening safari on every Wednesday. While full day closure is observed on Diwali & Holi Festivals.
Where to Stay
Panna has limited options for hotels, but you can stay in some of these which have all the modern amenities. Ken River Lodge, Sarai Ki Toria, Camp Panna, Panna Tiger Resort, Taj Pashan Garh, Madla Jungle Camp (by MP Tourism), etc. are some of the good accommodation facilities.
How to get There
Panna National Park is in the Panna district of Madhya Pradesh. It’s in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh, in the Vindhyan ranges. It’s a well-known tiger reserve in Central India that easily accessible by road, train, and flight options.
By Air: Khajuraho Airport, 40 kilometers away, is the closest airport to Panna National Park. It is a medium-sized airport with flights to Varanasi and Delhi. Jabalpur Airport, which has flights to Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, is the second-best option.
By Train: The nearest railway station (40 kms) for visiting Panna National Park is Khajuraho, which has limited connectivity from Varanasi, Delhi, Agra, and Bhopal. The next best alternative is Satna railway station (80 Kms), which has good train connections to important towns and tourist attractions such as New Delhi, Agra, Mathura, Varanasi, Allahabad, Katni, Jabalpur, and Bhopal.
By Road: Panna is the nearest bus station, with a well-developed road network connecting it to Khajuraho and other Madhya Pradesh destinations. Mandla is a good transit hub, located around 24 Kms southwest of Khajuraho. Buses and other modes of road transportation can be used to get to Panna National Park from here.
Location:
Regular tours are also conducted by travel agencies specializing in local knowledge and arrangements. For more information, please connect with travel@qualityindiatours.com, who have won various awards, including the one from Incredible India
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