Pench National Park
Maharashtra Β· Vidarbha Β· 300m
Mowgli's jungle β where Kipling's Jungle Book comes alive with tigers and leopards
Why Special
Pench straddles the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh border and is believed to have inspired Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book. The Pench River (the Waingunga of the stories) runs through the park. It's quieter than Tadoba, with good tiger and leopard sightings, wild dogs, and a spectacular landscape of teak and bamboo forest along the riverbed.
Infrastructure Reality
Network Coverage
Very limited signal near gates. No signal inside park.
Medical & Emergency
Hospital: Basic clinic near Sillari. Nagpur (90km) for hospital (90 km)
Ambulance: 108 (45min+ response)
Police: Forest department. Nearest police at Ramtek (40km)
Getting There
Nagpur β 90km (2hrs)
Roads: NH44 to turnoff is excellent. Last 20km to park is narrow.
Public transport: Train to Nagpur, then taxi. No public transport to park.
Fuel & Stay
Fuel: Sillari gate area has a pump. Nagpur (90km) has multiple
Stay: βΉ1,500β18,000/night
15+ options (jungle lodge, resort, camping)
Emergency: Very limited β always book ahead.
The stay decisions worth flagging in Pench National Park.
Pench straddles MP and Maharashtra β the Maharashtra side is less famous but has the Mowgli connection (Kipling set Jungle Book here). Lodges cluster around the Khursapar and Sillari gates. Baghvan (Taj Safaris) is the flagship; Pench Jungle Camp, Tuli Tiger Resort, and Mahua Vann Resort are mid-tier alternatives. 100 km from Nagpur; combine with Tadoba in a two-park wildlife trip.
Baghvan Pench Jungle Lodge (Taj Safaris) is βΉ15-20k more per night than Pench Jungle Camp β what you get: Taj-brand luxury tented suites, private plunge pools, full-board safari inclusive. Pench Jungle Camp gives you cottage-style safari resort with good naturalist access. The delta buys you Taj Safaris' signature service and design, not better tiger sightings.
Baghvan Pench Jungle Lodge (Taj Safaris)
Taj Safaris' flagship Pench property β tented suites with private plunge pools, machan viewing decks, full-board safari packages with expert naturalists. One of the highest-rated wildlife lodges in India. Usual 2-night minimum.
Pench Jungle Camp
Mid-tier Pench resort with cottages and tent accommodation, naturalist-led safaris included. Less polished than Baghvan but same park access, half the price. Good for first-time wildlife visitors who don't need ultra-luxury.
No location pick here that's worth the flag. See alternatives below.
No x-factor pick here that's worth the flag. See alternatives below.
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Daily Budget Reality
Budget
βΉ3,500Mid-range
βΉ6,900Luxury
βΉ16,500π‘ Slightly cheaper than Tadoba. Fewer luxury lodges. Good value jungle camps available.
Crowd Intelligence
Best days: Any
Summer best for tiger sightings. Closed during monsoon. Less crowded than Tadoba year-round.
Food & Dining
Cuisine: Resort/lodge food. Nagpur nearby for Vidarbha food β tarri poha, saoji mutton
All-inclusive packages at lodges are the norm. Carry snacks for long safari drives.
How to Reach
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