Panna National Park

Panna National Park spread over 543 sq. km. was carved out of the hunting reserves of the erstwhile Panna, Chattarpur and Bijawar states (Now in the state of Madhya Pradesh). This park was under the hold of Maharaja Chhatrasal’s kingdom, when he made Panna the capital of his kingdom in 17^th Century A.D. Panna was accorded sanctuary status in 1975 and upgraded to a national park in the year 1981. In 1994, it became India’s 22nd Tiger Reserve. Panna is situated at the junction of the Gangetic plains and the Deccan peninsula. The Panna hills provide the catchment area for the Ken River, which is the life line of the park. One of the highest waterfalls of India, ‘Renah’ is located here. It was awarded the ‘Best maintained National Park in India’ by the Ministry of Tourism in 2007. It was designated as Biosphere Reserve on 25^th August 2011.

It is predominantly an open forest, offering great opportunity to see the Tiger and other mammals. Ghariyal – A huge reptile found only in the Indian subcontinent, can be spotted at Ken Ghariyal sanctuary. The park is home to more than 200 species of birds including many rare and endangered ones, with six species of vulture found in this park.

Panna National Park with its’ biggest predators and waterfalls of dizzying heights will surely bring out the child in you. So come explore Panna with ‘Jungle Book Safari’!

Information:

Best time to visit: November – May

Size: 542.7 sq. km.

Forest Type: Mix Dry Deciduous Forest with prominent Teak alongwith Kardhai, Bamboo, Boswellia, Mahua, Saja, Bel, Tendu and Salai plantation

Mammals on focus: Leopard, Tiger, Chital, Chinkara, Nilgai, Sambar, Sloth Bear, Striped Hyena, Rusty Spotted Cat, Wild Dogs and Smaller Cats

Birds on focus: Bar-Headed Goose, Honey Buzzard, Blossom-Headed Parakeet, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Indian Vulture, Sulphur Bellied Warbler, Himalayan Griffon Vulture, Eurasian Eagle Owl, King Vulture, Stork Billed Kingfisher