Panna Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)
Panna Tiger Reserve is located in the Vindhyan Range and is at a distance of only 25 km from the popular tourist spot Khajuraho which add on to the charm of Panna Tiger Reserve. The tiger reserve is spread across the area of districts of Panna and Chhatarpur in the northern part of the Madhya Pradesh state.
Panna was declared as a National Reserve in the year of 1981. In the year of 1994, it was declared as Panna Tiger Reserve under the Project Tiger started by Government of India. It is the 22nd tiger reserve of India and the 5th tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh. The reserve also constitutes the area from former Gangau Wildlife Sanctuary which was created in the year of 1975. Once at the reserve, tourists can enjoy elephant rides. For jeep rides in the reserve, tourists are required to hire their own vehicle. Boat rides which are offered by the park authorities also make for an enjoyable activity.
Along with the opportunity to explore rich flora and fauna at the reserve, tourists also have sightseeing options nearby. The diamond mining industry in Panna makes for an interesting visit. Along with this, Pandav falls and Rajgarh Palace also offer good sightseeing options.
Flora @ Panna Tiger Reserve
The main kinds of forests found in the reserve are Southern tropical dry deciduous dry teak, Northern tropical dry deciduous mixed forest, Dry deciduous scrub forest, Boswellia forest, Dry bamboo brakes and Anogeissus pendula forest. Trees such as Boswellia serrata, Acacia catechu, Zizyphus spp., Aegle marmelos, Butea monosperma Tectona grandis, Diospyrous melanoxylon, Madhuca indica, Buchanania lanzan, Anogeissus latifolia, Anogeissus pendula, Gardenia spp. and Lannea coromandelica, can also be spotted.
Fauna @ Panna Tiger Reserve
Along with tigers, the reserve also boasts of various other mammals such as Jungle Cat, Leopard, Hyena, Wild Dog, Wolf, Sloth Bear, Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, Chinkara, Chausinga, Porcupine, Jungle Cat, Rusty Spotted Cat, Hare, Ratel, Tree Shrew, Hyaena, caracal, etc. Reptiles like long snouted crocodile and Marsh Crocodile are also found in the River Ken.
The reserve also makes for a good bird watching place with almost 200 species of avian creatures consisting of both migratory and residential ones. Some of the birds found here are white necked stork, bareheaded goose, honey Buzzard, King vulture, Blossom headed Parakeet, Paradise flycatcher, Slaty headed Scimitar babbler, etc.
Best time to visit Panna Tiger Reserve
The best time to visit the reserve is during the months of October to June.
Reaching Panna Tiger Reserve
- By air: The nearest airport to the Panna Tiger Reserve is Khajuraho which is just 25 km away. Tourists can reach Varanasi which is connected to various others cities via flights. And then take a connecting flight from here to Khajuraho. From the airport one can hire a taxi to the reserve.
- By rail: The nearest railway station is at Satna which is almost 90 km away from the reserve. There are many trains running between Satna and other cities and towns of central and western India. There are trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai as well.
- By road: The nearest bus stand is at Panna which is connected to Khajuraho and other places of the state. Madla which is just 24 km away from the city of Khajuraho is also well connected to the reserve via road.
Accommodation at Panna Tiger Reserve
Tourists will have wide range of accommodation facilities in and around the reserve. Ken River Lodge and Pashan Garh are two of the options available. There are options like resorts and guest houses at the Madla and Majgawan located quite near to the park.