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Pench
Jungle Camp
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An Introduction
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Pench Jungle Camp - Excursion
near Pench Jungle Camp - Pench
Jungle Camp - Guest
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Excursion
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Places
to see in the Park
Alikatta : The Alikatta area appears to
be the hub around which the park is planned. All tracks seem to wind their way
in different directions only to all end at Alikatta. It is a fascinating expanse
of grassland (when it isn't submerged under water!), where it is possible to come
across any of the animals found in the park. It is one of the few places left
in the country where every evening one gets to see the amazing spectacle of grazing
herds consisting of thousands of spotted deer. Where there are deer, there will
be predators. So keep your eyes open here. It is also the location from where
the elephant rides commence. Alikatta is also home to Saraswati, a recently born
baby elephant (in June 03), who one is sure will keep visitors enthralled with
her antics for a few years to come still.
Sitaghat : This spot
is arguably the prettiest location in all of Pench National Park. As the winding
track comes to a dead end, it brings you to the bank of the river Pench dotted
with rocks and artistic looking trees. In the summer months, bushes with white
flowers run all along the bank. To see these flowers in full bloom, it is a must
to visit the spot in the morning hours, as they close by early evening. If patient,
it appears to be an excellent spot for wildlife viewing. The only problem being
you are totally exposed, and animals being as vary of humans as they intellegently
are, chances are they will shy away before you even know they are around. The
evening has a charm of its own here with the light of the low sun painting an
amazing scenery with contrasting shadows and highlights. It is a good spot for
bird lovers. Make sure you have your binoculars with you.
Chhindimatta
Road : This road that branches off and leads to the huge Pench reservoir is
an absolutely must see while visiting the park. While a majority of the rest of
the park is quite flat, this section is full of ups and downs over rocky hills
and through excellent forest. Although not very high, the rockly cliffs beside
the track seem like excellent places to come across a handsome leopard to make
it a perfect picture. It is also an excellent area for spotting buzzards, eagles
and hawks.
Bodhanala range : This area is worth seeing for its variety
of topography. It goes from slopy hills, to bamboo forest, to a large pond close
to the edge of the park. Although Mohit didn't see too many animals in this area,
he was fascinated by the number of bird species he saw here. Similar to the Chhindimatta
Road, it is an excellent area for raptors. Maybe even better. He also spotted
a huge grass snake darting across the track on his last visit to the area. The
small reservoir is an excellent location to spot water birds. Your jeep driver
will most probably stop here to check with the outpost for news of tiger sightings,
giving you a good opportunity to stretch those legs and to do some duck and cormorant
sighting.
Raiyakassa : This is the location of a watchtower built
by the park authorities. The roof of this cement watchtower provides and excellent
view of the river pench. The park authorities also offer visitors the choice of
spending a night at this watchtower. The facilities are extremely basic but any
night spent on that roof will be embedded in the visitor's memory forever for
sure. It is quite common to spot Bison coming down to the river here. On occasions,
a tiger too has been spotted from this spot.
Doob Road : This track
running close to the edge of the water bodies is an excellent area for spotting
all varieties of animals. After the monsoon season however, most of it is submerged
until the water levels once again recede. During the rest of the year, it is quite
common to come across huge herds of deer and bison, while driving along this track.
Leopards have also been seen in this area.
Kalapahad : The Kalapahad
area comes up on the main track leading in from the entrance at The Pench Jungle
Camp.
Places to see around the Park
Bandhavgarh
National Park
A
wildlife retreat, where history and nature meet, Bandhavgarh is not too far away
from Kanha. Set amidst the Vindhyan ranges, the Park has a series of ridges running
through it. Initially just 105.40 sq. km. in area, Bandhavgarh with 25 resident
tigers, was noted for its high density tiger population. Today, it has been extended
to an area of 437 sq. km.
About half the Park is covered with fine stands
of sal, while mixed forests are found in the higher reaches of the hills. Stretches
of bamboo and grasslands extend to the north.
The main viewing area is
still in the core of the Park with its 32 picturesque, wooded hills. An ancient
fort up on a precipice, 800 metres high, dominates the Park.
Bandhavgarh's
history goes back 2000 years in time and the earliest signs of habitation can
be seen in the Caves excavated from the cliffs to the north of the fort. Brahmi
inscription here, date back to the 1st century BC A hunting reserve of the roya!
family of Rewa in more recent times, Bandhavgarh was declared a Park in 1968.
This is where the famous white tigers of Rewa were discovered.
Wandering
through the Park on elephant back, the chances of seeing a tiger are quite good.
Also to be seen here are nilgai, chausingha, chital, chinkara, wild boar and sometimes
a fox or jackal.
Other inhabitants of the Park include the muntjac, jungle
cat, ratel, hyena, porcupine, the rhesus macaque and the black-faced langur. About
150 species of birds are also found here and include the migratory birds that
arrive in winter like the steppe eagle and various water birds.
It is
possible to climb up to the Bandhavgarh fort for a breathtaking bird's-eye view
of the Park and there is also a small population of black buck that lives here,
protected from the predators below. General Information:
Best Time
to Visit: November to June.
Nearest Town: Umaria (30 km)
How to Get Here: Air: Jabalpur (170 km), Khajuraho (210 km) Rail:Umaria (30
km), Jabalpur (170 km)
Kanha National Park
Located
in the Mandia district of Madhya Pradesh, the Kanha National Park is a Tiger Reserve
that extends over 1945 sq. km. of undulating country. Elevations range from 450
to 900 meters.
A horseshoe shaped valley bounded by the. spurs of the
Mekal ridge gives Kanha an interesting topography. The Surpan River meanders through
Kanha's central maidans - grasslands that Dover the extensive plateaus. Steep
rocky escarpments along their edges offer breathtaking views of the valleys below.
The grasslands at Kanha interspersed with forests of sal, teeming with
varieties of deer - the barasinqha, chital (spotted deer), chousingha, nilgai,
the majestic gaur (Indian bison) and wild pig, is 'tiger country'. It is ideal
for viewing both the predator and the prey.
It was here at Kanha that
the eminent zoologist George Schaller undertook the first ever-scientific study
of the tiger. Another landmark at Kanha is the preservation of the "hard
ground' barasingha (cervus duvauceli branderi) - the only surviving population
of this Central Indian subspecies. This was achieved by extending the grasslands,
relocating villages and by increasing the habitat.
The animals at Kanha
are best observed from elephant back and the open country makes the chance of
sightings reasonably good. Deer are seen along the maidans and gaur at Bamhindadr
or in the Bishanpura Sondhar- Ghorella area of the Mukki range. This area is also
ideal for spotting the dhole or wild dog. spotting the dhole or wild dog. Langurs,
wild boar, water fowl and birds are also commonly seen.
General Information:
Best Time to Visit: March to June
Nearest Town: Mandla (65
Km)
How to Get Here:
Air: Jabalpur (170 km), Nagpur (270 km)
Rail: Jabalpur (170 km), Nagpur (270 km)
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What a wonderful place to stay while visiting a truly beautiful and exciting park.
The tiger was wonderful, the birds fun to watch and all the other animals were
great - but your people were the best. - Christina and Eric Holenda 
