Pench Tiger Reserve

Madhya Pradesh

The evidence is undeniable, the feeling palpable, as you drive down the dusty dirt tracks, that around every corner a drama will unfold, a glimpse caught, a movement spotted. The sun-dappled forest floor is alive with spotted deer. Vast herds also gather on the shorelines of the park’s reservoir, offering a smorgasbord of food for Pench’s hungry carnivores that include leopards, wild dogs and tigers (thought to be close to 65). The remarkably unshy tigress, Collarwali, who has nurtured 20 cubs in five litters and whose mother was featured in the BBC’s Spy in the Jungle series is a treat to spot. It was here that Rudyard Kipling chose to base his story of the wolf boy Mowgli. However, it wasn’t until 1992 that Pench was included under the umbrella of Project Tiger. Today, the Reserve covers districts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The park is predominantly a teak forest, but other hardwoods and flowering trees support a rich and diverse array of birdlife too. ... Local villagers, mostly Gonds, will tell you about their local god, Mansingh Deo. He was a legendary figure who was believed to have supernatural healing powers and would ride into the local bazaar on his tiger. There are two temples dedicated to him, the Chhota Mansingh and Bada Mansingh temples which are worth a visit. The park has three tourism zones: Touria, Karmajhiri and Jhamtara. Read more