Straddling Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, Pench Tiger Reserve is the real-life setting that inspired Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book. Open grasslands, teak forests, and the Pench river shape a landscape where tigers, leopards, wild dogs, and over 325 bird species thrive. Pench has earned the TX2 award for doubling its tiger count, and its buffer zones offer quieter, photographer-friendly safaris.
Safari gates
Where to enter the forest
Core – Madhya Pradesh
Turia Gate
The main gate on the MP side of Pench, known for its dense teak forests and predictable tiger territories.
Buffer – North
Jamtara Gate
A newer buffer gate offering excellent value and quieter safaris. Tigers here are increasingly habituated to jeeps.
Core – East
Karmajhiri Gate
Scenic eastern entry into Pench, known for the Pench river landscape and rich birdlife.
