Pench River
पेंच नदी
A river flowing north to south through the reserve. In the dry season, leftover pools and rocky riverbeds become hotspots for watching tigers and wild dogs drink.
The Pench River rises near Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh and flows north to south through the whole reserve. In the south it forms the boundary between Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, and both the reserve and the national park are named after it. Riverbank forest lines both sides. In the dry season, as water levels fall, large areas of rocky riverbed and deep and shallow pools are exposed. Tigers, leopards, Indian wild dogs, gaur and sambar deer come here to drink and cool off, and marsh crocodiles, otters and fish eagles are also common. In the core zone, the river can only be viewed from a jeep on a safari, and visitors may not get out. Some stretches outside the reserve offer rafting and boating after the rainy season; check with local camps for current operations.
Opening hours
Core-zone river stretch open with safari trips
Nearby sights
- Totladoh Dam
- Alikatta Meadows
- Turia Gate Core Zone
- Sillari Gate, Pench National Park (Maharashtra)
- Khursapar Gate
- Jamtara Gate
- Karmajhiri Gate
- Khawasa Buffer Zone