Exploring The Mowgli Trail In Pench

Rudyard Kipling’s acclaimed book ‘The Jungle Book’ was based in the Pench National Park. While the novel has awed readers for generations and inspired filmmakers alike, you can actually visit the Park, and walk on the trail that acted as the muse for the writer.

Pench seems a perfect setting for a book, like a forest in interspersed with bamboo clusters, tall grasses, thick deciduous patches, and dry shrub landscape. Very few places boast of such flora diversity. So, you might be covered under the shade of trees one second, and walking through grassland the next.

Image Credit: tajhotels

Pench lies almost at the centre of India. This means it hosts a wide variety of animals and birds. You will be able to spot tigers, leopards, Gaur, Sambhar, Spotted deer, Nilgai, Barking deer, Indian Gazelle, Sloth bear, wild dogs, langurs, and rhesus macaques.

The leafless trees miles after miles, in the core of the forest, give you a mysterious feeling when you are amidst the jungle. The landscape is alluring. So, even if it takes time to spot a huge mammal, the safari is enjoyable nonetheless.

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The best thing to so in Pench is to reserve a spot in the morning safari. The teak forest has a golden glow, as the sun rises and the woods slowly come to life around you. You might even be able to spot a leopard strolling around or drinking water by the riverside.

Also, keep your cameras ready and eyes open. The forest hosts many species of birds too. So, if you are a birder, Pench can be quite a treat.

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Of the three entry gates to the park, Karmajhiri and Jamtara are better, as they are less crowded. You will be better able to enjoy a quiet jungle safari from here.

From the luxury to the budget resorts, there are plenty of options at Pench. This gives everyone an opportunity to explore the jungle without pinching their pockets. You can also opt for a night in a tree house, in the middle of the forest.

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The nearest airports are Nagpur, 130 km away and Jabalpur, 120 km away from Pench. These two are also the nearest railway stations. You can arrive by road from the Nagpur-Jabalpur highway.

So, pack your bags to experience the land of Mowgli.