Destinations

Situated in the Vindhya Ranges and spanning the districts of Chhatarpur and Panna in Madhya Pradesh, Panna National Park holds the distinction of being India’s 22nd Tiger Reserve and the fifth in the state. Established in 1981, it gained recognition as a Project Tiger Reserve in 1994 under the Government of India’s conservation initiative. In recognition of its management and upkeep, Panna National Park received the Award of Excellence for being the best-maintained national park in India in 2007 from the Ministry of Tourism. Later, in 2011, it was also designated as a Biosphere Reserve.

Panna is celebrated for its rich biodiversity, particularly its population of Royal Bengal Tigers. The park’s dry deciduous climate supports a mix of tall grasses, thorny woodlands, and diverse tree species such as Achar, Tendu, Seja, Mahua, Salai, Saja, and Bel.

The park is home to a wide array of wildlife, including jungle cats, tigers, wild dogs, hyenas, sambars, blue bulls (nilgai), sloth bears, spotted deer, chinkaras, four-horned antelopes, hares, rusty-spotted cats, porcupines, and ratels. The Ken River also shelters aquatic species like the long-snouted crocodile and the marsh crocodile. With over 200 species of migratory and resident birds, Panna National Park is a paradise for bird watchers and nature enthusiasts alike.