The India
Eco-development
project
was started
in Pench
Tiger
reserve
in 1996-97
with the
aid from
World
Bank.
Under
this project
99 villages
around
the tiger
reserve
have been
identified
in order
to develop
their
own resources,
so that
their
dependency
on the
project
area is
mitigated.
In return
, they
will co-operate
and participate
in protection
of Tiger.
Location
(Pench
National
Park)
:
Main Entrance
Gate at
Turia
is 12
kms from
Khawasa.
Khawasa
lies on
Nagpur
Jabalpur
NH-7 just
on border
of Madhya
Pradesh
&
Maharashtra.
Khawasa
is 80
kms from
Nagpur
and 190
kms from
Jabalpur
end.
Pench
Tiger
Sanctuary:
Pench
National
park,
nestling
in the lower
southern
reaches
of the satpuda
hills is
named after
Pench river,
meandering
through
the park
from north
to south.
It is located
on the southern
boundary
of Madhya
Pradesh,
bordering
Maharashtra,
in the districts
of Seoni
and Chhindwara.
The undulating
terrain
of Pench
is covered
with small
hills and
well stocked
taek and
mixed forest.
The main
flora being
Teak (Tectona
grandis)
, Saja (Terminalia
tomentosa),
Bija (Pterocarpus
marsupium),
Lendia,
Haldu, Dhaora,
Aonla, Amaltas
etc. The
ground is
covered
with a number
of grasses,
bushes,
herbs &
shrubs.
Dazzling
white Kullu
trees scattered
around singly
in the forest
is conspicuous
among various
hues of
green. The
old plantations
of Teak
& Bamboo
add orderly
vistas in
the otherwise
general
wilderness.
The flow
of Pench
river stops
in December,
what remains
are a few
scenic and
serene pools
in the river
bed. There
are a few
perennial
springs
and tanks.
At the southern
boundary
of park,
the Pench
river has
been dammed
for Pench
hydroelectic
project
at Totladoh.
At the maximum
capacity
the reservoir
submerges
54 sq kms
of the park
area. This
had been
the loss
of best
valley forest,
which was
once referred
by Sir Rudyard
Kipling
in his book
named "Jungle
Book".
This large
reservoir
of Pench
with sporadic
islands
attract
a number
of winter
birds from
north.
Cheetal,
SamBAR,
Neelgai
are commonly
seen grazing
on the open
sites on
roadsides
and banks
of river
& reservoir.
Jackals
can be seen
in search
of food
anywhere
in park
. Packs
of wild
dogs can
also be
seen occasionally
. Herds
of Gaur
can be spotted
near streams
and bamboo
patches,
more common
during summer
months.
Langurs
are very
common.
Whereas
Rhesus monkeys
may be seen
occasionally
on the fringes
There are
around 50
Tigers and
30 Leopards
they are
a shy lot
and can
be seen
on roads
and near
water pools
of river
during summer
months.
Pench boasts
of more
than 210
species
of birds
including
several
migratory
ones. Commonly
seen are
Pea fowl,
Red jungle
fowl, Crow
pheasant,
Crimson
breasted
barbet,
Redvented
bulbul,
Racket tailed
drongo,
Magpie robin,
Lesser whistling
teal.
How
to Reach
Pench Tiger
Reserve
:
Nagpur is
the nearest
rail head
and all
the south
bound trains
stop here.
Even Nagpur
is the nearest
airport,
one can
hire a taxi
or board
a bus from
Nagpur and
come to
Khawasa
which is
80 Km from
Nagpur on
Nagpur-Jabalpur
NH-7. Also
Tourist
can come
similarly
from Jabalpur
to Khawasa
which is
190 kms
from Jabalpur.
From Khawasa
tourist
has to hire
a petrol
vehicle
to enter
into park
through
Turia gate
which is
12 kms from
Khawasa.
Tourist
can use
their own
jeep/car
or can hire
from Nagpur,
Jabalpur
or Seoni. |
