Pench Madhya Pradesh: Safari Gates, Timings, Fees & Stay Guide 2026
Quick Answer
Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh, is the northern half of the Pench Tiger Reserve, spread over 1,179.63 sq km in Seoni and Chhindwara districts (core 411.33 sq km, buffer 768.30 sq km). It had 77 tigers in the 2022 estimate. Safaris run from three core gates — Turia, Karmajhiri and Jamtara — booked on MPOnline 120 days ahead. Turia, the main gate, is 85 km from Nagpur. The core closes from 1 July to 30 September and every Wednesday afternoon.
- Total reserve
- 1,179.63 km²
- Core / buffer
- 411.33 km² / 768.30 km²
- Tigers (2022)
- 77
- Safari gates
- 3
- Nearest gate to Nagpur
- Turia, 85 km from Nagpur via Khawasa
Highlights
- The northern Pench reserve across Seoni and Chhindwara districts, organised for visitors around Turia, Karmajhiri and Jamtara.
- The Pench River runs north to south through the reserve. Teak and mixed deciduous forest, meadows, riparian belts and the Totladoh waterbody shape habitat and wildlife distribution.
- Permits: MPOnline (forest.mponline.gov.in), opening 120 days ahead.
- Approximate jeep safari cost: MP core: Indian visitors ₹10,100–₹10,700; MP core: foreign visitors ₹13,500–₹14,700; MP buffer: Indian visitors ₹8,500–₹8,500; MP buffer: foreign visitors ₹9,300–₹9,300.
Pench MP at a Glance
The northern Pench reserve across Seoni and Chhindwara districts, organised for visitors around Turia, Karmajhiri and Jamtara.
The state boundary changes administration and booking, but it does not divide the ecology of the river, forest or tiger population.
| Detail | Pench MP |
|---|---|
| Area | 1,179.63 km² total reserve |
| Core | 411.33 km² |
| Buffer | 768.30 km² |
| Tigers (2022 estimate) | 77 |
| Safari gates | Turia, Karmajhiri, Jamtara |
| Nearest gate to Nagpur | Turia, 85 km from Nagpur via Khawasa |
| Booking | MPOnline, 120 days ahead |
| History | Sanctuary 1977, national park 1983, tiger reserve November 1992 (MP side) |
Pench MP Safari Gates
The MP side has three core gates with fixed vehicle quotas per shift.
| Gate | Vehicles per shift | Vehicles per day | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turia | 34 | 68 | 215 km from Jabalpur via Seoni and Khawasa |
| Karmajhiri | 6 | 12 | 50 km from Seoni; 195 km from Jabalpur |
| Jamtara | 4 | 8 | 59 km from Chhindwara via Chand–Maghdoun, or 80 km via Bichhua–Pathri (reserve FAQ) |
| Buffer (Rukhad, Telia) | 15 | 30 | Buffer gates near Turia |
Pench MP Safari Timings (2026–27)
Entry and exit times change with the season. Reach the gate 30 minutes early for permit and ID checks.
| Season | Morning | Afternoon |
|---|---|---|
| October – November | 6:00 am – 11:30 am | 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm |
| December – January | 6:20 am – 11:30 am | 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm |
| February – March | 6:10 am – 11:30 am | 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm |
| April – June | 5:30 am – 11:00 am | 3:30 pm – 7:00 pm |
Pench MP Jeep Safari Cost
Approximate total per Gypsy (permit, guide and vehicle) for up to six guests. The permit and the vehicle are paid separately at the gate, so totals vary slightly.
| Visitor type | Weekday | Weekend |
|---|---|---|
| MP core: Indian visitors | ₹10,100 | ₹10,700 |
| MP core: foreign visitors | ₹13,500 | ₹14,700 |
| MP buffer: Indian visitors | ₹8,500 | ₹8,500 |
| MP buffer: foreign visitors | ₹9,300 | ₹9,300 |
Pench MP Closures
Plan around these closures; any zone can also shut without notice for rain or emergencies.
- MP core: weekly: Afternoon safaris closed every Wednesday.
- MP core: festivals: Afternoon safaris closed on Holi and Diwali.
- Core monsoon closure (both states): 1 July – 30 September (reopens 1 October).
Booking Rules and Cancellation (MP)
Rules published in the MP reserve’s FAQ:
- Permits open on MPOnline 120 days ahead (the portal releases the new date at 11 am).
- Full-vehicle and single-seat permits are both sold. A Gypsy carries up to 6 guests plus the driver and a compulsory guide.
- Current (same-day) permits are sold at the Turia, Karmajhiri and Jamtara gates: for the next morning between 6 and 8 pm the evening before, and for the afternoon between 9 and 11 am the same day.
- The permit fee covers entry only. The guide and the registered Gypsy are paid separately at the gate, and private vehicles are not allowed in.
- Children up to 5 years old are exempt from the entry fee.
- A full-vehicle permit stays valid for one hour after the scheduled entry time, and a single-seat permit for 30 minutes. After that it is cancelled.
- Permits can be rescheduled online from the same MPOnline login.
| When you cancel | Refund |
|---|---|
| 60 days or more before the safari | Full permit amount refunded |
| 30–59 days before | 25% of the permit value deducted |
| 15–29 days before | 50% deducted |
| 5–14 days before | 75% deducted |
| Less than 5 days before | No refund |
Where to Stay in Pench MP
MP permits and gate rules belong to the Madhya Pradesh system. A stay near Turia is not automatically convenient for Karmajhiri or Jamtara.
| Resort | Category | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Baghvan, A Taj Safari | Luxury | Avarghani village, about 1 km from Turia gate |
| Pench Jungle Camp | Luxury | About 1 km from Turia gate, on 50 acres with its own lake |
| Kohka Wilderness Camp | Luxury | Kohka, about 10 minutes from Turia gate |
| Mahua Vann | Semi-Luxury | Kuppitola village, near Khawasa, about 10 minutes from Turia gate |
| WelcomHeritage Jungle Home | Semi-Luxury | At Turia gate, on the Nagpur–Jabalpur highway |
| Tuli Tiger Corridor | Semi-Luxury | Turia village, about 10 minutes from Turia gate |
| Tathastu Pench | Semi-Luxury | Awarghani village, near Turia gate |
| Sterling Padam Pench | Semi-Luxury | Jamuntola road, Kothar, about 5.4 km from Turia gate |
| The Soul Tree | Semi-Luxury | Kohka road, Turia village, close to Turia gate |
| Vannraj Resort & Spa | Semi-Luxury | Jamun Tola village, near Turia |
| MPT Kipling's Court | Deluxe | Awarghani, near Turia gate |
| Village Machaan Resort | Deluxe | Awarghani village, in the buffer near Turia |
Wildlife and Conservation
The Pench River runs north to south through the reserve. Teak and mixed deciduous forest, meadows, riparian belts and the Totladoh waterbody shape habitat and wildlife distribution.
Pench MP protects the northern part of the interstate landscape and is noted for very high ungulate (deer and gaur) abundance. Tiger, leopard, dhole, sloth bear, gaur, sambar, chital and nilgai all occur, along with a rich bird community.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tigers are in Pench MP?
77 tigers in the 2022 all-India estimate.
Which safari gates are in Pench MP?
Turia, Karmajhiri, Jamtara. Turia is the main gate.
How far is Pench MP from Nagpur?
Turia, 85 km from Nagpur via Khawasa.
How much does a jeep safari cost in Pench MP?
Approximately ₹10,100–₹10,700 for mP core: Indian visitors, ₹13,500–₹14,700 for mP core: foreign visitors, ₹8,500–₹8,500 for mP buffer: Indian visitors, ₹9,300–₹9,300 for mP buffer: foreign visitors, per Gypsy of up to six.
When is Pench MP closed?
MP core: weekly: Afternoon safaris closed every Wednesday. MP core: festivals: Afternoon safaris closed on Holi and Diwali. Core monsoon closure (both states): 1 July – 30 September (reopens 1 October).
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Sources & References
Facts on wildlife and visitor access can change. These are the principal references for this page; always confirm current permits and rules with the responsible forest department.
Photo Credits
Photos without a credit below are by Wild Excursions. The rest come from Wikimedia Commons under the licences shown.
- Tigress walking across open ground in Karmajhiri, Pench — Fitindia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pench Tiger Reserve emblem on a stone wall, Madhya Pradesh — Bernard Gagnon, CC BY 4.0
- Chital stag among teak trunks in the Turia core zone of Pench — Shaswat Nimesh, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Straight teak trunks lining a red-earth trail in Pench National Park — Minku2016, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Indian peacock walking on the forest floor in Turia, Pench — Shaswat Nimesh, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Chital stag with full antlers in Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh — Mayurisamudre, CC BY-SA 4.0
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