Panna National Park

Gorges, waterfalls and the Ken river near Khajuraho, home to one of the world's great tiger reintroduction stories.

Established: 1981 (national park) · 1994 (tiger reserve)
Area: About 543 km² (national park)
Districts: Panna & Chhatarpur
Safari gates: Madla · Hinauta · Akola (buffer)
Season: October to June
Nearest airport: Khajuraho (about 30 minutes)

History

How the park came to be

Panna became a national park in 1981 and a tiger reserve in 1994. By 2009 poaching had wiped out its tigers completely.

Tigresses and a tiger were brought in from Bandhavgarh, Kanha and Pench starting in 2009, and the population recovered to over 50 within a decade, one of the most successful tiger reintroductions anywhere. Panna is now part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (2020).

Flora

Forest & landscape

Dry deciduous forest of teak and kardhai on a plateau cut by gorges, with grasslands and riverine forest along the Ken.

Fauna

Wildlife you can see

Bengal tiger
Leopard
Sloth bear
Striped hyena
Indian wolf
Chinkara
Chausingha
Nilgai
Sambar
Chital
Gharial
Mugger crocodile

Birds: Over 200 species, including king vultures and other vultures nesting on the cliffs, paradise flycatchers and changeable hawk-eagles.

On the ground

Things to do

Jeep safari

Madla gate is the main entry, close to the Ken river.

Ken river boat ride

Gharials, crocodiles and birds.

Pandav Falls

Waterfall and caves inside the park.

Raneh Falls & Ken Gharial Sanctuary

Coloured granite canyon nearby.

Khajuraho temples

UNESCO-listed temples, a short drive away.

Travel tips

Ideal 2-night add-on to a Khajuraho visit
Morning boat ride plus evening jeep safari works well
Combine with Bandhavgarh by road

Combine with

Bandhavgarh National ParkMadhav National Park

See all 18 parks →