FACTS & FIGURES

Area : 543 sq km
Rainfall : 1,422.95 mm
Maximum Temperature : 31.4°C
Minimum Temperature : 13.5°C
Languages : Hindi, English
Best Time to Visit : January to May
STD Code : 07732 (Panna)

INTRODUCTION
Situated in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh at a distance of around 57 km from Khajuraho is the Panna National Park. The region, which is famous for its diamonds, is also home to some of the best wildlife species in India and is one of the better Tiger Reserves in the country. The park is known worldwide for its wild cats, including tigers as well as deer and antelope. Due to its closeness to one of the best-known Indian tourist attraction in India, Khajuraho, the park has the potential of becoming a major tourist attraction.

LOCATION
The Panna National Park is located in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and is a part of the Chattarpur district. The park is well connected with the other parts of the region by a good network of roads. Distances of some important places in India from the Panna National Park are Bhopal 727 km, Delhi 889 km, Chennai 1761, and Calcutta 1040 km.

CLIMATE
The climate of this region is tropical. Summers are too hot and very uncomfortable, though this is the time when one has the maximum chances of encountering the exclusive wildlife of this park. Winters are cold and comfortable and the temperature generally remains under 25°C. Monsoon touches this region in July and continues till mid-September.

HISTORY
Legend has it that the Pandavs of Mahabharat spent a good part of their seclusion here in the forests of the Panna National Park. This was ages away, but even now the park region attracted every sort of visitors. The park was the private hunting region of the royal family of Panna. After independence, the park was declared a wildlife sanctuary. It is in the year 1981 that this park was declared a National Park and now it attracts the attention of wildlife enthusiasts in large numbers.

ATTRACTIONS

Flora
This region has mixed deciduous forests. The landscape of this rocky and uneven terrain is covered by scrubby vegetation and grass.

Fauna
Fauna of this park includes, apart from the tiger; wolf, chital, sloth bear, chinkara, and sambar. Tiger sightings are not very common here and to watch a wild cat in action needs a lot of patience along with luck. The Ken River that flows from here towards the north harbours both the major Indian species of crocodiles i.e. the mugger and long snouted gharial.

Other Attractions
Panna is famous for its diamond mining industry and this make it an interesting place to visit. Pandav falls is also a major attraction with its lake fed by a waterfall. One more attraction in this region is the Rajgarh Palace, a magnificent piece of architecture overlooking the valley.

PLACES NEARBY
Khajuraho is situated at a distance of around 57 km from the Panna National Park. The place is a world heritage site famous for the exquisite sculptures adorning the temples there. The erotic images on the walls of the temples are well known and attract tourists from all over the world. Major attractions are the Kandariya Mahadev Temple, Lakshman Temple, Devi Jagdamba Temple, temple of Vishwanath and Nandi, Chaunsath Yogini Temple, Parsvanatha Temple, Shanti Nath Temple, Ghantai Temple, and temples of Brahma and Hanuman.

Majhgaon, at a distance of around 55 km, has the country’s only working diamond mine.

HOW TO GET THERE

By Air: The nearest airport is at Khajuraho at a distance of around 57 km from the Panna National Park. There are daily Alliance Air flights to Delhi, Mumbai and Varanasi from Khajuraho.

By Rail: Satna, at a distance of around 90 km, is the nearest railway station. It is a major railway hub and is connected to many places in central and western India, the most important of them being Mumbai at a distance of 1,540 km.
By Bus: The nearest bus stand is Panna connected to Khajuraho and many other places in Madhya Pradesh by a good road network. Madla, at a distance of around 24 km southwest of Khajuraho, is a good transport centre. One can get buses and other road transport modes from here to the Panna National Park.

STAYING THERE
Tree houses and tourist lodges are available in the vicinity of the Panna National Park to accommodate the visitors. Most of the better accommodation options are available at Madla. The other option is to stay in any hotel at Khajuraho and organise a day trip to the park.

LINKS TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD
STD/ISD and post/telegraph facilities are available at Madla. Internet facilities are available at Khajuraho, in most of the major hotels there.