Pench National Park, The forest of Jungle Book

Spotted Deer in Pench National Park India — By Mayurisamudre (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons

The strikingly beautiful nation of India has many wondrous tales associated with it, but few as famous as Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. The timeless tale of Mowgli and his animal companions has been told across generations in various ways and one can actually visit the setting of the story on a trip to India.

The author’s inspiration for the setting came from Pench National Park, which is also referred to as the Pench Tiger Reserve. It is one of the most popular locales for an adventure safari and has appeared in countless travel blogs such as The Adventure Travel Site.

The Pench National Park is quite massive, spread out across two different states, and its total protected area measures more than a thousand square kilometres. The space that the national park occupies has been known for being very rich in wildlife ever since the 16th century.

monkeys at pench national park — Photo By Dhana1311 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

During the ancient times of the India, much of the forest was cut down in order to support the construction of dwellings and the expansion of the kingdoms. It was not until the 20th century that efforts were made to protect the land.

When it comes to the park’s inhabitants, you can easily find all the species mentioned in the Jungle Book such as tigers, bears and wolves, as various other creatures like dholes, striped hyenas, and golden jackals.

Although it is a popular tourist attraction the park is highly protected.

Panthera Tigris (Tigress) Collerwali Pench — By Tanmay Haldar (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons

Only about twenty percent of its area is permitted for tourism purposes, and the authorities thoroughly regulate the number of jeeps that are allowed to enter the park at any given time. Two villages that were present within the heart of the forest were also relocated during the mid-nineties.

If you’re looking for an unforgettable safari experience, then the Pench National Park is definitely something to consider.

Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+