Panna is situated in the Vindhyan Range and spreads over Panna and Chhatarpur districts in the northern part of the Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) State of India. One of the most significant ecological aspects of the Reserve is that the district Panna makes the northern most boundary of natural distribution of teak and the eastern limits of teak-kardhai mixed forests. The Ken river, which flows through the Reserve from south to north, is the home for long snouted crocodile (gharial) and Marsh Crocodile (maggar) and other aquatic fauna. It is one of the sixteen perennial rivers of M.P. and is truly the life-line of the Reserve. It offers some of the most spectacular scenery while it meanders for about 55 km. through the Reserve.


The terrain of the Reserve is characterised by extensive plateaus and gorges. The topography in the Panna district part of the Reserve can broadly be divided into three distinct tablelands - the upper Talgaon Plateau, the middle Hinouta Plateau and the Ken valley while there are series of undulating hills and plateaus on the other side of Ken river in the Chhatarpur district. The Reserve's most undisturbed habitat of about 70-80 sq. km. lies on the Hinouta plateau. This is due to relocation of three villages from this area in 1980s. Dry and short grass habitat with open woodland is quite extensive. It supports Blue Bull (nilgai) and chinkara. The areas with tall grasses associated with woodland, support good densities of sambar and chital. Mesic areas are distributed along the major seasonal streams and in the Ken river valley. Steep slopes of plateaus are drier and are dominated by Acacia catachu. Distribution of these habitats creates a heterogeneous landscape, where ecological conditions vary seasonally.


Attractions


The Fauna in Panna Tiger Reserve

The predominant species that inhabits the park is the deer, of which the most easily sighted are the graceful little Chinkara, the Indian gazelle, and the Chital. Other species that have their habitat in the park are Nilgai, Sambar, Chausingha or four-horned Antelope, Blackbuck, Sloth Bear, Leopard and the ubiquitous common Langur, Tiger, Leopard, striped Hyaena, Jackal, Jungle Cat, Chital, Sambar, Nilgai, four-horned Antelope or Chowsingha, Wild Boar, Chinkara or mountain Gazelle, Gazella, crocodile and others.


The Avi-fauna in the Panna National Park

Panna National Park is equally rich in avifauna. The artificial lake, Chandpata, is the winter home of migratory Geese, Pochard, Pintail, Teal, Mallard Gadwall, Red Wattled Lapwing, Large Pied Wagtail, Pond Heron, White - Breasted Kingfisher, Cormorant, Painted Stork, White Ibis, Laggar Falcon, Purple Sun bird, Paradise Flycatcher and Golden Oriole.


How to Reach

• Air
  The nearest airport is at Khajuraho at a distance of around 57 km from the Panna National Park. There are daily domestic flights available to Delhi, Mumbai and Varanasi from Khajuraho.
• 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.
• Road
  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 Tiger Reserve are Khajuraho 57 km, Bhopal 727 km, Delhi 889 km, Chennai 1,761 km, and Kolkatta 1,040 km.