About Satpura National Park

Country: India | State: Madhya Pradesh

Ideal Trip Duration: Not Available

Nearest City to Satpura National Park: Bhopal (140 Kms)

Best Time to Visit Satpura National Park: October to June

Peak Season: November to March

At a distance of 17 km from Sohagpur, 42 km from Pipariya, 64 km from Hoshangabad, 65 km from Itarsi, 93 km from Pachmarhi, 140 km from Bhopal, Satpura National Park, also known as Satpura Tiger Reserve, is located in the Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh, India. Cradled in the Satpura Range, it is one of the popular national parks in Madhya Pradesh, and among the popular places to visit near Bhopal.

Covering an area of about 524 sq. km, Satpura National Park was established in 1981. It was first explored by Captain James Forsyth of Bengal Lancers in 1862 while he was searching for Indian Freedom Fighter Tantya Tope. The park holds the pride of being the first declared Reserved Forest Area of India due to its ecological and commercial importance. Later in the year 1999, this national park comes under Satpura Tiger Reserve along with Bori Sanctuary and Pachmarhi Sanctuary. The park won the TOFT Wildlife Tourism Award in the year 2010 for the Most Visitor Friendly wildlife destinations.

The name of the national park is derived from the Satpura Range. Satpura is a Sanskrit word, that means seven mountains. The terrain of the national park is extremely rugged and consists of sandstone peaks, narrow gorges, ravines, and dense forests. The altitude ranges from 300 to 1,352 m. Denwa river is the main water source of the park and the Tawa dam has been built on this river. Satpura National Park, along with the adjoining Bori and Pachmarhi wildlife sanctuaries, provides 2,200 sq. km of unique central Indian highland ecosystem.

Satpura National Park has a large and diversified population of wildlife due to its unique ecosystem and a long history of wildlife conservation. One can spot Indian Bison, Spotted Dear, Leopards, Tigers, Wild boar, Sloth bear, Blackbuck, Four Horned antelopes, Porcupine, Sambhar, Langurs, and Malabar squirrels as part of Satpura National Park tour packages. Beautiful bird species including Malabar whistling Thrush, Paradise Flycatcher, Honey Buzzard, Malabar pied Hornbill, etc. are present in large numbers.

The park is divided into 4 zones. Out of them Madhai &, Pannarpani (Pachachi) are core areas while Jamani Dev & Parsapani are buffer areas. In 2019, the Forest Department of Madhya Pradesh introduced one new core zone in Satpura Tiger Reserve - Panaarpani. Panaarpani zone will have a separate entrance gate and is close to Pachmarhi. The park can be entered via 5 routes - Madhai Gate from Madhai village, Jamani Dev Gate for Jamani Dev Buffer zone, Parsapani entrance gate, Churna Gate, and Panaarpani Gate. Madhai gate is the main entry point from which all safari activities are operated.

Jeep safari is the must experience things to do in Satpura. The park authorities offered two types of safaris to its visitors - Jeep Safari, and Elephant Safari. Permits for day visits to these zones are available online on the Park website. There are 2 jeep safaris conducted per day one is early in the morning and the other one is in the late afternoon. Besides, full-day safaris are allowed in Satpura where one can see all zones in a single day. The Jungle Safari is done only with vehicles registered with the park administration. Apart from the jeep safari, one can indulge in activities like Elephant Joy Rides, nature walks, cycling & night Safari, canoeing & boat safaris here.

The Forest Department provides basic accommodations at forest rest houses - 2 at Pachmarhi, 2 at Churna, and 1 at Madhai each with double bedrooms. These rooms can be booked in advance through the Satpura Tiger Reserve office (+917574-254394). There is also a wide range of private accommodations available in the vicinity of Madhai, Churna, and Pachmarhi gates of Satpura National Park.

Madhai is the gateway to Satpura National Park and the nearest airport is at Bhopal, 149 km away. About 42 km from Madhai, Pipariya Railway Station is the nearest railhead which has well train connectivity with Rewa, Indore, Jabalpur, Gorakhpur, Pune, Bangalore, Mumbai, Puri, Katni, Bhagalpur, Guwahati, Itarsi, Allahabad, Amarkantak, Varanasi, Rajkot, Coimbatore, Patna, Darbhanga, Agartala, Secunderabad, Bandra, Satna, Howrah, and Surat. Sohagpur Bus Stand, about 17 km from Madhai, is the nearest bus stand and is well connected by bus with Jabalpur, Bhopal, Hoshangabad, Pipariya, Itarsi.

Satpura National Park remains open every year from 1st October to 30th June and closed during the monsoon season from 1st July to 30th September. The peak season to visit the park is from October to February.

Safari Timings: 6 AM - 11 AM & 3 PM - 6 PM, Closed on every Wednesday evening, on Holi, Diwali & during Monsoon

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Other Info
Internet Availability: Average
STD Code: 07575
Languages Spoken: Hindi, Urdu, Bhilodi, Nahali, Gondi.& English
Major Festivals: Details Not Available
Notes/Tips:
The Satpura National Park remains closed from 1st July to 30th September every year. It is also closed on Holi, Diwali festivals, and every Wednesday afternoon safari. The park management may also cancel the safaris due to floods and forest fires and no refund is provided to tourists. Permit fees for both Indian and Foreign tourists are the same.

How to Reach Satpura National Park

By Air

Nearest Airport: Bhopal - Raja Bhoj Airport (140 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Sohagpur (17 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Sohagpur (16 Kms)

Top 10 Places to Visit in Satpura National Park

#1 of 10 Places to Visit in Satpura National Park

At a distance of 1 km from Madhai, Madhai Zone is the core zone of Satpura National Park. This zone is one of the popular safari zones of Satpura and is primarily visited through the Madhai entrance gate, located near Madhai village.

Madhai Gate is the most popular of all the entry gates of Satpura National Park, the other being Jamani Dev Gate, Pachmarhi, Churna, and Parsapani gate. Madhai zone comprises all kinds of landscapes like valleys, plains, meadow areas, some hilly terrains, water bodies, etc. Located in the core zone, Madhai is the center for wildlife tourism in Satpura Tiger Reserve. The density of the tiger population in this zone is high.

Madhai entrance gate is situated amid of Pipariya-Bhopal route, just before Sohagpur. To access the Madhai entry gate, a boat is used to cross the Denwa River where the jeep waits for the tourists and takes them further into the jungle. There is a Forest Department Ticket counter located on the banks of Denwa River, in Madhai .....

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#2 of 10 Places to Visit in Satpura National Park

At a distance of 30 km from Madhai, Churna is located deep inside the Satpura National Park core area and falls under the Bori range. This zone is one of the popular safari zones of Satpura and is primarily visited through the Madhai entrance gate, located near Madhai village.

The landscape of the Churna zone consists of a core tiger habitat that records the best tiger sighting in Satpura National Park. The topography has abundant sparkling water streams channeling through the entire forest. The prey base is one of the healthiest here especially for herbivores thus ensuring an ample tiger population too. One can get to see a variety of birds. The probability of sighting a Sloth Bear is almost guaranteed on the Churna route.

The safari in the Churna route is spread over 30 km including parts of the Keria route. Churna can be visited as a full day trip or as an overnight excursion which is considered equivalent to 2 safaris. One can opt to go for the trip from 6 AM - 6 PM (combine .....

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#3 of 10 Places to Visit in Satpura National Park

At a distance of 15 km from Madhai, Parsapani or Parraspani is the buffer zone of the Satpura National Park. This zone is one of the popular safari zones of Satpura and is primarily visited through the entrance gate at Pathai.

The landscape of Parsapani is hilly and has many ponds, streams, grasslands, riverbanks, forests, etc. Earlier, there was a village in the Parsapani zone, and now a grassland was developed after the displacement of the village about 4-5 years back. The number of herbivores is increasing here as fodder is abundant. Carnivores like Tiger, leopard, etc. are also turning towards Parsapani these days due to the availability of food.

The Eco Tourism Board is also undertaking activities like bird watching, trekking, gypsy safari, late-exit safari, village tour, cultural programs, etc. to make the journey of tourists exciting. This zone should be preferred for the evening safari. The twilight hour from 5.30 PM to 8 PM is an ideal time for sightings, as most .....

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#4 of 10 Places to Visit in Satpura National Park

At a distance of 4 km from Madhai, Jamanidev is the buffer zone of the Satpura National Park. This zone is one of the popular safari zones of Satpura and is primarily visited through the Sehra entrance gate, located on Sohagpur - Madhai road.

This beautiful buffer tourism zone is situated amid Shohagpur and Madhai. The landscape of Jamani Dev is consists of many ponds, streams, grasslands, riverbanks, forests, etc. The Eco Tourism Board is also undertaking activities like bird watching, trekking, gypsy safari, late-exit safari, village tour, cultural programs, etc. to make the journey of tourists exciting.

The safari in the Jamani Dev route starts from Sehra and is spread over 40 km (round trip). One can see some of the rarest creatures on the planet like the Satpura Leopard Gecko, Rusty Spotted Cat, Mouse Deer, Indian Crested Porcupine, and many more. Jamani Dev also has a few water bodies and a watchtower that lend it a certain mysterious charm. Camping is allowed inside .....

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#5 of 10 Places to Visit in Satpura National Park

At a distance of 8 km from Pachmarhi, and Madhai, Panarpani is the newly opened core zone of Satpura National Park. This zone is primarily visited through the entrance gate located close to Pachmarhi hill station.

Panaarpani zone covers the central area of the Satpura tiger reserve. Its entrance gate is also close to Pachmarhi hill station between Matkuli and Pachmarhi. This zone is popular for medicinal, water bodies, and dense forests. A large number of tourists and wildlife lovers are still not aware of this latest step, taken by the Forest Department of Madhya Pradesh. Viewpoint watching, cycling, trekking, nature walks, camping, bird watching, butterfly watching are the popular eco-tourism activities available in this zone.

The Jeep Safari is done with vehicles registered with the park administration. The number of vehicles allowed to enter this core zone is 7 in the morning and 7 in the evening. Each jeep can take up to 6 travelers other than a driver and one guide. .....

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#6 of 10 Places to Visit in Satpura National Park

At a distance of 1 km from Madhai, Madhai Zone is the core zone of Satpura National Park. This zone is one of the popular safari zones of Satpura and is primarily visited through the Madhai entrance gate, located near Madhai village.

Besides Jeep Safari, tourists can go for elephant safari on a pre-decided route which has been marked by Park Authorities. Also known as Elephant Joy Ride, this safari makes the tour more enjoyable as it allows one to get access to those forested areas which are not accessible by normal jeeps. The probability of spotting a tiger during the elephant safari is usually higher than a jeep safari. This is booked on first cum first serve basis.

A special safari organized by the park management, this safari has its own charm and is available only at the core zone of Madhai. The tourists are led by a Mahout and they get to view the jungle by sitting on an elephant's back. An adult elephant can accommodate 4 visitors at a time in the seat fastened on its .....

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#7 of 10 Places to Visit in Satpura National Park

At a distance of 1 km from Madhai, Madhai Zone is the core zone of Satpura National Park. This zone is one of the popular safari zones of Satpura and is primarily visited through the Madhai entrance gate, located near Madhai village.

Besides Jeep Safari, & Elephant Safari, the Satpura Park management also offers boating in Denwa River, which is known as the lifeline of the Satpura National Park. The boat ride offers a good chance to witness the scenic beauty of Satpura hills and forests, sighting of crocodiles, and even mammals sighting grazing close to the river. A forest guide is mandatory in boat safari as well. And, for those who want to dabble themselves into the thrill of water, canoeing is the way to seek that adventure. These adventure activities are available only at Madhai.

It is a charged service offered to visitors for which a sum of the fee is required to be deposited into the Madhai safari booking counter. Similar to park management, some resorts also offer a .....

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#8 of 10 Places to Visit in Satpura National Park

At a distance of 45 km from Sanchi, 193 km from Indore, 194 km from Pachmarhi, 195 km from Ujjain, 320 km from Jhansi, 324 km from Jabalpur, 354 km from Nagpur, 370 km from Khajuraho, 407 km from Gwalior, 506 km from Udaipur, 582 km from Ahmedabad, 599 km from Jaipur, and 607 km from Lucknow, Bhopal is the capital city of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and the administrative headquarters of Bhopal district. It is one of the top places to visit in Madhya Pradesh, and among the must include places in India tour packages.

The city of Bhopal is often called the 'City of Lakes' as it features a pair of artificial lakes - Upper Lake and Lower Lake, among the must include places in Bhopal tour packages. One of the greenest cities in India, the city can be divided into two parts, the old city towards the north comprising of rustic mosques, .....

Distance (From Satpura National Park): 140 Kms
Trip Duration (From Satpura National Park - Including Travel): Full Day
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#9 of 10 Places to Visit in Satpura National Park

At a distance of 1 km from Madhai, Madhai Zone is the core zone of Satpura National Park. This zone is one of the popular safari zones of Satpura and is primarily visited through the Madhai entrance gate, located near Madhai village.

Experiencing the forest on foot has its own perks. Satpura National Park offers walking safari or trekking, in which tourists explore the forest accompanied by a trained naturalist. Trekking is allowed on prescribed routes in Pachmarhi and Madhai. The overnight camping and trekking experience allows you to get out into the beautiful countryside and enjoy a scenic and wildlife experience that is otherwise impossible to reach. Although the walking is not strenuous, a reasonable level of fitness is advisable due to the heat.

Forsyth trail, the trek covered by Captain James Forsyth, is a very fascinating route right from Jhela to Pachmarhi via Kanjighat. All these areas lie within the reserve and you are likely to encounter several species of birds .....

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#10 of 10 Places to Visit in Satpura National Park

At a distance of 51 km from Pipariya, 108 km from Chhindwara, 119 km from Hoshangabhad, 121 km from Itarsi, 159 km from Bhimbetka, 194 km from Bhopal, 203 km from Sanchi, 228 km from Nagpur, 242 km from Jabalpur, 337 km from Indore, and 383 km from Ujjain, Pachmarhi is a stunning hill station located in the Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is one of the popular hill stations in India, and among the must include places in MP tour packages.

Situated at an altitude of 1,067 m in a valley of the Satpura Range, Pachmarhi is the only hill station in Madhya Pradesh, and among the scenic places to visit near Bhopal. This is also often known as 'Satpura ki Rani' or the 'Queen of the Satpura Range'. Dhupgarh, the highest point (1,352 m) in Madhya Pradesh, and the Satpura range is located here. The picturesque .....

Distance (From Satpura National Park): 93 Kms
Trip Duration (From Satpura National Park - Including Travel): Full Day
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