Panpatha Wildlife Sanctuary

About Panpatha Wildlife Sanctuary

Panpatha Wildlife Sanctuary spreads across the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh and covers an area of 245 sq km. It was formed in 1983 and is part of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, so it is not a separate wilderness so much as a protected extension of the same forest that visitors know through the national park. Bandhavgarh literally means Fort of Brother, and the sanctuary takes its place in that landscape of hills and forest.

Protection status matters more here than facilities. As a sanctuary within a tiger reserve, Panpatha functions as habitat and as buffer, and the reserve administration governs what may be entered and when. Well known destinations including Bandhavgarh National Park, Bandhavgarh Fort and Khajuraho all lie close by, which is why most travellers reach Panpatha as part of a wider Bandhavgarh itinerary rather than on its own.

Wildlife of the sanctuary

Tiger and panther

Panpatha accommodates tiger and panther as part of the wider Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve population. Sightings in any protected area are a matter of chance and depend entirely on where the animals are moving on the day. Treat the sanctuary as habitat for them rather than as a guaranteed viewing ground.

Deer and antelope

Chital, sambhar, blue bull and chausingha are all recorded here, and together they form the prey base that supports the big cats. They are the animals you are most likely to actually see on a drive. Open ground and forest edges are where they tend to show.

Smaller mammals

Jackal, wild dog, porcupine and bear are among the other species the sanctuary accommodates. Several of these are retiring or active outside the hours visitors are present. A forest guide will read signs on the ground that are easy to miss otherwise.

Planning your visit

Panpatha is a protected sanctuary inside a tiger reserve, not an open area you can simply drive into. Entry is controlled by permit through the forest authorities, and like other parts of the reserve it closes to visitors for part of the year. Arrangements are best made in advance through your resort or a registered operator at Bandhavgarh.

• Obtain a permit in advance, as entry without one is not possible.
• Confirm the current season dates, as the reserve closes seasonally.
• Travel with a registered guide and a permitted vehicle.
• Carry binoculars and plain, muted clothing, stay in the vehicle and keep quiet.

Best time to visit

The sanctuary follows the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve season and is shut to visitors during the monsoon months, so your visit has to fall within the open period. Within that window, the cooler months are the most comfortable for long hours in an open vehicle, while the late dry season concentrates animals around shrinking water and improves the odds of seeing them. Check the current dates with the reserve or your operator before fixing travel, since the opening and closing of the season is decided each year.