Sitaghat

About Sitaghat

Sitaghat is widely held to be the prettiest spot in Pench. The winding forest track simply ends here, on the bank of the Pench river, where the water runs between rocks and the bank is lined with old, oddly shaped trees. In the summer months bushes with small white flowers run the length of the bank. They open in the morning and close by early evening, so the bloom is a morning sight rather than an all-day one.

As a wildlife spot it rewards patience but works against you in one respect: at the river bank you are completely in the open. Animals coming down to drink will usually have seen you long before you see them. Birds are a different matter, and Sitaghat is one of the better places in the park to sit quietly with binoculars. Late in the day the low sun across the water and rocks throws the whole bank into strong light and shadow, which is the other reason drivers bring guests here.

At the river

The bank and the rocks

The track ends at the water, where the Pench runs over and between rocks. The trees along the bank are old and irregularly shaped, and the whole stretch reads more like a quiet riverside clearing than a safari stop.

The white flowering bushes

In the summer months bushes carrying small white flowers line the bank. They close by early evening, so you need a morning drive to see them properly open.

Birds along the water

The open bank, the rocks and the trees behind them bring in a good range of birds. This is the main reason to carry binoculars rather than relying on the naked eye.

Planning your visit

Sitaghat is reached on a jeep safari inside Pench, not independently, so it depends on the route your driver and guide take within the permitted zone.

• Ask for Sitaghat when your safari is booked; it is a dead-end track, so it has to be chosen deliberately.
• Carry binoculars. Much of what is worth seeing here is birds at a distance.
• A morning drive catches the flowering bushes open; an evening drive catches the light.
• Keep conversation down once the vehicle stops. You are fully exposed on the bank.

Best time to visit

The summer months are when the flowering bushes along the bank are at their best, and when animal movement near water is highest. Winter mornings are colder but comfortable and good for birds. The park closes in the monsoon, so plan for the dry season either way.