Trek through the Jungles of Pench Tiger Reserve

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Trek through the jungles of Pench Tiger reserve

Indiahikes is opening yet another trek in Central India, this time in the heart of Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh. Pench, is one of the most famous tiger reserves in our country. This new trek runs through the buffer zone of this famous tiger reserve, teeming with flora and fauna, and yes, tigers too!

This trek is likely to become among the top national treks. Let us tell you why.

It is not every day that you get a chance to enter such protected tiger reserves of our country on foot. They are cordoned off to tourists and even trekkers. 

But here, in Madhya Pradesh, the forest officials have personally invited Indiahikes, to bring forth a trek. It is a very long relationship of many years with the Madhya Pradesh tourism and the forest department that has resulted in this. 

And why is trekking in the Pench National park special?

Trekking inside the Pench National Park is truly a privilege. Pench has been recognised as the reserve with the highest density of herbivores in the entire country. It is home to endangered animals like the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger, leopards, the mighty Gaur, Indian wolf, and Sloth bear. 

These are the very same forests where Rudyard Kipling’s characters of The Jungle Book were born, where Rudyard Kipling spent several years of his life. That’s why the name: Pench Mowgli Trek.

“It brings shivers down your spine when you realise that you are so close to the habitat of so many wild animals. We saw tiger paw prints that were just 30 minutes old,” shares Nitesh Kumar, our Chief Explorer. 


But more than the animals, it is the forests that steal your heart. 


We have never seen such ideal forests for trekking, with beautifully carved trails (used by forest patrol officers). Deciduous canopies spread out above you; sometimes teak trees, sometimes mango, sometimes bamboo, and local trees like Mahua, Palash, and Arjun. The sheer variety in the trees is enchanting. 

And then come sudden clearings in the forest. Just when you may feel like the forest is too dense, it opens up and gives you a vast expanse of fresh air and sky. Given that the trails have very small inclines, you can focus entirely on the beauty of the trail, without huffing and puffing.

The cherry on top is climbing to a peak, where you stand at a vantage point and get a real glimpse of the forests of Pench. “It’s only when you stand at the peak that the enormity of the forest hits you. It gives you a high that you never thought you could have in Central India!” shares Nitesh. 

The wonderful thing is that even though MP is generally known for hot weather, the canopy here never allows you to feel the heat. You're always under shade and trekking with a cool breeze. 

On this trek, your camping areas are one-of-a-kind! 

Our first camp, Camp 1903, is on the grounds of a forest rest house, which was built in 1903. The forest rest house itself was and is designed for royalty. You don’t stay there, because the charges are also royal but you can do a tour of the house, and camp on the grounds of the rest house.

Our next camp, at Nalyer, is one managed by the forest department. It is in the heart of the forest, with a small river flowing beside it. You’ll love staying in these Swiss tents. 

Our final camp at Sawangi, is on a lovely grassy mound beside a large pond. It is situated near an ancient forest village (which was created during the British rule for forest patrol officers). 

Frankly, we still have a lot to rave about this region: like India's first-ever light and soundproof elevated road that runs through the heart of the forest, which we will drive on. The pretty streams through the forest. The incredible amount of birdlife and butterflies. But we’ll let you discover those for yourself when you actually do the trek. 

Our first batch of the pilot groups has successfully completed the trek! Check out this unfiltered video by one of our favourite trekkers, Rajesh sir, to learn what the trek looked like through his camera :)

MP Tourism Film

MP Tourism teaser

Rajesh Sehgal sir

This fee includes everything from base camp to base camp.

Please note: The insurance has to be claimed within 7 days from the specific incident for it to be deemed valid.

We have always wanted trekkers to be well-informed before they go on a trek. Knowledge is the difference between a safe trek and a dangerous one. It’s also the difference between a wholesome experience and a superficial experience.

Use this section to learn about the Pench Mowgli Trek. It has in-depth information about each day of the trek, what to expect, and how you need to prepare for it. Many years of expertise have gone into this content. Trekkers find that extremely useful.

A rough sketch of how the Pench Mowgli Trek might shape up to be

➤ As we are running amongst the first few groups of the Pench Mowgli trek, please note that the itinerary is tentative and subject to change if need arises. This does not mean that the dates will change. You may book your tickets as per the scheduled dates.

➤ Documents required: It is mandatory for trekkers to carry a photocopy of their Aadhar card and your passport-size photo for entry at forest check posts on the trek, along with your medical certificate and disclaimer.

➤ Stay facility: On the trek, you will be staying 2 in a hillman tent and 3 in the bigger Swiss tents

Here, we rate Pench Mowgli Trek as a ‘moderate’ trek, It demands stronger legs to cover long distance and ideal judgment on footings for tricky descents. At Indiahikes, we take fitness very seriously. We believe that to enjoy a trek, you must be fit. 

For getting fitness approval, it is mandatory for you to follow the following process and share the screenshot of the run time.

1. Install any free running app like Strava or Nike on your phone.

2. Go for a 5 kms jog/run and cover it in less than 37 mins. 

If you are 45 years or above who don't run and prefer brisk walking, then you can cover 10 km in 90 mins. 

Note: If you are a cyclist then you should be able to cycle for 18-20 kms in 1 hour.

3. Jumping jacks, squats and stair climbing along with stretching will help you prepare well..

At Indiahikes, while rating a trek difficulty we consider several factors. These include altitude gained every day, length of a trek every day, highest altitude, nature of the terrain, weather etc. Based on this we rate a trek as easy or difficult or somewhere in between.

Pench National Park lies near the Satpura and Vidhyachal mountain ranges of Madhya Pradesh. The weather is humid during the summer. 

Even though the humidity is high in the state, the region around Pench National Park has relatively pleasant weather. 
The best months to trek in Pench would be August, September, October and November. The season for lush greenery, numerous streams and water bodies and the thriving wildlife. 

The jungle comes alive in this season. Although some amount of humidity will be there in the air, the occasional light showers help in cooling down the temperature.

It is the season of insects, arachnids, birds, herbivores and tigers come alive. Pench National park has been recognised as the Reserve with highest density of herbivores and the second highest prey base biomass in India.

You might need a jacket in the night, but the most important advice would be to have full sleeves to protect from mosquito bites and raingear. 

Day time: Between 27 °C and 31 °C | Night time: Will drop to temperatures between 17 °C and 19 °C. 

Warm layers required: One wind cheater or fleece jacket

Carry these medicines with you, easily accessible at all times. Do not take any medicine unless you have consulted your trek leader.   

Crocin (Paracetamol) – 6 tablets (fever)

Norflox TZ – 3 tablets (diarrhoea/ severe GI issue)

Knee Cap (Optional), if you are prone to a knee injury

Our trek leaders carry a medical kit with them. If there is an emergency our trek leaders know how to tackle it. Meanwhile, contact your trek leader before consuming any of these medicines listed here.

Pro Tip: We find that these medicines by trekkers are rarely used. But you cannot do away with them. At the end of the trek please donate unused medicines to your trek leader. Some of these medicines get distributed to villages on the trek and some are added to the Indiahikes medical kit. 

These are documents required for legal purposes by Indiahikes and the forest department. Without any of these, you will not be allowed to trek.

Original and 2 (two) photocopies of government identity card. Anything such as a driver’s license, Aadhar Card, or passport will do. This is required by the forest department for your identification.  

2 (two) passport-size photographs. This is required to obtain the trekking permits

Disclaimer certificate: There are two sections in this. The first part is a personal medical record.  The second part is a legal requirement. Download the PDF, read carefully, fill in and sign it. This must be handed over to your Trek Leader during registration at the base camp. – Download disclaimer certificate

Medical certificate: The medical certificate needs to be filled out by an MBBS doctor, without which the forest department will not issue permissions for your trek. It is also a requirement by Indiahikes – Download medical certificate

Note: Indiahikes has a panel of doctors who can help you with a medical certificate. They are available for online consultation. To get in touch with them, please write to trekmedicalcertificates@gmail.com. They will respond to you within 24 hours.

Keep important documents in a clear plastic cover and slide them into the inner pocket at the back of your backpack. This keeps them from getting wet.

If you’re trekking in the jungles of Pench in monsoon, the temperature during the day will be around 25 to 30°C  and, at night the temperature will drop to 17 to 19 degrees or less. You will need to carry a minimum of one warm layer. 

The most important task you have on this trek is to protect yourself from mosquitoes. It would be better if you have a cap with mosquito net covering your face. Along with full sleeved shirts. Long trousers are a must and a waterproof socks would be an additional benefit. 

Ensure you carry a pair of sandals and a rain jacket. 

Note: Please avoid wearing any bright coloured clothing. Try to blend in with the forest. Bright coloured clothings attract unwanted attention from predators in the area as well as alerts the herbivores that you can potentially see. 

Shoes with good grip: Do not carry traditional trek shoes on this trek. It will only hamper your experience. You will be walking multiple times through streams and rivers. Whatever shoes that you will be wearing WILL get wet. You cannot escape this. Traditional trek shoes are bulkier and heavier when wet. Plus, waterproof shoes take longer to dry too. 
Thus we recommend non-waterproof trail running shoes or non-waterproof shoes with good grip. 

Backpack (40-45 litres): A backpack with sturdy straps and a supporting frame. Rain cover for the backpack is essential. 

A dry sack or a polybag: Expect rain on unexpected time of the day. You need to carry a dry sack/ polybag to put your clothes and gears into for extra protection from the rain. 

On a trek, carry fewer clothes than you would normally need. Do not pack for ‘what if situations’. That will only add to the weight of your backpack and not be used on the trek. Once your clothes get warmed up on a trek, you will not feel like changing. Just maintain personal hygiene.

One layer of warm clothes: Carry a very light sweater for unexpected colder days. You will not be needing this for most part of the trek. 

Two trek pants: Carry light quick dry trek pants. One trek pant while trekking and an another pant inside the backpack. Denim/jeans and shorts are not suitable for trekking in this region. Do not carry waterproof pants as they will not dry quickly. 

Three full sleeved t-shirts: You will wear one t-shirt while trekking and the rest two t-shirt inside your backpack. Carry light, full-sleeved t-shirts that prevent sunburns on the neck and arms. Let one of these be a dry-fit t-shirt. It will dry quickly in case you are trekking on a rainy day. 

Sandals: Carry them and wear them at campsites. The only time your feet will be dry is then. Give your tired feet room to breathe. It is not recommended to wear any kind of open slippers/ sandals while trekking. 

Sunglasses: Sunglasses are recommended but not mandatory.

Sun Cap: In the jungles, even though there is heavy tree cover, the harsh sun can dehydrate you very quickly. A sun cap comes in handy to prevent the moisture to escape when you are sweating. 

Socks (4 pairs):  Your normal cotton/ sport socks are good, but make sure they are all high ankle socks. Waterproof socks are an additional bonus. 

Headlamp/LED torch: Mandatory + extra Batteries.

Trekking pole: Watch this video to understand why you need a trekking pole. They will come handy when crossing streams or during the multiple ascents and descents on the trail. 

Ponchos: In a jungle, unexpected rain is possible at any time, and hence it’s mandatory to carry a poncho/ rain jacket so that you don’t get wet.

Toiletries: Sunscreen, light towel, toilet paper, toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitizer. Do not carry wet wipes since these are not biodegradable. We do not like biodegradable wet wipes because they take a long time to decompose in the mountains. Use toilet paper instead.

Sanitary waste: Make sure you bring your used sanitary napkins back to the city with you. Carry a zip lock bag to put used napkins. Bring this ziplock bag back with you to the city and do not dispose of sanitary napkins in the mountains.

Cutlery: Carry a spoon, coffee mug and a lunch box. We insist on trekkers getting their cutlery for hygiene reasons. We do not allow biodegradable or disposable cutlery on our treks.

Plastic covers/ dry sacks: While packing, use plastic bags to compartmentalize things and carry a few extra plastic bags for wet clothes. These also come in handy for women trekkers to carry back their sanitary napkins. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Pench Mowgli Trek

We recommend jogging as the best routine to get fit for a trek. It works on the same muscles that you use while trekking — your calves, glutes and hamstrings. It helps increase your stamina day by day. It is also an easy routine that does not require any equipment or tools. 

To do this trek comfortably, you must be able to cover 5 km in under 35 minutes. This is the minimum fitness required for this trek.

If you cannot run 5 km immediately, start with 2 km and increase to 5 km over 2-3 weeks.

Once you’re able to run 5 km, increase your pace day by day. 

Gradually increase your pace and bring it down to 5 km in less than 35 mins.

You must be able to run 5 km in 35 mins consistently for at least 2 weeks before the trek. 

This trek requires at least 6-8 weeks of preparation. The longer, the better. So plan your trek soon and start preparing. 

Here's a complete guide to get you trek fit.

How to get Fitness Approval from the Indiahikes team:

Every trekker needs fitness approval from the Indiahikes team 20 days before the trek date. Without this, you will not be allowed on the trek. 

A minimum of 3 screenshots of your runs/jogs/walks/cycling 

Every trek comes with a set of challenges. Steep ascents and descents, uneven terrain, boulder walks, stream crossings, and summit climb. Even the easiest of treks have some of these challenges if not all of them. Without fitness, trekkers struggle, get injured easily, lag behind, or simply fail to complete the trek. 

At Indiahikes, we take pride in the fact that our trekkers are among the fittest in the country. Those who do not meet the fitness requirements are often sent back. Our philosophy is that trekking and fitness go hand in hand. Without fitness, there’s no trekking. 

Trekker's share their experience with Indiahikes

Here are the unedited reviews by trekkers

Complete the steps below to register for your Pench Mowgli's Trek

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Eligibility criteria for Pench Mowgli's Trek

Complete information on the Pench Mowgli Trek. Trekking in Pench Tiger Reserve. Trek details, experiences, maps, photos, videos, when to go, what to take, how difficult is the trek, what should we bring, is it safe?, etc

Pench Mowgli Trek 2024- Trek through the jungles of Pench Tiger Reserve

Madhya Pradesh Pench National Park Pench Tiger reserve Rudyard Kipling Kipling's country Mowgli Jungle Trek PMT

Please note that this is a special trek designed for stargazing enthusiasts. The trek fee is slightly more than the regular fee. Know more about the trek here. 

This is a trek specially designed for trekkers above 58 years. The itinerary is specially designed to be different from a regular trek. The trek fee is also Rs 3000 more than the regular fee (Please note this is only for Himalayan treks) Know more about the trek here.  

Please note that this is a special trek. The trek fee is Rs 5000 more than the regular fee. Know more about the trek here. 

Please note that the family treks are meant for families with a child/children under 14 years of age. If you do not fit this criteria, you can register for any of our regular groups. Read more about family treks here.

You are joining our waitlist. Here are a few guidelines that you should keep in mind:
1. Your chances of getting a confirmation are high, but not certain. 
2. You don't have to pay right now. You will receive a notification upon confirmation of your slot. You will have 24 hours to pay and confirm your booking.
3. We close the movement of WL 15-20 days before the start of the trek.

When we brought out new trails in Indian trekking, safety came with us. Back in 2012, we were the first to introduce microspikes, and two years later, pulse oximeters became standard thanks to us. Nobody does safe treks like Indiahikes. In the mountains, emergencies don't care who you're with – everyone knows that when trouble hits, you look for the yellow tents of Indiahikes.

We are India’s safest trekking organisation

We are pioneers in trekking. Since 2007, we have brought out treks that have become India's most famous treks: Roopkund, Rupin Pass, Buran Ghati, Kedarkantha, Kashmir Great Lakes, Tarsar Marsar, Brahmatal, Phulara Ridge—the list goes on. In 2023 alone, we brought out five new treks in Indian trekking. We know treks better than anyone. This comes directly from the reason why Indiahikes was born: to bring out trek information and enable trekkers to trek on their own.

We are pioneers of treks in India

More than 25,000 people trek with us every year. We are the largest trekking organisation in India. 24% of our trekkers come back to trek with us every year. Over 4,000 students from the top educational institutions trek with us every year. Aside from this, families with children choose to trek with Indiahikes knowing that our treks are the safest. We have taken over 8000 children trekking so far, and the number continues to grow. 

We are India’s largest trekking organisation

We focus on designing transformative experiences. Our trek leaders conduct thought-provoking exercises that help you reflect and contemplate. This impact stays with you for a long time. Trekkers return feeling energised, more confident, or developing abilities to deal with difficulties. Many have changed careers, rethought their core values, become more humble, shown gratitude to others, or started a new fitness journey. 

Our treks are transformative

Since 2012, we have pioneered sustainable practices that have become standard in trekking. Using eco-bags, our trekkers have cleared over 120 tonnes of litter from the mountains. We do not carry packaged foods; instead, we serve freshly made food. We do not light campfires; we carry coal to light angethis to keep you warm. Our bio-toilets not only keep our toilets odour-free but also enrich the soil. When you trek with us, you leave mountains better.

We are India's most sustainable trekking organisation

5 Reasons Why Indiahikes

If you are unable to complete a trek, or if you love a trek, you can repeat it with us anytime. You don’t have to pay us for it. See our thoughts behind this here.

You’re guarded with our trek again philosophy

Our thrice-a-day oxi-metre checks keep altitude sickness at bay, never allowing you to reach a point where you need evacuation.

Daily 3-time health checks keep you safe at any altitude

With around 30% of our trekkers being women, all women, including those travelling solo are comfortable to join any of our groups.

Join any group, they are all women-friendly groups 

Our kitchen teams understand your needs as a vegan (or a Jain). We will take special care of your food, even in the remote Himalayas. 

We have specially designed bio toilets to ensure you have no sight or smell in toilets, at the same time making sure the toilets cause no harm to the fragile ecosystem we trek in.

Be comfortable and sustainable with bio toilets

We’ll admit it. Our love for food surpasses our love for minimalism. Expect freshly cooked, multi-cuisine food at all camps, designed to meet your nutritional requirements and keep your taste buds happy!

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