Land of Diamonds: Panna

 It was a promise from my side, that I will not take much longer time for my next story, which would be on Panna. So, friends good evening and here I am with you with my story of Panna. Hope you have gone through my story on Khajuraho. If not then here is the link for that story-- 

https://rajaavishek22.blogspot.com/2020/08/khajuraholegendary-tales-in-stone.html

        In my last blog I had written that Panna is a place very much associated with Khajuraho and it is almost 80% of travellers to Khajuraho visits Panna. So, it would be my duty to take take you to Panna. But before visiting Panna, lets go to a very different place in Khajuraho. On the way to Panna from Khajuraho, it is highly recommended to visit this place. So, lets start our journey.

        Khajuraho, to most of the tourists is just a historical place. For Jains it is a religious place too. But this is not all for Khajuraho. Khajuraho has a great surprising gift for nature lovers too. About 18km drive from Khajuraho Western group of Temple is the magestic Raneh Falls. Raneh falls is on River Ken. This falls has a huge geological significance due to presence of huge variety of igneous rocks. Raneh Falls was formed due to volcanic activities thousands of years ago. Still today, the mouth of a dead volcano is visible. Raneh falls is canyon with uneven depth, somewhere even more than 50m. The canyon is more than 5km in length. 

Raneh Falls

        There are numerous number of small waterfalls in Raneh Falls but only one is perennial, all others are active only in the monsoon month of July and August, maximum upto mid september. The most striking feature of this falls is its varied number of rock formation. It looks fantastic to watch the sheds of rocks from the view point. Generally such canyons shows maximum of 2-3 types of rocks, but here it is 5. They are Bassalt (Greyish black), Granite (Pink/Red), Dolomite (Green), Quartz (brownish) and 

Jasper (Red). This falls is a treat to watch for every visitors to Khajuraho. But due to lack of promotion from the Tourism Dept, only about a 15-20% of the total toourists of Khajuraho visits this place. This place is under the buffer zone of the Ken-Ghariyal Sanctuary. So, before visiting the falls a permission and ticket is needed from the Forest Dept. The waterfalls is open for tourists from 9Am to 6PM except Wednesday.

   

Some Views from Raneh Falls

        You can also visit the Ken-Ghariyal Sanctuary which about 15-20km from Raneh Falls, if time permits. 

        From our school level geography books, we came to know that the only Diamond mine in India is located at Panna. But Panna is not only related to diamond. Panna is also the only Biosphere Reserve in the Bundelkhand region. The importance of Panna in the ecology of Bundelkhand is much more precious than diamond. So, lets start our journey towards Panna bidding good buy to Khajuraho and Raneh Falls.

Landscape at Panna National Park

        About 25km from Raneh Falls is the Madla Village, the gateway of the Panna Tiger Reserve. It will take about 45mins to reach. Just adjacent to the gate is the MP Tourism Panna Jungle Camp just in the base of the Panna Hills. The Forests starts from the boundary of the Jungle Camp.

        Panna is a forest of dry deciduous forest with Sal, Shagun, Bamboo, Arjun, Eucalyptus and Ghost Tree plantation. The forest has a stretch of 542sqkm core area and 100sqkm buffer zone. It is dedicated as a National Park in 1981 and later on as a Tiger Reserve in 1994. Later in 2011, Panna has been declared a Biosphere Reserve due to its variety of flora and fauna. Panna had 40+ Royal Bengal Tigers according to Tiger cencus 2005. But later in 2009, it was found that there were no Tigers left in this jungle, may be due to poaching activities. later in 2011, 4 tigers, 2 from Bandhavgarh and one each from Pench and Kanha National Park had been relocated here. From then a steady increase in Tiger population is observed here. Currently in 2019, it is found that the Park had 40 tigers.  

Indian Roler (Neelkanth)

        The forest is situated on the slopes of the Vindhya Range. So, different kind of flora and fauna is found here in different altitudes. The foothills mainly shows bamboo and mahua vegetation, but with ascending heights it changes to Shagun, arjun, sal and Eucalyptus and at the plateau of the hills vast grasslands are observed. These grasslands are mainly inhabited by Sambar deers, Chinkaras and Nilgais and leopards. Foothills and slopes of the hills shows a good number langurs, Cheetal, Jackals, Wild cats and sloth beer. The grasslands on the banks of the River Ken shows a good number of Wild boar along with Fishing Cats and Dhols, ei, Indian wild dogs.

Ken River at Panna 

        Panna is a home to over a hundred species of birds. Indian Rollers, Peacocks, Hoopoe, Hill Myna, Lapwings, Barbets, Asian Pied Kingfisher, Paradise Flycatcher, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Barn Owl, Asian Koyel, Asian Honey Buzzard, Indian Fishing Owl, Serpent Eagle are very common birds here. The park is home to a great number an endangered bird species, ie, King Vulture. The areas around River Ken shows shore birds such as Asian Open-billed Stork, Painted stork, Grey Heron, etc. 

Setting Sun

Sunrise in the Forest

        Among Reptiles Panna has a good number of King cobra, Indian Python, Common Monitor Lizards. Mugger Crocodiles in the areas around River Ken. As the extreme climate in the Panna area is not very suitable for snakes, the park do not show a good variety of snakes. Other than these Panna is home to a lots of species of Amphibians, insects, spider and butterflies.

        The wavy undulating surface of the Vindhyas and its rocky nature makes many natural caves, which acts as a shelter for Tiger cubs. Due to the proximity of the River Ken and a few perennial waterfalls inside the forest, the park shows a healthy ecosystem. 

Dhundwa Seha Waterfalls

        After a walk through the golden History of the Chandela times in Khajuraho experiencing the rich cultural heritage of Bundelkhand, a day in middle of nature is a real treat. Once reaching Panna, you can only hear chirping of Birds and sounds of gentle breeze flowing through the jungle. An evening and a morning safari in the forest will give you two different experience, so it is very recommendable to have a night stay in Panna, and experience both morning and evening safari. In the evening experience the faunal diversity of the forest. An evening in the forest is a real delight for bird watchers. In your whole journey through the forests in the evening, you will be greeted by the loud sounds of Hoopoe and peacocks. In the morning, enjoy just enjoy the forest. Enjoy the greenery here. You will come across thousands of shades of green. The chirping sound of birds, sounds of flowing streams across the forests will welcome you to the forests in the morning. Falling of dew drops from the leaves over dry leaves in the ground creates a beautiful music, during the whole morning safari you will come across this sound.

Sambhar Deer

        In many cases, many people had told me that why I go to forests, knowing that chances of sighting animals are less there. Actually, I visit forests for these moments. Chances of sighting is less, so when you are in a jungle just forget it that you are there to see a Royal Bengal Tiger or a leopard in the wild. Just enjoy these moments and keep your eyes, ears and nose open.

        Visiting a jungle is all about feelings. So, it is must to ensure that you are enjoying every moment here. You will feel the greenery, the picturesque views with the help of your eyes, you will feel the sound of birds and flowing streams through your ears and at last jungles has its own smell. You will enjoy that with your nose. While visiting a forest if it is kept in mind that I am visiting the home of wild animals, so whether they are ready to meet me is totally upon them. Then only you can feel the spirit of the jungle. And jungle will give you all its best to entertain you. But if you visit the jungle only to watch wild animals, jungle will definitely disappoint you. As in search of wild animals, you are missing the minute objects which the jungle has adorned to entertain you. 

Mugger Crocodile

        Other than greenery, wilderness, Panna will offer you something more. You can experience a great sunrise and sunset too inside the jungle. A boat ride through the Ken river is also refreshing. This boat ride through the crystal clear water of Ken will give you a different view of the jungles. You can see Mugger Crocodiles, shore birds on the banks of the river.

        While having your jungle safari, it is highly recommended to have a visit to the majestic Dhundwa Seha Waterfalls in the forest. You will have a breathtaking view of the Waterfalls from 2 view points on the safari route.

        A Khajuraho trip will offer you a grand historical and cultural heritage at Khajuraho, and fanatastic natural beauty at Panna. After this if you want some more, yes, Khajuraho trip will provide it too. Just a 12km drive from Madla gate will take you to the Pandav Falls. After historical tales at khajuraho and a natural treat at Panna, here will have some mythological story. According to locals, the Panchpandavs of Mahabharat along with their wife Draupadi stayed here in the caves beside the 

Giant Wood Spider

waterfalls during their exile (Agyatwas). But this place was devoid of any water source. A thirsty Draupadi asked Arjun for water. Arjun roamed throughout the jungle but could not find water. Then he prayed to Lord Indra to rescue them from thirst. But he did not helped them. At last Bhim with his all power crushed the earth surface and dug a huge heart-shaped pool. Seeing this Lord Indra requested Lord Varuna to create a stream here, so that the pandavs can get water to drink. But Indra's act of neglecting Arjun's prayer made Draupadi angry. She did not took water from this stream. But when the Pandavs left this place she blessed the stream that the water of this stream will have high medicinal value. 

        The Pandav falls is a waterfalls deep inside the forest, with a good Mahua and Sal vegetation. The sea green coloured pool, called Draupadi Kund and the falls is a perenial source of water for wild animals. To visit the falls, permission from the forest authority is a must and the falls is open from 10AM to 6PM. 

     

Pandav Falls

        With the exploration of the Pandav falls the Khajuraho trip comes to an end. Hope you have enjoyed. And if you want some more, yes, you will get it too. Have another extra day at Panna, and explore the forts of Ajaigarh and Kalinjar. You will have some more fun with Chandela Architecture. But I was short of time. So I missed those places. But in future, I will surely have a trip to Mahoba, and from there I will explore those forts and some more places in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar pradesh. And obviously share that story of my experience with you. 

        Today, its all over. Comment me about this story and your views about visiting jungles. Very shortly I will be right back with another new story and take you to some other place. Till then, enjoy this story with your friends and relatives. Good night and stay safe.

        

Where to Stay: Many people visits Panna National Park from Khajuraho. But it is better to stay a night at Panna and experience both Morning and evening safari here. You will get a few Hotels to stay at Panna, but it is better to stay at MP Tourism Jungle Camp at Madla. The Jungle Camp is located just adjacent to the Gate of the Panna National Park. 

Time to Visit: Panna National Park is closed from 15th June to 15th October. So, while your Khajuraho trip keep this fact in mind. Panna is too hot in summer months. So, if you are travelling in the summer months, be prepare that the temperature here can reach upto 45 degrees or even above that. But due to unavailabilty of perennial source of water inside the forest, wild animals are compelled to settle around perennial water sources. So chances of sighting is here in summer months.

      To experience the beauty of the forest the best time is October and November. But chances of sighting is very low this time. For sighting it is better to plan either in winter December-January or in April to Mid June.

Important Tips  

• Do not smoke or drink alcohol inside the forest, it is a punishable offense.
• It is better not to use perfumes or body spray while you are going to jungle safari. Wild animals are very sensitive. The smell of your perfume is awkward for them and they will keep a safe distance as soon as they feel that smell. Thus, chances of sighting will become very low. And this can cause a danger for you too. The essence of your perfume can attract flies and insects too.  
• Try to wear green, black or greenish shade dresses while you are going to safari. Attractive colours like red, orange or yellow can cause danger as this colours attracts insects. Avoid wearing sky shades or white or any light shades too. 
• Keep silence while you are in a Forest area.