To go on safari in Pench in Maharashtra you must book a jeep permit in advance through the Maharashtra government's safari booking system.
The main gates are Sillari and Khursapar, near Nagpur. Permits are limited and open only a set number of days ahead, so popular slots fill fast. Foreigners pay more than Indians, so declare your nationality correctly. The core is open in the cooler months, and a buffer gate stays open in the monsoon.
Who needs to book
- Every visitor going into a safari gate, Indian or foreign, per person.
- You cannot take your own car inside. A registered forest jeep with a driver and a guide is part of the booking.
- Foreigners pay a higher fee than Indians, so the nationality on the booking must be correct.
- Mobile phones are not allowed on safari inside the protected area, so plan for that.
The gates, in plain words
Pench in Maharashtra has several gates, and each opens into a different part of the forest. When you book you pick one gate for that trip.
- Sillari. The best known and busiest gate, close to Nagpur.
- Khursapar. The other main gate, also popular.
- Chorbahuli, Kolitmara, Surewani, and Banera. Further gates that spread visitors out and are worth trying when Sillari is full.
- Surewani also runs as a buffer option in the monsoon, when the core is closed.
[The open gates can change season to season. Confirm on the official site. Last checked 13 September 2026.]
How to book, step by step
- Go to the official Maharashtra government safari booking system (linked below from the Pench Tiger Reserve site), and open Pench.
- Create a login, then pick the gate, the date, and the morning or afternoon session.
- Add each visitor with identity details, and declare the correct nationality.
- Pay online, then download the permit.
- Carry the permit and the same original identity to the gate, because it is checked there. Leave your phone behind for the safari itself.
What it costs
The cost is made of a few parts: the entry fee per person, the jeep charge, and a guide fee. Foreigners pay a higher fee than Indians. The exact government figures are shown on the official system at the time of booking.
Following the honest rule of this resource, we do not print a fee we cannot see clearly on the official source. The official system shows the current figure when you book. [Exact fees for Indians and foreigners are to confirm on the official site. Last checked 13 September 2026.]
Documents you need
- One government photo identity per visitor at booking. Indians can use Aadhaar. Foreigners use a passport.
- The same original identity carried to the gate, matching the booking.
- A working mobile number for the booking (though the phone is not carried on the safari itself).
Season and timings
The Pench core in Maharashtra is open in the cooler, drier months, roughly from October to the end of June, and closes for the monsoon. During the monsoon, the buffer at Surewani continues so you can still see the forest. Safaris run in a morning and an afternoon session, and the exact clock times move with the season, opening earlier in the hot months and later in winter. [The exact 2026 to 2027 opening and closing dates and the session times are to confirm on the official site. Last checked 13 September 2026.]
Common mistakes to avoid
- Booking on a private look alike site that adds a fee. Use the official Maharashtra government system linked from the reserve site.
- Carrying your phone into the safari, which is not allowed inside the protected area.
- Declaring the wrong nationality, then being stopped at the gate.
- Confusing Pench in Maharashtra with Pench in Madhya Pradesh. They are the same forest across a state line, but each side has separate gates and a separate booking system. See our Pench Madhya Pradesh page.
Questions people ask
Do I need to book a Pench Maharashtra safari in advance?
Yes. Book the jeep permit in advance on the official Maharashtra government system.
Which gate is the main one?
Sillari, near Nagpur, is the busiest, with Khursapar next.
Can I visit in the monsoon?
The core closes, but the Surewani buffer gate stays open in the monsoon.
Do foreigners pay more?
Yes, foreigners pay a higher fee than Indians.
Is Pench Maharashtra the same as Pench Madhya Pradesh?
It is one forest across two states, but each side has its own gates and its own booking site.
Can I carry my phone on the safari?
No. Phones are not allowed on safari inside the protected area.