To go on safari in Pench in Madhya Pradesh you must book a jeep permit in advance.
Book it on the official Madhya Pradesh Forest Department site, forest.mponline.gov.in. The main tourist gate is Turia. Permits are limited, and they open for a fixed date only a set number of days ahead, so the best gates fill fast. Foreigners pay more than Indians, so declare your nationality correctly. The park is open in the cooler months and closed in the monsoon.
Who needs to book
- Every visitor going into a safari zone, 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.
The zones, in plain words
Pench in Madhya Pradesh is entered through a few gates, and each has its own daily limit of jeeps. When you book you pick one gate for that trip.
- Turia. The main and most popular gate, with the most jeeps each session.
- Karmajhiri. A quieter core gate with far fewer jeeps.
- Jamtara. A small gate with a very small daily limit.
- Rukhad and Teliya. Buffer zones that stay open longer into the year and are useful when the core is full or closed.
[The open gates and their daily limits are set by the forest department and 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 Madhya Pradesh Forest Department site, forest.mponline.gov.in, and open the safari booking service for Pench.
- Create a login, then pick Pench, the gate, the date, and the morning or evening 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.
A note on timing. The forest department opens each date for booking only a set number of days in advance, and releases them in batches. For example, the portal has shown that bookings for the first part of October open in early August. So decide your dates early and book the moment that window opens, especially for Turia. [The exact advance window is shown on the official site. Last checked 13 September 2026.]
What it costs
The cost is made of a few parts: the permit or 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 site 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, because these change. The official site 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.
Season and timings
Pench in Madhya Pradesh is best from about 15 October to 30 June. The monsoon arrives in mid June and the core zones close. Buffer zones such as Rukhad may stay open a little longer. Safaris run in two sessions a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, and the exact clock times shift with the season because sunrise and sunset move. [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 look alike site. Many private sites sell "Pench safari booking" and add a fee. The official permit is only on forest.mponline.gov.in.
- Leaving it late. Turia sells out quickly the moment a date opens.
- Declaring the wrong nationality, then being stopped at the gate.
- Planning a monsoon visit to the core, when it is closed.
- Confusing Pench in Madhya Pradesh with Pench in Maharashtra. They are the same forest across a state border but they have separate gates and separate booking systems. See our Pench Maharashtra page.
Questions people ask
Do I need to book a Pench safari in advance?
Yes. Book the jeep permit in advance on the official Madhya Pradesh forest site.
Which is the main gate?
Turia. It has the most jeeps and is the most popular, so it fills first.
Do foreigners pay more?
Yes, foreigners pay a higher fee than Indians.
When is Pench open?
Roughly 15 October to 30 June for the core. It is closed in the monsoon, though some buffer zones may stay open longer. Confirm the exact dates on the official site.
Where do I book?
On the official Madhya Pradesh Forest Department site, forest.mponline.gov.in.
Is Pench Madhya Pradesh the same as Pench Maharashtra?
It is one forest across two states, but each side has its own gates and its own booking site. Pick the side you want and book on that state's system.