Panna National Park spread over 542 sq.km. Was carved out of the hunting reserves of the erstwhile Panna, Chattarpur and Bijawar states. Panna was accorded sanctuary status in 1975 and upgraded to a National Park in 1981. In 1994, it became India's 22nd Tiger Reserve.

Panna is situated at the junction of the gangetic plains and the Deccan peninsula. The Panna hills provide the catchment area for the Ken river, which is the life line of the park.


It is predominantly an open forest, offering great opportunity to see the tiger and other mammals. It also supports closed canopy forests, open forest with short grass and undercover, open savannah woodlands which reflect sub Saharan habitats, tall grasslands and degraded scrub. Driving through the undulating land and plateaus is an experience in itself.

 Panna also boasts of a successful radio collaring project on tigers which has witnessed a remarkable recovery in the tiger population, which has risen beyond 35. It also hosted radio collaring projects on sloth bear and sambhar. Currently radio collaring projects on tiger and four horned antelope are being undertaken.

The park is open from 1st October to 30th June and is closed during the rainy season.