Discover Panna: Waterfalls, Landscapes and Temple Culture

A heart-shaped pool at the foot of a waterfall gives Pandav Falls its distinctive landscape. The waterfall is located in Panna National Park in Panna district, Madhya Pradesh. It flows year-round and plunges from a height of about 30 metres into the pool. It is fed by a tributary of the Ken River.

Waterfalls and landscapes of the district

The other waterfalls in Panna district are also considered tourist attractions. Panna Tiger Reserve lies in the Vindhya Mountains and extends across the districts of Panna and Chhatarpur in northern Madhya Pradesh. Expansive plateaus and gorges shape the reserve; the Ken River also defines its landscape.

Brihaspati Kund adds a different formation to this natural landscape: it is a natural crater in Panna district, in Bundelkhand, and is considered a popular local excursion destination. Pandav Falls and Brihaspati Kund are distinct natural attractions, while the tiger reserve encompasses a landscape spanning two districts. This distinction is useful for orientation: both individual attractions are in Panna district, while the reserve also extends into Chhatarpur.

Nachna and the Sharad Purnima Festival

Chaumukh Nath Temple is located in Nachna and is listed as a centrally protected monument in Panna district. It belongs to the group of Hindu temples at Nachna, also known as the Nachana Temples or the Hindu Temples of Nachna-Kuthara. This group is among the earliest surviving stone temples in central India.

The International Sharad Purnima Festival is held every year in October as a nine-day celebration. It begins on the day of Vijaya Dashmi with the raising of the Veera and sword at Khesra Temple. A historic temple group and an annual festival date thus offer different cultural interests. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the specific festival dates in advance.

Getting there and finding your way around the reserve

Panna is on National Highway 39, which runs from Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh to Ranchi in Chhattisgarh. Regular buses run from Panna to Bhopal and Indore. The road and bus connections offer different directions for planning your journey: the highway runs between Jhansi and Ranchi, while the buses mentioned connect Panna with Bhopal and Indore. If you plan to travel by bus, check current departure times.

Daily vehicle capacities for the Madla, Hinauta and Harsa tourism zones of Panna Tiger Reserve are listed as 60, 25 and 20 vehicles, respectively. Madla’s capacity is therefore greater than Hinauta and Harsa combined; the total is 105 vehicles per day. If you plan to visit the zones, check the latest visitor information in advance.

Amla Murabba from Panna

Amla Murabba is made from the amlas found in abundance in Panna. The preparation produces a sweet-and-spicy relish and also helps preserve the fruit for longer. This speciality thus combines a local fruit with a method of preparation aimed at preserving it.

Discover more destinations: Panna, Katni, Gwalior, Barwani, Narsinghpur, Neemuch, Hoshangabad, Indore

For the wider travel overview: Madhya Pradesh.