Despite being home to a large range of wildlife, Panna National Park is rarely visited by travellers, making it one of the quietest wildlife sightings spots in India. Here you can admire jungle cats, leopards, hyenas, wild dogs, wolves and sloth bears. It must be noted that while tigers reside in the area, the sightings aren’t great here. For the bird watchers, there are over 200 bird species that call the park home, along with a host of migratory birds in the winter. Boat rides are also a great way to spot crocodiles, amongst other wildlife along the banks of the Ken river.
The area’s best accommodation is the Sarai at Toria. During your stay here, you can experience many activities from treks through the countryside, spot bird species, fish along the river and explore the wetlands and forests on the border of the park.
Dr. Raghu Chundawat and his wife Joanna Van Gruisen are the conservationists behind the Sarai at Toria. They’re passionate about hospitality in a socially responsible manner as well as good food, which means they place great importance on serving delicious culinary specialities. Come here for earthy cottage style accommodation, unspoilt countryside, and great service in Bundelkhand, Madhya Pradesh. The eight free-standing cottages with thatched roofs and mud walls were designed by prominent Indian architect Eugene Pandala to blend with their natural surroundings. Despite the earthy feel, there are plenty of luxury touches and lots of space. Some of the cottages feature a mezzanine bed space and are particularly well-equipped for families.
For those wanting to visit Panna, it combines very well with a visit to Varanasi, Khajuraho, Bandhavgarh and Orchha.
