Located in Madhya Pradesh is the small town of Panna which is well known for its diamond mines. Although not world class in quality these diamonds are used in making many jewellery items. Tourists coming here can view the site of the mine however they are not allowed to tour it due to security concerns.
There are a few places to visit in Patna for tourists coming here. It has a sanctuary entirely dedicated to saving Indian Gharials an endangered species. There is also a national park here that conserves tigers. Wildlife adventurers come here round the year to learn more about these animals. There is also a scenic waterfall and a cave, which is believed to have been visited by the Pandavas. Tourists come here to enjoy the picturesque views and also click picture of themselves with the falls in the background.
Ken Gharial Sanctuary
One of the places to visit in Panna is the Ken Gharial Sanctuary, which was established with the purpose of protecting the Indian Gharials. The sanctuary is surrounded by forests and has the Ken river flowing through it. Other wildlife you can spot here include chinkara, chitals, wild boars, peacocks and blue bulls. It is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts, who come here to see these animals and reptiles roaming in their natural habitat.
Photo Courtesy: ZeePack
Pandav Caves and Falls
Another place to visit in Panna is the Pandav Caves and Falls, situated close to the National Park. The waterfall here originates from the local springs and is one of the major crowd pullers in this region. At the base of this fall is a cave which is believed to have been the refuge for the Pandava brothers during their period of exile. Tourists coming here can enjoy the view of the falls and explore these caves.
Panna National Park
One of the tourist places in Panna is the Panna National Park, it is the fifth tiger reserve park in Madhya Pradesh and the twenty second one in India. Other than tigers, tourists can also spot Chitals, sloth bears, Sambhars, Chinkaras, King Vulture, Honey Buzzard, Bar-headed Goose and Blossom-headed Parakeet here. It is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts and bird lovers who can set out on a safari in search of these animals.
Photo Courtesy: Gaby Young
How to Reach Panna
By Air: The nearest airport to Panna is the Khajuraho Airport at a distance of about 50 km. It is well-connected to all the major cities of the country.
By Train: Panna has no railway station of its own and the nearest railway heads are at Khajuraho and Satna. The Khaujoraho railway station is 45 km away and the one at Satna is 75 km from Panna. Both the stations are connected to some of the major cities within the state and the country.
By Road: There are many sleeper, AC and luxury coaches available from cities like Delhi, Agra, Jhansi, Lucknow, Faridabad, Varanasi, Nagpur, Jabalpur, Allahabad, Dholpur, Indore, Bhopal and more that will take you to Panna. Travelling to Panna by road is very comfortable since the city is well-connected by the national highways.