Panna is a small district place in Madhya Pradesh, but it also hosts The Panna Tiger Reserve in its very beautiful and dark jungles which is a part of Vindhya mountain range of northern region of Madhya Pradesh. The Panna Tiger Reserve covers 540+ sq km spread over the districts of Panna and Chhatarpur.
The lifeline of these Jungles, the Ken river flows within. Ken Gharial Sanctuary is a part of this river, where you can spot Gharials (long snouted crocodiles) and Muggars (marsh crocodiles).
Earlier these jungles were used by the rulers of Panna, Chhatarpur and Bijawar for hunting. But after 1981, after Tiger Reserve declaration, it is being maintained properly. Today it is one of the most important habitats of Tigers in India. Here the tigers are spotted very easily and frequently. Apart from the tiger, it is home to other animals like the leopard, nilgai, chinkara, chousinga, chital, rusty spotted cat, porcupine, sambhar, etc. also more than 300 species of birds can be found here.
In 2007, this park won Award of Excellence by the Ministry of Tourism India and declared as best maintained national park in India. In 2011, it is honored with the status of Biosphere Reserve in India.