Pench reservoir to offer solar boat safaris from October 1
Tourists at Pench Tiger Reserve can take solar-powered boat safaris on two routes from Kolitmara, with fares from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100.
Nagpur: Tourists at the Pench Tiger Reserve can now experience a safari on a solar-powered boat in the reservoir of the Pench river. The "solar boat safari" begins on October 1. Two solar boats brought from Kerala have been readied for it, each seating 24 passengers.
The boats will keep noise and pollution low, allowing tourists to watch the reservoir's nature, birds and wildlife in peace.
Two safari routes have been fixed from Kolitmara. The first runs from Kolitmara to Nandpur-Nagragota, a distance of about 8 to 10 km, and the safari will take around an hour and a half. Arrangements for tourists to rest have been made at Nandpur Kuti. The fare for this route is Rs 400 from Monday to Friday and Rs 500 on Saturday and Sunday. There will be five trips a day: 6 am to 8 am, 8.30 am to 10.30 am, 11 am to 1 pm, 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm and 4 pm to 6 pm.
On this safari, visitors can see the Vakataka-era historical heritage of the Nandpur area and the Kundra Bhimsen shrine. Besides birdwatching, crocodiles may also be sighted around the reservoir. Tourists may also see tigers, gaur, chital, sambar, barking deer and peacocks that come to drink water.
The second route is Kolitmara-Kundra Bhimsen and back. It is about 25 to 28 km long and the safari will last three hours. The fare is Rs 800 from Monday to Friday and Rs 1,100 on Saturday and Sunday. There will be three trips on this route: 6 am to 9 am, 10 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm.
Online booking for the safari can be made on the official website of the Pench Tiger Reserve. Offline booking will be available at the booking counter of the Mansingdeo (Manko) Tourism Complex in Kolitmara.
