Panna is a 542.66 sq. km. reserve located in the Chhatarpur and Panna districts of Madhya Pradesh, close to the temple town of Khajuraho in central India. Panna was the fifth Project Tiger reserve of Madhya Pradesh and the 22nd tiger reserve of the country under Project Tiger. Located on the banks of the River Ken, the park is lush green with deep ravines, cascading waterfalls and thick teak forests, the Panna National Park is renowned for the tiger, deer and nilgai. The reserve stands hidden in the shadows of the Khajuraho figurines and the famed diamond mines nearby that threaten to strip the area of its vast resources.
Panna has characteristic tropical climate. Summers are uncomfortably hot with maximum temperatures that could rise to 45C, though the season probably affords the greatest chance of sighting wildlife. Winters are cool and pleasant with temperatures usually under 250C with the minimum plummeting to about 60C. The monsoons last from July to mid-September with average rainfall of about 1,423 mm., after which a long, dry spell ensues.
The park is open from November to June, which would be the best season for a visit. The Pandav Falls are however best visited during the monsoon.