Temples in Panna
- 01
Baldeoji Temple
A Panna temple to Baldev, Krishna's elder brother, known for a raised platform, a large columned hall and a black shaligram image. Its style draws on European ideas, which is unusual for the region.
- Time needed
- 30-45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or evening darshan
- Tickets
- Entry is free as far as published sources show. Remove footwear and dress modestly. The district site lists daily darshan times last updated in 2021, so check locally.
- 02
Jagannath Swami Temple
An early 19th-century temple in Panna's Raj complex, with wooden images of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra brought from Puri and 27 smaller shrines in the courtyard. Known for its Rath Yatra.
- Time needed
- 45-60 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning, or Rath Yatra for the festival
- Tickets
- Entry is free as far as published sources show. Remove footwear and dress modestly. The district site does not list darshan times, so ask locally.
- 03
Jugal Kishore Temple
A Krishna temple built in the 18th century by the Panna ruler Hindupat Singh, with the classic Bundela arrangement of dance hall, offering hall and circumambulation path. A quiet stop in the old town.
- Time needed
- 30-45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or evening darshan
- Tickets
- Entry is free as far as published sources show. Remove footwear, dress modestly and ask before photographing the sanctum. The district site lists daily darshan times, but confirm them locally.
- 04
Mahamati Prannath Temple
The main shrine of the Pranami community in Panna, with a circular hall under nine marble domes and a silver gate. A calm, architecturally unusual temple that is central to the town.
- Time needed
- About 1 hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or evening aarti; Sharada Purnima is crowded
- Tickets
- Entry is free as far as published sources show. Remove footwear, dress modestly and check photography rules at the entrance. Visiting hours are not published by the district site, so ask locally.
Landmarks in Panna
- 05
Brihaspati Kund
A natural pool and waterfall site in Panna district, with several smaller kunds and a taller falls nearby. A scenic, monsoon-friendly detour for those who like quiet nature spots.
- Time needed
- 1.5-2 hours including the drive
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Monsoon and early post-monsoon months, when the water flows
- Tickets
- No entry or access details are published by the district site. Ask locally about access and any permits.
- 06
Pandav Falls
A perennial waterfall of about 30 metres into a heart-shaped pool, with old caves above the water. It sits on the Khajuraho-Panna road and fits easily around a safari or a drive between the two towns.
- Time needed
- About 1 hour
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Monsoon and the weeks after for the fullest flow; the district site describes it as perennial
- Tickets
- The falls lie inside the Panna National Park area, so an entry fee or arrangements may apply. The district site does not list them, so check locally or with your lodge before you go.
Experiences in Panna
- 07
Ken Gharial Sanctuary
A stretch of the Ken River protected since 1981 for gharial and mugger crocodiles, at the confluence with the Khudar. Best for patient riverside wildlife watching rather than set-piece sights.
- Time needed
- 2-3 hours, or combined with a safari day
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Cooler months, when gharials bask on sandbanks; check water levels first
- Tickets
- Access arrangements are not clearly published. The sanctuary overlaps the Panna reserve area, so permits and guides may be required; confirm with your lodge or the forest office.
- 08
Panna National Park
A tiger reserve of dry deciduous forest, plateau and gorge on the Ken River, with open-jeep safaris through core and buffer zones. Tigers returned here after a wipe-out in the 2000s, so it is also a conservation story.
- Time needed
- One safari of roughly 3-5 hours; a full day if you travel from Khajuraho
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Mid-October to June when the park is open; cooler winter mornings for comfort, hotter months for animals gathering near water
- Tickets
- Safari permits, a registered jeep and a guide are all required, and the number of vehicles per day is limited. Reserve through the Madhya Pradesh forest booking portal or through your lodge, and confirm current fees, gate timings and closure days before you travel.
Forts in Panna
- 09
Ajaygarh Fort
A flat-topped hill fort in the Vindhyas, important in the later Chandela period, with a lake, ruined Jain temples and carved sculpture inside. A real climb, but a quiet site with few visitors.
- Time needed
- 3-4 hours including the climb
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- November to February, early morning
- Tickets
- The Archaeological Survey of India now looks after the fort. Check entry fees and opening hours locally, and consider hiring a local guide.
Day trips in Panna
- 10
Nachna Temples
Two early stone temples near Nachna-Kuthara: the Parvati temple, usually dated to the 5th century, and the Chaturmukha Mahadeva temple. Remote and quiet, for travellers who care about early Indian architecture.
- Time needed
- Full day including travel
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Cooler months, daylight hours
- Tickets
- No entry details are published in the sources consulted. The Archaeological Survey of India maintains the Parvati temple, so check current access and fees locally.
