It originates in the Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh and flows across Pench National Park, which is a reserve for the Tiger Project of India.

The topography is undulating, with most of the area enclosed by small hill ranges and abrupt slopes on all the sides.

The Pench river flowing through the centre of the Reserve is usually dry by April, but a number of water pools, locally known as dohs, are found along the course of the river.

Recently, a number of earthen ponds and shallow wells have been created, providing well-distributed sources of water across the reserve.

The hydroelectric Totladoh Dam on the Pench River was the first interstate project of Maharashtra.