Land in Nagpur airport. A 3 hour drive through the countryside to reach Pench Tiger Reserve.
Central India – Essential
Beyond Bengal Tigers
Central India
Your Journey
Central India – the heart of the country, and the subcontinent as a whole – is quite definitely one of the best places to start one’s explorations of the Indian jungles. This is the land of the Bengal Tiger and other key members of India’s forest ensemble. Many a tale have emerged from this region over the centuries, inspired by the wildlife, the myriad indigenous tribal communities and the exploits of the Maharajas. This journey covers the three most iconic tiger reserves of the region – Pench, Kanha and Bandhavgarh Tiger reserve. These protected areas form an almost continuous corridor for wildlife and have been deemed as some of the best managed national parks in the country.
wildlife
Safari’s inside tiger reserves led by expert naturalists and trackers, nature walks to get up close and understand natural relationships better
adventure
Finding tigers using the tracks and signs of the forest, driving through dense and pristine wilderness, cycling through the countryside fringing the tiger reserve
habitat
Drive through extremely healthy deciduous forests that support high tiger numbers, dense evergreen sal forests interspersed with vast golden meadows. Crystal clear rivers carving riverbeds through the jungles.
tribes
Central India is one of the few states in India where one can witness tribal life in its true sense. The Gond and Baiga tribes reside in the buffer zones of the parks and peacefully co-exist with the wildlife, many of these villages have been relocated from inside the tiger reserve and earn a livelihood through the national park as guides, forest guards as well as employment in the wildlife lodges.
conservation
These are tiger reserves famous for their conservation practices, Kanha for bringing the endemic Barasingha or Hard ground swamp deer back from near extinction, the reintroduction of Gaur into Bandhavgarh and all the research done through collaring tigers over the last few decades has contributed hugely to conserving these animals. Incentivising the local communities has been a huge part of the success.
Unique Experiences
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Spend maximum time inside the pristine protected forests of Madhya Pradesh guided by expert naturalists. These are national parks that are renowned for their successful and well managed conservation practices. A visit here ensures your best chances of spotting the Bengal Tiger in India. Apart from this a long list of other spectacular wildlife thriving thanks to the protection.
Cycle or walk through the idyllic countryside of Central India, all the tiger reserves are fringed by quaint tribal hamlets that continue to be untouched by the evils of modernisation. Most houses retain their traditional architecture of mud bricks, terracotta tiled roofs and large courtyards. The houses are surrounded by lush paddy fields and small ponds with plenty of fish.
Walk on nature trails bordering the core of the tiger reserve and feel the thrill of tracking tigers on foot. Learn about the smaller and lesser-known organisms and how they depend on the many tree and plant species native to this particular habitat.
Witness the brilliant traditional artforms of the Gond and Baiga tribes, their thought-provoking paintings portraying daily life and the wildlife they co-exist with. Taste the local food made with ingredients grown locally and some sustainably harvested from the forest.
Spend maximum time inside the pristine protected forests of Madhya Pradesh guided by expert naturalists. These are national parks that are renowned for their successful and well managed conservation practices. A visit here ensures your best chances of spotting the Bengal Tiger in India. Apart from this a long list of other spectacular wildlife thriving thanks to the protection.
Cycle or walk through the idyllic countryside of Central India, all the tiger reserves are fringed by quaint tribal hamlets that continue to be untouched by the evils of modernisation. Most houses retain their traditional architecture of mud bricks, terracotta tiled roofs and large courtyards. The houses are surrounded by lush paddy fields and small ponds with plenty of fish.
Walk on nature trails bordering the core of the tiger reserve and feel the thrill of tracking tigers on foot. Learn about the smaller and lesser-known organisms and how they depend on the many tree and plant species native to this particular habitat.
Witness the brilliant traditional artforms of the Gond and Baiga tribes, their thought-provoking paintings portraying daily life and the wildlife they co-exist with. Taste the local food made with ingredients grown locally and some sustainably harvested from the forest.
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Itinerary Snapshot
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RECOMMENDED
Stays
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CONSCIOUS LUXURY
Jamtara Wilderness Camp - Pench
One of the most luxurious tented camps in Pench is Jamtara Wilderness Camp. As each tent looks out over the forest and a dry riverbed surrounded by big Arjuna trees and an ancient Banyan, this jungle experience has the perfect backdrop. Nature is experienced at its best from each of the Luxury Tents. Although the living spaces are tents, the bathroom has been converted into a permanent building.
WILDERNESS
Baghvan Taj Safari Lodge – Pench
The Baghvan translates to "tiger forest" in Hindi. Located just a few minutes from the national park entrance, the 12 secluded, stand-alone bungalows of The Baghvan overlook a beautiful 'nullah' (dry riverbed). This safari lodge in Pench National Park has bungalows with individual rooftop machans, indoor and outdoor showers, and a wooded sit-out area. Each large bungalow has a retro feel reminiscent of the 1950s, with a choice of indoor or outdoor showers.
CONSCIOUS LUXURY
Kipling Camp - Kanha
Kipling Camp is the perfect venue to get up close and personal with Kanha National Park's wildlife. Kipling Camp has evolved through the years, keeping true to the founding values or original wildlife, conservation, and community support ethos, which remain unchanged. When it comes to running and managing a wildlife lodge, Kipling Camp has set the standard for all to follow.
WILDERNESS
Flame of the Forest – Kanha
An intimate safari adventure awaits you at Flame of the Forest, a boutique lodge in the wilderness of Kanha with four indigenous-styled cottages, each with its own courtyard, verandah and outdoor showers with views of the Banjar river and the wildscape. Sit around the campfire listening to jungle legends and gazing up at the night sky, immerse yourself in an Indian wildlife fairytale.
CONSCIOUS LUXURY
Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge – Bandhavgarh
Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge has a rustic appeal. The architecture is based on typical village-style dwellings. It includes 18 rooms overall, with 14 cottages and 4 rooms in a separate villa. Sloping roofs, vibrantly coloured furnishings and tribal art are a tribute to the region's rich cultural heritage.
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