ROOMS & SUITES: 12 Bungalows

Mahua Kothi safari lodge is adjacent to the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. Opened in November 2006, Mahua Kothi was the first lodge in the Taj Safaris Tiger Circuit that by late 2008 will comprise four luxury lodges and camps in central India.

Twice-daily game drives are conducted in the comfort of a specially designed Tata Open 4x4 safari vehicle, accompanied by an expert CC Africa-trained Indian naturalist.

Nestled in the vicinity of the breathtaking Bandhavgarh National Park is the first of the Taj Safaris Lodges. The name Mahua Kothi draws inspiration from one of India's most beautiful trees, the Madhuca Indica, or as it is commonly known, the Mahua or butter tree. Its luscious off-white flowers take centre-stage in many Indian festive rituals, and here, at Mahua Kothi, it is at the centre of many a unique and delightful experience. The lodge sprawls over the 40 acre grounds, around the renowned erstwhile tented camp, Churhat Kothi, the accommodation and facilities of the lodge blend charmingly into the quaint and rustic surroundings.

Mahua Kothi is the first of five Lodges that, in true Taj style, break new ground in the Indian tourism industry. Offering a never-before-experienced Indian wildlife circuit, replete with both adventure and – unlike any safari experience in the country so far – impeccable service and lush luxury.

Mahua Kothi promises an experience that is unconventional, focused on guests' individual needs and emotions, knowledgeable, sophisticated and innovative.

AFFILIATIONS

Relais & Chateaux

ACCOLADES & ARTICLES

Relais & Chateaux

ACCOMMODATIONS

Walk in to the cozily traditional guest area, with high ceilings, terracotta tiles, overhead fans, a fireplace, huge windows with window seats, beaten Bastar metal and hand-blown glassware. Freshen up in the Comings & Goings room. Step into the open kitchen that lets you in on the simple joys of butter being churned, masala being hand-ground, garden-fresh vegetables being chopped with sickles and rotis being expertly made on a chulha. Catch the jungle breeze out on the 600 sq. ft. verandah, browse leisurely through the Safari Shop, idle away the hours at the library or take a dip in the swimming pool.

When you're ready to settle in, make your way through a private courtyard, with its shaded seating, to one of the twelve charming cottage suites, called Kutiyas. Built to replicate the vernacular style of Central India, affectionately known as MP chic, each is filled with quaint local touches. Wooden shutters, tapered hand-finished walls, stone floors, open rafters with roughly-hewn beams, handmade pottery roof tiles, rust and burnt orange local textile furnishings. Shower off your journey in the en-suite bathroom, pamper yourself with hand-blended, all-natural, guest amenities from the Taj Spa, relax with a game of marbles or Chaupad or indulge in an in-room Ayurvedic massage.

LEISURE

Guest areas for rest and relaxation
Library
Swimming pool
Spa Treatments based on millennia-old Indian healing and massage techniques, using all-natural ingredients

EXPLORE

Situated in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh National Park is a 448 square kilometer renowned tiger reserve close to Mahua Kothi. Nestled among the picturesque Vindhya hills and lush tropical forests, this is one of India's most scenic national parks.

Guests of Mahua Kothi can discover the beautiful jungle of Bandhavgarh National Park and learn about the rich biodiversity of Central India from a trained naturalist. Naturalists are more than just guides. Vigorously trained, they have an encyclopaedic knowledge of every inhabitant of the forests, and every secret nook and pathway of the wilderness. Warm, chatty, genuinely excited about sharing their knowledge and infectiously passionate, they are an integral part of what makes the Taj Safaris unique.

GETTING THERE

Airport: Mahua Kothi is situated in central Madhya Pradesh, near the major airports of Khajuraho (230 km) and Jabalpur (190 km)

Transportation: Pick-ups and transfers from and to railway stations and airports.

Mahua Kothi
Bandhavgarh National Park
Village Tala, District Umaria
Madhya Pradesh – 484661, India