India

India is a land that evokes imagination and curiosity, a canvas of spectacle and colour. Ruled by a succession of native kingdoms, often overrun and invaded by invading armies of central Asian origin, followed by the Mughals and finally the British, transformation has been never ending. A profusion of races and cultures, and the magnitude of their legacies are evident today. We specialise in authentic and immersive journeys through the “real India”. Please see our hand crafted bespoke Tours. We arrange many fabulous and exciting adventures eg. Tiger Safaris at fabulous lodges in Central India, House Boats in Kerala, cruising on the Brahmaputra River with wildlife excursions, immersive Yoga tours, Photographic Safaris, Spa and Wellness and Ayurveda Retreats, plus Nepal and Bhutan programs.

India Wildlife Reserves & Safaris

While India is best known as the home of the tiger, the country is also home to a fascinating variety of other animal, bird and reptile species. With some of the richest biodiversity in the world, India has a staggering 397 species of mammals, 1 232 birds and 460 reptiles. Guests can enjoy the wide range of scenery and exceptional wildlife in no less than 97 national parks and 486 wildlife sanctuaries. Taj Safaris Indian jungle lodges offer the country’s first and only wildlife circuit. These four luxury jungle safari lodges in Madhya Pradesh that we recommend are situated in Central India, on the borders of well known tiger reserves. These spectacular lodges make up an exclusive wilderness circuit that celebrates the highlights of this remarkable Indian state.

Madhya Pradesh is famed for its national parks, which delight with their untouched natural beauty, as well as their wildlife and birdlife. Many of these parks form the last refuge of the magnificent tiger and provide guests with a rare opportunity to view the king of the jungle, as well as many other exotic species.

Bandhavgarh National Park Famed for its tiger sightings, Bandhavgarh National Park is also known as one of India’s most beautiful reserves. With its high tiger densities, it is a prime destination for viewing this rare and beautiful animal. At only 437 km² (169 square miles) Bandhavgarh is not one of India’s largest parks, but it is noted for its incredible diversity. Although it is best known for its tigers, the park is also home to 37 species of mammals, including leopard, chital (spotted deer), sambar deer, nilgai, wild boar, chinkara, sloth bear, rhesus macaque, grey langur, jungle cat, hyena, porcupine, jackal, fox and wild dog. It is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, with more than 250 types of birds and 70 different butterflies. Known for more than just its natural diversity and beauty, Bandhavgarh is a park with a rich historical past.

At the 5 star Mahua Kothi Safari Lodge in Bandhavgarh National Park, the days are designed to thrill you with unexpected jungle encounters, and the fragrant Indian nights to delight and indulge your senses.
Morning Game Drive – Your personal wake-up call will deliver fresh fruit juice, tea and coffee to your bungalow before your morning game drive. Enjoy a morning full of adventure in Bandhavgarh National Park, which could include catching sight of a tiger from the back of an elephant.
Breakfast – Breakfast takes place on the veranda or in the baghiya (traditional garden), with platters heaped with traditional Indian fare or the more familiar eggs cooked to your preference.
Lunch – Take a dip in the swimming pool before lunch, served on the veranda or in the garden.

Afternoon Tea – Indulge in an Ayurvedic massage in your room or take a ride around the grounds on one of the many bicycles scattered around the lodge. The guest veranda is the setting for afternoon tea.
Afternoon Game Drive – Enter the jungles of Bandhavgarh once again on your afternoon game drive. Look out for gaur, sambal and chital coming down to drink at the many jungle streams. Tiger and leopard are getting ready for the hunt, and you may be lucky enough to spot one of these beautiful predators. Pause for a sundowner cocktail at the old fort.
Dinner – Back at the lodge dinner will be waiting in the dining area or under the magnificent mahua tree. You may even enjoy an outdoor dinner where traditional tandoori meals are cooked on charcoal. Savour delicious Indian dishes, from curries and roasted vegetables to chilli infused dishes and chutneys. After dinner, go back to your kutiya for a restful night’s sleep.

 Our 3-4 star option at Bandhavgarh is the Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge www.bandhavgarhjunglelodge.com which offers more rustic yet comfortable accommodation with some of the best naturalists in the area. The jungle lodge has been developed on the theme of an Indian village, with thirteen thatched cottages around an inner courtyard.

Pench National Park

Taj Safaris’ Baghvan Pench Jungle Lodge: Intersected by the Pench River from which it takes its name, the hills, forests and valleys of Pench National Park lie at the foot of the Satpura Range. The park is very rich in wildlife and a number of endangered species make it their home. Apart from the magnificent tiger, Pench has large numbers of wild pig, nilgai, chital, muntjac, gaur and four horned antelope. Leopard, sloth bear, wild dog, porcupine, jungle cat, fox and striped hyena also make an appearance.

Baghvan has 12 charming stand alone suites alongside a picturesque dry riverbed, surrounded by the shaded canopies of beautiful forest trees. Each spacious suite has a distinctive contemporary bungalow feel and an ambience resembling the 1950s. Cool pale cream cement screed floors against the contrasting hues of copper and pale turquoise has a much desired tranquil effect. Follow the stairs to the alluringly beautiful machan (a covered jungle rooftop platform) complete with mosquito net, overhead fan and hookah pipes and discover an ideal place to enjoy the romance of the jungle either by day or by night with an unforgettable sleepout. Rich birdlife flits through the trees overhanging your machan and monkeys chatter in the dense foliage.

Breakfasts and lunches are served on a sweeping shaded deck surrounding the beautiful swimming pool and overlooking the nullah, a favoured route of the Pench tigers. Sunset is celebrated with cocktails under a huge Banyan tree whilst watching a giant flying squirrel perform breathtaking aerobatics. With its open rooftop machans and large wooden decks that overlook the shady nullah, guests to Baghvan Pench Jungle Lodge are constantly immersed in the sights and sounds of the Indian jungle. The sandy bed of the dry nullah provides a clear path through the dense jungle for the forest’s inhabitants and guests needn’t be surprised to find a sambar deer on their doorstep in the morning.

Kanha National Park- Banjaar Tola Kanha Tented Camp

Overlooking the lush forests and grassy meadows of Kanha National Park, at Banjaar Tola  Kanha Tented Camp you are one with the environment. This lodge won a Virtuoso award for Best Safari Lodge in India.  Banjaar Tola consists of two elegant camps containing nine tented suites, each featuring its own intimate private deck overlooking the river. Contemporary, flowing shapes, canvas walls and roofs, and immense glass doors that let in the Indian sky create an atmosphere that is light and ethereal. In the silence of the night, listen to the jungle sounds floating across the river from the comfort of your tented suite. Admire stunning river views from the privacy of your own veranda or share the experiences of the day on dramatic decks facing the Banjaar River. Village visits to meet the locals and bush walks are included in your stay.

12 day Tigers - Mystics and Romance tour

12 Days/11 Nights: Saving: One free night
Get 1 night free as you embark on an 11-night adventure combining wildlife with history, India’s spiritual centre and the world’s most famous monument to love. Begin among the relics of the Raj in Delhi and move on to track tigers in Kanha and Bandhavgarh National Parks. Explore the banks of the Ganges at Varanasi and marvel at the Taj Mahal in Agra. Discover the wonders of India’s jungles, its spiritual heart and the architectural memoir of a great love story. Explore bustling markets and historical buildings in Delhi with 2 nights at The Taj Mahal Hotel. Immerse yourself in a lush tiger wilderness, spending 3 nights at Banjaar Tola Kanha Tented Camp. Track more wildlife among green valleys and rocky hills with 3 nights at Mahua Kothi Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge. Mingle with pilgrims on the ghats of Varanasi’s holy Ganges River as you spend the night at the Nadesar Palace. Return to Delhi for a night at The Taj Mahal Hotel before moving on to Agra. Spend the night at Oberoi Amarvilas and watch the colours of the famous Taj Mahal change from sunrise to sunset.

Banjaar Tola

Mahua Kothi

Nadesar Palace Varanasi

Oberoi Amarvilas Agra

10 day Royal Rajasthan Tour

10 Days/9 Nights: Discover the royal sights of Rajasthan, from the Taj Mahal, the world’s most famous monument to love, to the lakeside maharajahs’ palaces of beautiful Udaipur. Explore the sights of the capital city of Delhi, with its vast marketplaces, ancient tombs and historical mosques. Move on to the marvels of the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort. Travel to the Pink City of Jaipur and delight in the magnificent sights of elegant Udaipur, with its extraordinary island palaces. End your adventure on the edge of the Thar Desert in Jodhpur, with its imposing mountaintop fort.

We arrange many fabulous and exciting itineraries eg. Tiger Safaris at fabulous lodges in Central India, House Boats in Kerala, Cruising on the Brahmaputra River, Yoga Safaris, Photographic Safaris, Spa and Wellness and Ayurveda Retreats plus culture and wildlife programs to Nepal and Bhutan.