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Mahua Kothi
Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh.
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Nestled in the vicinity of the breathtaking Bandhavgarh National Park is the first of the Taj Safari Lodges. The name Mahua Kothi draws inspiration from one of India’s most beautiful trees, the Madhuca Indica, 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 former tented camp, Churhat Kothi, the accommodation and facilities of the lodge blend charmingly into the quaint and rustic surroundings.
Mahua Kothi 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.
Lodges are not operational from 1st July onwards till 15th October, as the national parks are closed due to monsoons.
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Accommodation in Mahua Kothi |
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Mahua features twelve brand-new cottage suites, called Kutiyas. Each charming suite is filled with quaint local touches: wooden shutters, tapered hand-finished walls, stone floors, open rafters with roughly-hewn beams, handmade pottery roof tiles and rust and burnt orange local textile furnishings. Guests can shower off their journey in the en-suite bathroom, pamper themselves with hand-blended, all-natural, guest amenities from the Jiva Spa, relax with a game of marbles or Chaupad or indulge in an in-room Ayurvedic massage.
The guest areas feature high ceilings, terracotta tiles, overhead fans, a fireplace, huge windows with window seats, and a spacious 600 square foot verandah that captures the jungle breeze perfectly.
The original Kothi lodge, comprising the guest areas, remains intact although it has been extensively renovated. Offering the gracious charm of a country house, the lodge has been constructed in the local style by families from the neighbouring community. The design lends itself perfectly to the Taj & Beyond CC Africa core ethos of leaving a light footprint as the building materials are organic and the work was undertaken in the local tradition complete with hand plastered walls.
Mahua Kothi Room Amenities
Twin beds that can be converted to double beds, Air-conditioning, Ceiling fans, Swimming pool, Indoor showers, Private bathroom, In-room safe, Intercom, Hairdryer, Laundry services, Disabled guest facilities. |
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Dining |
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Bon Appetit
Dining in Mahua Kothi is an exciting and unexpected safari in itself, with several deliciously surprising twists and turns. Fresh local ingredients, homemade accompaniments, fruits and veggies grown in backyards, ancestral cooking and dining customs, and quaint village traditions create never-before dining experiences that give each guest as much of a thrill as the daily game drives.
Breakfast is served with the first rays of the sun. Take a piping-hot breakfast to sustain you in the forest. For a more leisurely first meal, one can make their way to the colourful vegetable garden in the backyard for the charming Baghiya breakfast - a sumptuous meal laid out on a bullock cart.
At lunchtime, guests have the options of dining by the pool, having a picnic under the Mahua tree or taking their lunch to the nearby watering hole.
In the evening, everyone is encouraged to enjoy exquisite teas or cocktails made from the sap of the mahua tree, fine Indian wines, icy cold Indian beers and pomegranate syrup. Later, guests can dine under the stars, out on the terrace, with live spit-roasting, generations-old khud cooking, thali dinners and folk dances. Post dinner we offer exclusive desserts and surprise treats in each guest room.
Guests may also choose to request a cosy private dining experience in their private courtyard or on the terrace if they wish.
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Leisure |
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From indulging an in-room Ayurvedic massage to cooling off in our swimming pool, guests will find plenty to do when they are not actively pursuing predators on elephant-back or cycling through a local village. We offer a Safari shop as well as a library for guests to idle away the hours. The guest areas are the perfect place to unwind after a long afternoon in the jungle, and the outdoor veranda provides generous built-in seating for star gazing.
Spa Services Our spa treatments based on millennia-old Indian healing and massage techniques, using all-natural ingredients, Recreation Guest areas for rest and relaxation, Library, Safari shop - sells safari gear and souvenirs sourced locally, Swimming pool, Marbles or Chapaud, Bicycles, Yoga.
Essentials
Butler service, Air conditioning, Ceiling fans, Bath and indoor shower, Mosquito protection, Babysitting services, Laundry services, Pick-ups and transfers from and to railway stations and airports, Doctor-on-call, In-room safe, Intercoms for emergencies, and radios in all safari vehicles, Lit pathways leading to all rooms, A security escort for each guest, Naturalists trained in animal behaviour, first-aid and outdoor emergencies. |
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Adventure |
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The Adventure Awaits The adventure begins as any proper undertaking should - with afternoon tea. Then, Mahua Kothi’s naturalist offers a fascinating orientation of what to expect on the safari drives into the jungle. Soon, it’s time to depart on an afternoon drive in a rugged 4X4 through Bandhavgarh’s dramatic landscape, seaching out the region’s rich wildlife, including tiger, sloth bear, leopard, jungle cat and wild dog. Bird enthusiasts can try their luck at spotting Mahua Kothi’s ten Star Birds, from the gorgeous Indian peafowl (peacock) to the shaheen falcon.
Throughout your stay, you will travel in comfort in a specially designed Tata 4x4 open vehicle. That is when you are not spotting tigers from the safety of an elephant’s back. You are invited to indulge in twice-daily safaris on the reserve, tick off Bandhavgarh’s ten Star Birds (a book listing the area’s top ten birds that bird-watchers can check off), or just absorb the sights and sounds of local villages.
Inside the lodge, guests can wander into the open kitchen that lets everyone witness the simple joys of churning butter, hand-grinding masala, chopping garden-fresh vegetables with sickles and rotis being expertly made on a chulha. Or you can browse leisurely through the Safari Shop, idle away the hours at the library or take a dip in the swimming pool.
Safari and Wildlife Viewing
The heart of the Mahua Kothi experience is the interpretive safari and wildlife excursions brought to the lodge by the expertise of conservation specialists, &beyond. Taj Safari guides undergo an intensive 14-20 week training programme, the first of its kind in India. As a result, these expert naturalists are able to provide wildlife enthusiasts and adventure travellers with distinctive, interpretive wildlife experiences in India which are based on a proven and sustainable eco-tourism model. Their sharp understanding of the jungle seasons and animal behaviour truly makes for a memorable Safari experience.
At Mahua Kothi, Guest Can, Participate in twice-daily jungle safaris in the reserve, Learn about the rich biodiversity of Central India from a &beyond trained naturalist, Observe tigers and other predators from the safety of an elephant’s back, Travel in comfort in a specially designed Tata Open 4x4 safari vehicle, Observe hundreds of unusual bird species, Take guided nature walks, Take a walk or a bicycle ride through a traditional Madhya Pradesh village.
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How to get to Mahua Kothi |
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Mahua Kothi is conveniently situated in central Madhya Pradesh, near the major airports of Khajuraho (230 km) and Jabalpur (190 km) It is also just 230 kms away from the Kanha tiger reserve. It is easily accessible from the major cities of Delhi and Mumbai, too.
The nearest airport to Mahua Kothi is at Jabalpur. However, the most convenient route to Bandhavgarh National Park is to fly from Delhi to Khajuraho and then drive five and a half hours in. Though this is the longer route, the drive is very interesting. The road crosses the Ken river, where some stretches have been declared a crocodile sanctuary famous for Ghariyal, a rare fish eating crocodile. Then the road goes past Panna town, famous for its diamond mines, to the midway point from where it branches off on a subsidiary road across ridges of the Vindhyachal to Bandhavgarh.
From Delhi:
•Fly to 5 ½ hours to Khajuraho (winter months only), and a 6 hour drive via Satna will get you to the lodge.
•Fly 3 ½ hours to Jabalpur, from where the lodge is a 4-hour drive away.
•Fly to Gwalior, take a 12-hour train ride to Umaira, from where a 40 minute drive will get you the lodge.
•Fly to Gwalior, take a train to Katni (approx. 10 hrs) and drive down to the lodge in 2 1/2 hours. You could also take a train directly to Katni from Delhi (13-14 hours).
•All trains from Delhi stop at Gwalior
From Mumbai :
•Fly to Bhopal and take a connecting flight to Jabalpur, from where the lodge is a 4-hour drive away. |
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Tele : +91-11-41612107, 26823836. Mobile: 9810002772, 9910002772. |
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