India has almost 75 per cent of the world’s population of wild tigers. While the 2026 All India Tiger Estimation is ongoing, as per the last census of 2022, there are more than 3,682 tigers across 58 tiger reserves in 18 states. Ranthambhore in Rajasthan, Corbett in Uttarakhand, and Kanha, Bandhavgarh, and Pench in Madhya Pradesh have become very popular on the tiger tourism trail, but the wildlife sanctuaries in Maharashtra are well worth exploring too.
Tadoba National Park (Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve), with more than a hundred tigers and a high number of new cubs, is a big draw. At Umred-Pauni-Karhandla, 40 kms away, a new nature conservancy at Gothangaon has been making waves among wildlife enthusiasts. At both locations, just a couple of hours’ drive from the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport at Nagpur, Bamboo Forest properties have been instrumental in changing perceptions about wildlife vacations by serving up a luxury safari experience.
I first visited the Bamboo Forest Safari Lodge at Tadoba in Maharashtra a decade ago, just a few days after it had opened. The luxury villas were stunning, the dining was beyond what any jungle lodge was offering at the time, and the safari experience was simply fabulous. The dynamic father-son duo that’s behind the Bamboo Forest experience are madly passionate about the jungle. The dapper Sunil Mehta is a wealth of wildlife stories, and his son Sudeep is a fantastic forest photographer in his own right. The business of hospitality may not run in their blood, but they’ve mastered the art of creating a home where their guests feel truly pampered. No wonder that they have a long roster of wildlife enthusiasts and celebrities being repeat guests over the years. Their recent 10-year celebration party was even joined by Bamboo Forest regular, the legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.
The sprawling property of The Bamboo Forest Safari Lodge overlooks a lake and is a great example of greening, with lush bamboo thriving where once little grew.
This safari lodge (I’d like to call it a resort) has everything for a luxury stay. Think two restaurants and a rooftop gazebo for curated meals and celebrations, the lavish Lone Tree bar serving up stylish spirit-forward cocktails as well as top-shelf alcohol brands, a full-size swimming pool built by the French experts Piscines Desjoyaux, and a stunning spa.
The Bamboo Forest Nature Conservancy (Gothangaon) is India’s very first. Which means that, while the owners have their 10-villa luxury lodge at its epicentre, the surrounding farms, where there used to be a lot of animal-human conflict, have been converted to grasslands that benefit the wildlife. The farmers are paid rent for their land, and every family has members that are employed by the conservancy.
Guest safety is a big factor (I’m always accompanied by a guard whenever I leave the villa), but the main idea is to create a safe corridor so animals can walk through the property unhindered. This has actually played out in the past two years, with tigress F2 bringing five adorable cubs to the conservancy.
Not only have they lived close to human activity in their early months, but thrived in the knowledge of being in a protected area where the male tigers that prove a threat to them don’t venture much. Wildlife enthusiasts have had the privilege of seeing the fur babies in all their adorable glory, basking in the love and protection of their capable mother, almost right on their doorstep.
The safaris at Umred are great, but the thrill of hearing a spotted deer’s alarm call as I’m returning from a nature walk in the conservancy is another experience altogether! The anticipation of watching the tigers gambolling right there in the pond facing my deck is beyond description.
There are 2,000 sq ft two-bedroom lakeside bungalows, each with a spacious living room and a private gazebo overlooking the lake. Of their sumptuous 1,000 sq ft villas with well-appointed sit-outs, nine are by the lakeside too, and four offer garden views. Six first-floor chalets measuring 850 sq ft each are all about more compact luxury.
Revisiting the same property recently, I must report that 10 years since, they’ve upped their game in ways I couldn’t imagine. My villa was sumptuous, with a four-poster bed, magnificent wooden furniture, a spacious bathroom, and the piece de resistance – a glorious bath with golden tiger feet in its own room, placed under a glass roof that lets in light and greenery as I enjoy my soak. The sleep quality is terrific, with a comfortable mattress and my pick of five types of pillows from a menu. The beautifully upholstered high-backed wing chairs with individual footstools are great to sink into and just ideal for that relaxing post-safari unwind.
Leading out from this main room is a large wooden deck with the cosiest day bed, loungers, and assorted tables and chairs that I find I can use across various moods and activities. Almost every single décor element, from the soft rugs and furnishings, wall murals and framed photos, to hooks and handles, has something from nature. Even when I’m indoors, I’m surrounded by birds, animals, plants, and beautiful, deep colour. It’s a feast for the senses without being overwhelming. I love that this ‘maximalist animalistic’ aesthetic flows throughout the resort’s common areas. Right from the tiger-stripes in the pathway to the design and Sudeep’s wildlife photos in the plush lounges, restaurants, and the cosy bar, the forest is always close at hand.
The resort is built on stilts, and each villa has custom-built furniture. I’m especially impressed by the carved headboard, backlit to perfection. A raised deck wraps around the exterior of the villa – set up with artistic lounge chairs, it allows me to engage safely with nature while I sip my morning cuppa.
The two restaurants in Tadoba (and the one at Gothangaon) are not only pleasing to the eye, but keep me interested at every meal. A sun-dappled breakfast in the outdoor space is serene as well as satisfying, with a wide selection of Indian as well as international options to be had while I watch the skinks sunbathe or (if I’m really lucky as a few guests have been!) a tiger stroll by.
The indoor space, with hand-painted wildlife-themed murals on the walls and excellent meals at table, knows just how to cater to different tastes, be it overseas tourists, guests with a voracious appetite for rich meals, or those craving the simplicity of Ayurvedic menus recommended for their body’s dosha type.
In fact, dining is a part of the holistic wellness programme that one can choose here as well as at The Bamboo Forest Nature Conservancy (Gothangaon). The most uplifting yoga sessions with experiential wellness hospitality consultant and spiritualist Anoopama Mahatattva under the trees in the morning, surreal sound baths that connect you with all the elements of nature in the evening, and at turndown, special oils for the navel to relax you and help you have the most restful and rejuvenating sleep at night.
In the day, ‘nadi pariksha’ consults with their Ayurvedic doctor who prescribes daily spa therapies and the best diet for you during your stay. I’m thrilled that they are happy to work out a flexible schedule so I can get the best of the safaris as well as the spa. Their Wilderness x Wellness thrust means that the two nature-centric philosophies, already so intricately bound, are finding expression at their properties in a new and exciting way.
Things to do
Their safaris have always been top of the line. The best-appointed vehicles, chauffeured by people who understand the forest and its denizens, and accompanied by expert naturalists who work closely with the mandatory Forest Department guides. But now, with thoughtful touches like soft blankets for cold winter dawns, fresh lemonade on long summer jungle drives, and lavish picnics to sustain you through the safari, they luxe up the experience like few others do.
I really enjoy the thrill of seeing the majestic tiger in the wild, but there’s a lot more to spot in these vibrant forests with diverse topography. It’s rich in leopards, sloth bear, gaur (Indian bison), dhole (wild dogs), and several types of deer, antelope, and smaller animals. The forests of Tadoba and Umred are also a birder’s paradise, and I get great sightings of Crested Serpent Eagles, Changeable Hawk-Eagles, migratory Bar-Headed Geese, glorious Lesser Golden-backed Woodpeckers, and stunningly blue Indian Rollers.
Guided walks with trained naturalists are a great way to connect with the flora and fauna of the forest and water bodies around the properties and visits to surrounding Gond villages offer interesting insights into the culture, food, and lifestyle of India’s Adivasi (aboriginal) tribes.
You can even club a stay at both properties with a short visit or an overnight at their Camp Alizanza, where you get a chance to disconnect, detox, and truly immerse yourself in the jungle experience. Phones off, starlight on… it made for many magical moments.
Factbox
Address: The Bamboo Forest Safari Lodge, Tadoba Village Maasal, Kolara Road, Chimur, Chandrapur District, Maharashtra 442903, India
Address: The Bamboo Forest Nature Conservancy, Gothangaon, A Unit of Cocoon Lodges LLP, Gothangaon Gate, Umred Karhandla Sanctuary, Post Gothangaon, Taluka Kuhi, Nagpur, Maharashtra 441210, India.
Phone: +919168666222/224
Email: staywild@bambooforest.in
Website: bambooforest.in
About Pureluxe
0 comments :
Post a Comment