In 2023, Pench National Park registered over 100,000 visitors, a figure that was double that of pre-COVID-19 times. Having recently opened its doors after the monsoon shutdown, the national park is a firm favourite of nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts across India. The name of the park is derived from the river Pench, which flows through its centre and divides it into two halves: the Priyadarshini National Park and the Mowgli Pench Sanctuary. The area is home to over 1,200 species of plants, including several rare and endangered ones of ethnobotanical importance. If you take a safari through the Pench Tiger Reserve, you will be able to spot chital, sambar, wild boar, blue bull, gaur, barking deer, chinkara, leopards, wild dogs, wolves, jackals, foxes, palm civets, jungle cats, common mongoose, hyenas and of course, tigers. As of 2021, 53 tigers were recorded to be living in the reserve.
If you’re making plans to go to Pench National Park soon, bookmark these top resorts and stays for a delightful experience.
The luxurious trappings of Baghvan, A Taj Safari encompass 12 standalone colonial bungalows set among lush, green trees. Due to the property’s proximity to a pebbled riverbed, guests are often treated to close encounters with wildlife living on the forest fringes during the summer. The rooms themselves offer aesthetic interiors along with individual open air machans. An open lounge, dining space and library provide the perfect backdrop for interacting with other guests over sundowners and high tea. Guests can eat on a covered wooden deck, poolside with the crisp forest air for company, on a safari vehicle bonnet during their park expedition or under a sprawling mahua tree that is aglow with lanterns. There’s also an outdoor pool with relaxing charpoys and a serene wellness centre to ensure that visitors have a memorable stay.
Tariff: Approximately INR 38,000 per person for November.
Set in 50 acres of lush foliage, sprawling lawns and untouched landscaping, the Pench Jungle Camp aims to provide complete comfort and luxury whilst still ensuring that all of their guests’ needs are taken care of. From top-end safari tents to family suites, there is no shortage of accommodation here. Guests can make use of the swimming pool, spa and wellness facilities, and library during their stay. In addition to this, the camp provides jungle safaris in the day and night, a cycling safari experience, a nature trail walk, a potter’s village visit, stargazing experiences, a traditional Baiga dance performance, a ziplining adventure, and birdwatching trips.
Tariff: Approximately INR 8,850 per person for November.
The coolest thing about the Tathatsu Pench is arguably its cave rooms. Designed at the intersection of mythological imagery and adventure, these rooms transport visitors to a serene ambience where the echoes of nature are ever present. Case in point: the washroom has a waterfall for a shower. Besides this, there are treehouses, villa suites, mud rooms and luxury tents for guests to choose from. Go on a botanical tour around the estate, discover curated artefacts that celebrate the rich cultural tapestry and artistic heritage of Central India at the art museum, experience live music at a bonfire night, get your hands dirty to make your own pottery, and rejuvenate the body and spirit at the spa. Guests can also play chess with life-size pieces, take a dip in the swimming pool, play indoor games with loved ones, sleep in a hammock and try their hand at archery.
Tariff: Approximately INR 17,133 per person for November.
The Pench Tree Lodge is nestled in a large estate of 40 acres in the Karmajhiri area of Pench National Park. Proud of its eco-luxe credentials, the resort is a perfect fit for those who love being in the company of nature. All accommodations, which consist of six elegant treehouses and 10 luxuriously spacious cottages, are embellished with unique safari-style furniture and local crafts. The treehouses are made of local sal wood and perched 18 feet above the ground with large French windows that open to a private sit-out deck and a bay window lounger that doubles up as a day bed and a large four-poster bed. Guests can gorge on the authentic regional flavours of Madhya Pradesh; the ingredients are grown locally in the lodge’s organic garden. Be it desi aloo, daal barbate or dobri mahua kheer, the cooking techniques are inspired by the local culture. Do check out the Kipling Photography Hide, a first-of-its-kind, professionally designed, luxury underground wildlife photography hide in India. It gives photographers and wildlife lovers the freedom to get close to wildlife safely and discreetly, without disturbing or impacting the animals.
Tariff: Approximately INR 18,880 per person for November.
The Tuli Tiger Corridor is a luxurious jungle camp set in the midst of acres of lush, green forest, and locked away from the hustle and bustle of the city in the buffer zone of Pench National Park. They offer two types of rooms: cottages and tents, both of which have modern amenities and are extremely comfortable. The accommodation’s premium dining bar and lounge, Gato Kholi, treats one's taste buds to exquisite multi-cuisines while also allowing visitors to delve into their favourite books. You can also lounge poolside, play billiards, go on jungle safaris and get a relaxing massage at the on-site spa here.
Tariff: Approximately INR 10,660 per person for November.