Baghvan Pench Jungle Lodge

By a lovely stream surrounded by forest, out on the edge of the sprawling 757 sq km Pench National Park, lies Baghvan - the second Lodge by Taj Safaris is now open for adventure. Named after the king of India's jungles, the regal Bengal tiger (bagh - tiger, van - garden), this charming lodge is mere five minutes away from the hills, forests and valleys of Pench. Its spacious, rustic standalone suites and airy guest areas make a wondrous starting point for your journey into the wild.

Receive a hearty welcome in a cool, airy and contemporary sitting room, made cosy with deep inviting sofas. High ceilings, cement screed floors, overhead fans and huge windows that let in the jungle breeze form the frame for a canvas of handmade Parsi tiles, woven hyacinth furniture and giant ebony chests. Absorb the culinary traditions of the state in the interactive open kitchen that spills out into the dining area, stroll along the shaded deck down to the river bed (nullah), cool off in the pool that hugs its contours or browse away the time in the Safari shop or library. There’s plenty to do, even before you settle in for your stay.

Once you do, sink into the cheeky 50s ambience in rustic-yet-contemporary bungalow suites, with their palettes of copper and pale turquoise and cool pale cream cement floors. Wake up with the soft first rays of the sun filtering through the Jharokha (wooden latticed bay window) in your spacious air-conditioned bedroom. Melt into nature with large courtyards, private shaded sit-outs, an outdoor shower and a romantic rooftop sleep-out on a private machan (jungle platform). The machan is protected with a mosquito net, refreshed with an overhead fan and accessorised with a hookah. In the summer months, a traditional Khus screen is sprinkled with water, which cools the breeze wafting in and scents it with a lovely fragrance.

Mealtimes in Baghvan are adventures in themselves – a series of delightful rendezvous with nature.
Have nature over as a guest at every meal.
Begin with breakfast out on your cool private verandah.
Lunch on the shaded deck by the pool.
Sink into a dinner for two on the deck overlooking the nullah, or on your machan (jungle platform)
Come sunset, settle down under the banyan tree for cocktails, as a giant squirrel provides the entertainment
Set out for a picnic at the nearby Khoka Lake

Guest areas for rest and relaxation
Library
Safari shop
Swimming pool

Spa
Treatments based on millennia-old Indian healing and massage techniques, using all-natural ingredients

Naturalists 
The naturalists are more than just guides. Vigorously trained by CCAfrica, they have an encyclopedic 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.

3 nights in a Bungalow Suite on full board excluding transfers and flights
From £878 per person