Taj unveil its second Luxury Wilderness Lodge "Baghvan" in India

Taj Safaris extend their presence in the arena of Indian wildlife tourism with the launch of its second luxury wilderness lodge, Baghvan situated in the Seoni District of Southern Madhya Pradesh.

The Lodge is located on the border of the Pench National Park, which received international recognition with Rudyard Kipling’s classic tale – The Jungle Book. Taj Safaris is a joint venture between Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, one of Asia’s largest and finest group of hotels, Conservation Corporation Africa (CC Africa), the leading eco-tourism company and Africa’s most comprehensive safari operator, and Cigen Corporation, part of the Chaudhary Group.
Offering a truly unique Indian wildlife circuit, the lodges will provide wildlife enthusiasts and high-end travelers with distinctive, interpretive wildlife experiences in India, which is based on a proven, and sustainable eco-tourism model.

The name Baghvan draws its inspiration from one of India’s iconic symbols, the Bengal tiger (bagh – tiger and van – forest). Designed by architect Dean D Cruz together with CC Africa’s talented designer Chris Browne, the Baghavan lodge features 12 stand-alone luxurious suites, leveraging its natural settings to provide a tranquil experience.

The Pench National Park is a confluence of hills and forests. A blend of southern tropical dry deciduous forest with predominantly teak trees and tropical moist deciduous forest, along with other beautiful species of shrubs, trees and climbers; this national park derives its name from the Pench River, which meanders its way through the entire stretch of the 757 km2 park.
This forested area is renowned for tiger, leopard, dhol (Indian Wild Dog), wolf, hyena, jackal, jungle cat, chital, sambhar, muntjac, gaur, wild boar, langur and rhesus macaques sightings. It is also known for its rich birdlife with over 300 recorded bird species including parakeets, hornbills, kingfisher, barbets, minivets, orioles, wagtails, and a host of raptors like the crested serpent eagle, crested hawk eagle and white-eyed buzzard.

Baghvan is conveniently situated near major airports – Nagpur (90 km) and Jabalpur (192 km).
With hues of copper and pale turquoise, each of the 12 charming individual suites has a contemporary bungalow feel with a retro 50’s ambiance. All suites comprise of two inter-linked buildings accessed through courtyards with each having a spacious air-conditioned bedroom with private shaded sit-outs. With cool pale cream cement screed floors, all bedrooms have a Jharokha (wooden latticed bay window) that filters the soft early morning light. The generously proportioned bathrooms are fitted with double vanity and feature the distinctive concept of indoor and outdoor shower areas. Each suite also features a Machan, a covered roof terrace for romantic sleep outs.
The guest areas are cool, airy and contemporary. The spacious sitting room has an interactive open kitchen, which spills out, into the dining area, with large shaded decks leading to the nullah (dry riverbed). Deep welcoming sofas, handmade Parsi tiles, giant ebony chests, high ceilings, overhead fans and huge windows, lend a quaint charm to this area.
Baghvan will provide guests with a host of distinctive dining experiences including in-room breakfasts on cool private verandas, pool lunches on a shaded deck, dinner for two served on the deck overlooking the nullah or on the Machan, sunset cocktails under the Banyan tree and picnics at Khoka Lake.

Baghvan will offer its guests a unique opportunity to discover the beautiful jungle of Pench National Park, learn about the rich biodiversity of Central India from a CC Africa trained naturalist, travel in comfort in a specially designed Tata open 4x4 safari vehicle, view tigers whilst riding an elephant, indulge in twice-daily safaris in the reserve, tick off Pench's ten Star Birds (a unique Taj & CC Africa programme), absorb the sights and sounds of a traditional MP village and much more.

The heart of the guest’s stay is in the interpretive wildlife experience led by CC Africa trained naturalists. These naturalists have gone through an intensive 14-20 week training programme, the first of its kind in India. The jungle is brought alive by their skilled interpretation whether it is a nature walk, jeep safari, bird watching or stay in a watchtower. This intimate guest experience is complemented by a warm yet discreet staff, butler service and delicious regional cuisine served with the best wines in unusual locations.

The first lodge, Mahua Kothi, situated on the border of Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh, had opened its doors for guests on 1st November 2006. More lodges will open over the next two years. Guests will benefit from Taj Hotels’ legendary hospitality, and the expertise of CC Africa in delivering unique and in depth wildlife experiences.