Mahua Kothi, Bandhavgarh National Park

Mahua Kothi

A Wildlife Tour of India must include Bandhavgarh National Park. I stayed in Mahua Kothi Lodge for two nights in April and was quite impressed. This lodge is co-owned by the Taj Luxury Hotel Chain and the & Beyond African Safari Group. & Beyond used to be called CC Africa but changed its name as it ventured out of Africa and began working with the Taj Group in India. Everything at Mahua Kothi is exquisitely done and first class. Upon arrival, you are greeted with a drink and wet towel and the attentive willing staff is available for your every need. Nothing is left out. There are 12 village style kutiyas (mud walled suites) and the décor is contemporary but very Indian. The suites are luxurious and you even have your personal butler. My butler was a very sweet and attentive man from Nepal. You will not want to leave these suites except for the fact that you are here to see tigers and other wildlife. The naturalists are trained by & Beyond and the staff by the Taj group.

Royal Bengal Tiger



Rhesus Monkey

The morning safari begins at 6:15 am when the gate to the park opens. But you will want to drive to the gate before and have a good place in line. Tea and coffee are offered with muffins before departing the lodge. The jeeps are different at Mahua Kothi than any other lodges in the park. They seat 6 and each seating is higher than the one in front making animal viewing excellent for all. When arriving at the park, each jeep picks up a local tracker and the assigned route you will take. Part way through the safari, Indian sandwiches and drinks are offered. On returning to the lodge, you can enjoy a hot breakfast. The park gate closes at 10:15am. Evening safari starts at 4:15pm and ends at 7:00pm. I took a morning and evening safari and saw nine tigers. In the afternoon, I saw the father, mother and three cubs. This was VERY exciting. You can also see Spotted deer, Barking deer, Nilgai antelope, Black faced languor monkeys, Rhesus macaques monkeys, Kingfisher birds and beautiful peacocks to just name a few of the other wildlife. Bandhavgarh has one of the highest densities of tigers in India.

The next morning, I went to see the 2,000 year old Banhavgarh Fort. This was a special experience and should not be missed. You will see temples and a big beautiful reclining 10th century statue of Lord Vishnu on the way up to the fort. Once you reach the fort, you will be awarded with the most magnificent view of the jungle below and hundreds of vultures circling in the sky.

Food at Mahua Kothi was superb. The chef recently received an award for his cooking. It is Indian food geared towards Westerners. Their clientele is usually Westerners. Lunch is served, offering many dishes, on huge communal wood tables. I was impressed with how each dish had its own distinct flavor. Dinner is served in different locations within the resort. By the way, you will never be served the same dish twice. If you have food allergies or do not eat certain foods, let the staff know and they will cater to your needs.

The lodge also has a pool and offers massages, reflexology and Ayurvedic treatments. The biggest surprise for me when returning from my evening safari was to have a hot bath waiting with flower pedals, candles lit and incense burning around the tub. What a treat! I must say I was very sad to leave. Two nights are not enough. I would recommend a minimum of three nights. To stay at Mahua Kothi is a wonderful experience not to be missed!