INDIA’S FINEST jungle SAFARI LODGES

India

New Delhi Jaipur

Agra

Pashan Garh Panna National Park

MADHYA PRADESH

Mahua Kothi Bandhavgarh National Park

Kolkata

Banjaar Tola Kanha National Park

Baghvan Pench National Park

Mumbai

Goa

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Birth of a tiger safari

Breaking new ground in India, a joint venture between Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces, &Beyond and Cigen offers the country’s first and only wildlife circuit. This partnership, known as Taj Safaris, provides guests with the ultimate interpretive wildlife experience in India, based on a proven sustainable ecotourism model. &Beyond’s collaboration with Taj Hotels rests on decades of expertise in operating luxury jungle safari lodges offering unique wildlife experiences, coupled with legendary service. This union of like-minded hospitality companies pools vast resources and experience to build a circuit of extraordinary lodges in India’s renowned tiger reserves. In keeping with shared and deeply entrenched social and conservation principles, development programmes are being established to engage neighbouring communities in making small, meaningful differences. Taj Safaris own and operate four luxurious jungle safari lodges in Central India, situated on the borders of well-known tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh. This collection of spectacular lodges createds an easily accessible tiger wilderness circuit that celebrates the natural highlights of this remarkable Indian state.

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“What a fantastic trip! It was so much more than I expected. My hope and dream was to see one tiger (or even the tip of a tiger’s tail) in the wild. I did not see one tiger……I SAW 14!!!!! In addition, I saw all the prey animals, jungle cat, jackal, mongoose, langurs, macaques, a plethora of birds, and even a cobra! I cannot say enough about the lodges. I could never imagine such comfort and service in the Indian jungle. The staff was incredible and the meals superb.” ~ Taj Safaris Guest Book

Expect the unexpected Our guests experience first hand the beautiful Indian jungle with its towering, ancient trees, enchanting chorus of forest birds and herds of gentle chital (spotted deer). Twice-daily jungle drives are conducted in the comfort of a specially designed open 4x4 safari vehicle, accompanied by an expert &Beyond trained naturalist. The Indian jungle is a birdwatcher’s paradise and guests delight in identifying each lodge’s ten unique Star Birds.

The adventure continues on afternoon safaris. Bask in the early evening light and witness a sounder of wild boar or a family of sambar in the open meadows. Pause briefly and listen to the call of a jungle fowl as the sun gently dips over the huge horizon.

The morning peace of the jungle can be abruptly interrupted by the sharp alarm calls of chital and the constant chattering of langur monkeys. This could mean a tiger is on the prowl and perhaps guests may catch a glimpse of this magnificent endangered predator. Elephant safaris offered by the park authorities also provide an exciting jungle safari experience.

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Pashan Garh Panna Wilderness Lodge Mahua Kothi Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge

MADHYA PRADESH

Banjaar Tola Kanha Tented Camp

•• • • india

Baghvan Pench Jungle Lodge

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Beauty and the beast BANDHAVGARH NATIONAL PARK Cradled among the picturesque Vindhya and Satpura ranges in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, the renowned tiger reserve of Bandhavgarh National Park is one of India’s most beautiful wilderness areas. The dramatic landscape features tropical forests and woodlands, as well as steep rocky hills with flat grasslands in the valleys below. Bandhavgarh supports one of the highest densities of tiger on the subcontinent. The Park is also home to a large variety of mammals: leopard, chital (spotted deer), sambar deer, nilgai, wild boar, chinkara, sloth bear, rhesus macaque, grey langur, jungle cat, hyena, porcupine, jackal, fox and wild dog.

MAHUA KOTHI BANDHAVGARH JUNGLE LODGE Just 10 minutes from the Park entrance, the Lodge sprawls invitingly over 16 hectare (40 acre) grounds. Spacious guest areas welcome guests into the gracious, original kothi (homestead). Private courtyards with shaded seating and traditional mud floors lead into each of the twelve charming guest suites, or kutiyas. Ensuite bathrooms have twin hand basins, indoor showers, bath and separate w.c. Rich textiles in shades of rust and burnt orange reflect the accents of this exotic land. Early morning tea, coffee and homemade spice biscuits are set out among aromatic burning incense in the courtyard. Bicycles parked alongside are an invitation to explore. 12 kutiyas (jungle suites) – air conditioned Member of Relais & Châteaux Swimming pool Baghiya (traditional garden) Interactive kitchen Safari Shop In-room massage Only 10 minutes from the Park entrance

Mahua Kothi’s Conservation Achievements Mahua Kothi conducts Conservation Lessons for school children from the surrounding community. The focus is on teaching the children the importance of conserving the jungle for future generations and how responsible travel can make a small but meaningful difference.

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“Mahua Kothi is delightfully unique. It is a treat from which you come away feeling truly restored. This lodge has it all – nature, tranquillity, hospitality and eco-mindedness. Truly delightful people have been chosen to run this lodge. They clearly take the greatest pride and pleasure in welcoming guests and making them feel immediately at home. We had a fabulous time, and being able to follow tigers through the dense jungle was something we will never forget!” Mahua Kothi Guest Book

So much more than the bare necessities PENCH NATIONAL PARK Made famous by Rudyard Kipling’s classic Jungle Book, Pench National Park is situated in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh. The Pench River meanders through hills, forests and valleys in the 757 km² (290 square miles) Park. The river runs from north to south, dividing the park into almost equal western and eastern halves – the well forested districts of Chhindwara and Seoni respectively. A typical Central Indian teak jungle, Pench supports a rich variety of wildlife, including tiger, leopard, wild dog, gaur, sambar, chital and brilliant birdlife. The Park’s open habitat is not only ideal for wildlife viewing but also strikingly beautiful.

BAGHVAN PENCH JUNGLE LODGE Twelve charming suites with a cheeky 1950’s ambience line a lovely nullah (dry riverbed) surrounded by forest. A covered passage takes guests from their bedroom to a generously proportioned bathroom with twin hand basins, separate w.c. and indoor and outdoor showers. Stairs lead up to a machan (a covered jungle rooftop platform) that is perfect for romantic sleepouts, complete with mosquito net, overhead fan and hookah pipes. Spacious guest areas are elegantly finished with delicate handmade Parsi tiles, woven hyacinth furniture and giant ebony chests. Baghvan’s interactive open kitchen spills out to the dining area, where guests are encouraged to learn how to prepare traditional Indian dishes – recipes and spices provided! 12 bungalow suites – air conditioned Swimming pool Library Interactive kitchen Safari Shop In-room massage Only 10 minutes from the Park entrance

Baghvan’s Conservation Achievements Baghvan’s community project involves selling school satchels filled with stationery at the lodge. Guests can purchase the bags, which are then distributed to neighbouring community schools. To date, many classrooms have been supplied with much needed stationery.

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“We had the most incredible time in India! Baghvan is fantastic and we were treated like royalty. Everything was perfect, we could not fault a thing and after being in the industry for 22 years I have never experienced such genuine friendliness and true hospitality in all our travels. The lodge is out of this world, the food exceptional, and the jungle fascinating and beautiful. We arrived as strangers and left as friends having had the privilege of meeting the most wonderful people. They were our sunshine in India!” Baghvan Guest Book

Luxury, naturally

KANHA NATIONAL PARK Kanha National Park is one of India’s largest parks, covering 1 945 km2 (750 square miles) of pristine Indian wilderness. This national park is one of the first nine tiger reserves established with the initial launch of Project Tiger in 1973, aimed at protecting tigers and their ecosystems. The central parklands are home to approximately 22 animal species, including the three-striped palm squirrel, jackal, wild pig, black buck, striped hyena, leopard, mouse deer, chinkara and anteating pangolin. Kanha also supports a thriving population of the highly endangered hardground barasingha. With over 200 recorded bird species, the Park is a birdwatcher’s paradise.

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BANJAAR TOLA KANHA TENTED CAMP Banjaar Tola is situated right on the edge of the Banjaar River and overlooks Kanha National Park on the opposite bank. The two intimate camps, each consisting of only nine elegant tented suites, have been designed with a light footprint so as to protect the sensitive riverine environment. Each contemporary suite features bamboo floors, canvas roof and walls, and glass doors leading out onto a floating veranda overlooking the river. Each camp boasts its own comfortable guest sitting area with a spacious open-air dining area and interpretive library. 18 tented suites – air conditioned Set in a 90 acre property Swimming pool Library Interactive kitchen Safari Shop In-room massage Only 10 minutes from the Park entrance

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A stone’s throw away

PANNA NATIONAL PARK Situated in the Vindhya Hills along the Ken River, Panna National Park links the eastern and western populations of resident wildlife. It is a vast plateau dominated by tropical forests, deep ravines, cascading waterfalls and thick teak forests. Panna is located a mere 50 km (30 miles) from Khajuraho, whose pristinely preserved 10th century Hindu Temples are a famous World Heritage Site. These intricately carved sandstone temples feature erotic sculptures dating back 1 000 years. Panna is home to the majestic Bengal tiger, as well as the sloth bear, leopard, wolf, hyena, and jackal. The reserve is also well known for sightings of nilgai, sambar, chital, and wild boar.

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PASHAN GARH PANNA WILDERNESS LODGE Pashan Garh, meaning ‘stone house’, draws inspiration from the dry-packed stone houses of north-central India. The 12 luxury stone cottages, located a mere 12 km (seven miles) from the park entrance, are spread out along a small stream and are surrounded by 190 acres (75 hectares) of private jungle wilderness. The overall character of Pashan Garh is rough hewn, with white marble, leather furniture, ebony and chocolate highlights. Each suite has been created using dry-packed stone and features block printed black silks and cotton lace chandeliers. Delicious Indian fare, prepared by expert chefs, is discreetly delivered to guests using the unobtrusive butler hatches. 12 luxury stone cottages – air conditioned Fort-like guest area with lookout tower Set in a 190 acre property Swimming pool Safari Shop In-room massage

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India at your fingertips Getting there

Access to Pashan Garh Flight from Delhi to Khajuraho (Jet Airways), followed by a 60-minute chauffeured journey by road to the lodge.

Access to Mahua Kothi Flight from Delhi to Jabalpur, followed by a fourhour chauffeured journey by road to the lodge. Alternatively, flight from Mumbai to Bhopal (Indian Airlines/Jet Airways), with a connecting flight from Bhopal to Jabalpur, followed by a four-hour chauffeured journey by road.

There is an option to fly between the lodges in small aircraft – maximum 4 people each. Please enquire at time of booking. The months between October and March are an ideal time to celebrate the highlights of our wildlife circuit.

Access to Baghvan Flight from Mumbai to Nagpur (Kingfisher Airlines/ Jet Airways), followed by a two-hour chauffeured journey by road to the lodge. Alternatively, flight from Delhi to Nagpur (Indian Airlines/Indigo), followed by a two-hour chauffeured journey by road.

Please ask about our long stay and multi lodge rates and Seasonal Signature Offers. In the know: Tiger sightings are red hot in April, May and June, when the summer heat entices the tigers to the water to cool off.

Access to Banjaar Tola Flight from Delhi to Jabalpur (Air Deccan), followed by a five-hour chauffeured journey by road to the lodge. Alternatively, flight from Mumbai to Nagpur (Kingfisher Airlines/Jet Airways), followed by a five-hour chauffeured journey by road.

To Delhi

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Gwalior Mahoba

Jhansi

NH7

Khajuraho

Panna Satna Pashan Garh Lodge

NH12 Katni

Mahua Kothi Lodge Bandhavgarh

Bhopal

Jabalpur

MADHYA PRADESH Town/Village Road Railway Airport Station National Park, Taj Safaris Lodges

Kanha Banjaar Tola Lodge Pench

Baghvan Lodge Raipur

Nagpur

www.tajsafaris.com

“The rooms are fantastic with just the right amount of amenities. It was a pleasure to be here. I felt totally at home, at ease and very well looked after. I felt that every need, be it to see a tiger or rest for the afternoon was perfectly understood and addressed with an easy obliging hospitality. THANKS.” Mahua Kothi Guest Book

Recognition for our lodges 2009 Pashan Garh is recognised in the US Condé Nast Traveler 2009 Hot List of the World’s Top New 140 Hotels

2007 Mahua Kothi features in Elite Traveler’s 101 Best Suites of the Year

2009 Baghvan profiled in Architectural Digest 2009 Condé Nast Traveller Gold List includes Baghvan as a Best Hotel for Ambiance and Design 2008 Banjaar Tola named among National Geographic ADVENTURE magazine’s 50 Top Ecolodges 2008 Baghvan features in the next generation of the world’s best Design Hotels on Concierge.com 2008 Volumes 11 and 12 of the Andrew Martin Interior Design Review include Chris Browne, &Beyond Creative Director, as one of the world’s 35 most talented designers for his work on Mahua Kothi and Baghvan 2008 Mahua Kothi welcomed into Relais & Châteaux 2008 Baghvan listed in 101 Best Hotels in the World by UK Tatler magazine

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2007 Mahua Kothi included as one of 15 to Watch in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards

2007 Travel + Leisure mentions Mahua Kothi on editor’s list of top hotels recently visited and highlights Baghvan on the It List of favourite new places 2007 Mahua Kothi was named the Best Wildlife Resort at the inaugural Madhya Pradesh Tourism State Awards presented by the Honourable Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. 2007 Mahua Kothi and Baghvan highlighted among the top five hotels in India on Condé Nast Traveler’s Hot List of the Year’s 138 Top New Hotels 2007 Mahua Kothi included in the Condé Nast Traveller Hot List of the World’s 65 Cool New Places to Stay 2007 Mahua Kothi was included in the UK Sunday Times Hot List

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Royal Tiger Safari The 16-day Royal Tiger Safari unveils the beauty, mysticism and timeless appeal of India, from the bustling city of Delhi to the princely state of Rajasthan and ending in the jungle wilderness of the central state of Madhya Pradesh. On arrival in Delhi, witness grand architecture, palaces, tombs, mosques, medieval ruins and, of course, an overwhelming choice of shopping and restaurants. The first two nights of the safari are spent at the The Taj Mahal Hotel, one of the capital’s most distinguished addresses. The adventure continues as you board an airconditioned express train to Agra. Explore the beautiful red sandstone monument of Fort Agra and marvel at the breathtaking Taj Mahal, the world’s most famous monument to love. Rest from your sightseeing at the Oberoi Amar Villas. Your journey continues on India roads, as you are driven to Jaipur, stopping at the ancient abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri for a quick visit en route. In Jaipur, check in for a two night stay at the luxurious Rambagh Palace, surrounded by beautiful gardens. Explore Jaipur’s spectacular forts, bustling bazaars, colourful markets and rich culture. Take a morning flight from Jaipur to Mumbai and onwards to Nagpur, followed by a gentle two and a half hour drive to Pench National Park for a two night stay at Baghvan, surrounded by forests and

overlooking a lovely nullah (dry riverbed). Explore the beauty and mystique of Pench – straight out of the Jungle Book. A four-hour drive deeper into Madhya Pradesh will bring you to Kanha National Park. Here you will spend three nights in an elegant tented suite at Banjaar Tola right on the edge of the Banjaar River. From Kanha, a chauffeured journey by road takes you to Bandhavgarh National Park, where three nights will be spent at Mahua Kothi, deep in the heart of the Indian jungle. Witness India’s extraordinary wildlife on twice-daily jungle drives with expert &Beyond trained naturalists who will reveal dramatic wilderness landscapes and an abundant diversity of flora and fauna, including the great Bengal tiger. Travel north to Panna National Park and Pashan Garh for two nights. From here explore both the National Park and Khajuraho’s world-famous and pristinely preserved 10th century Hindu temples, with their erotic sculptures, which certainly deserve their World Heritage Site status. A short flight from Khajuraho will take you to back to Delhi, where a day room at The Taj Mahal Hotel will give you a chance to relax and refresh yourself before your flight home. This grand Royal Tiger Safari is a truly memorable and unique introduction to India’s history, culture, wilderness and architecture.

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MAHUA KOTHI BANDHAVGARH JUNGLE LODGE BAGHVAN PENCH JUNGLE LODGE BANJAAR TOLA KANHA TENTED CAMP PASHAN GARH PANNA WILDERNESS LODGE

Extend your journey of discovery of India by visiting some of the exquisite Grand Palaces of the Taj in Rajasthan and leading city hotels in Mumbai and New Delhi

TAJ PALACE HOTELS Rambagh Palace, Jaipur Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur Nadesar Palace, Varanasi The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai The Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi

www.tajhotels.com www.andBeyond.com Special thanks to Art Wolfe, Dook and Ron Magill for their breathtaking photography

Reservations and information Toll Free: Worldwide: 00 800 4588 1825 USA & Canada: 1 866 969 1825 India: 1 800 111 825 (Non-MTNL/BSNL customers: +91 22 66011825) Fax: +91 22 67021825

Email: [email protected] [email protected]

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