A wildlife lodge is often the best part of an Indian safari: you wake to birdsong, hear the forest through the day and have somewhere comfortable to rest after a drive. Set among nature and away from the cities, the best lodges combine real comfort with easy access to the parks. Here are ten of the best in India.
1. Aman-i-Khas, Rajasthan
Aman-i-Khas is a Mughal-style tented camp in the scrub forest next to Ranthambore, pairing camping with a high level of comfort.
There are ten large, air-conditioned tents on raised plinths for privacy, with a retro touch to the decor. The camp looks out over the Aravalli hills, and evenings are spent around a fire. It arranges tiger safaris into Ranthambore and camel rides to the fort.
Getting there: the nearest airport is Jaipur, about 180 km away; the Ranthambore main gate is ten minutes away.
2. Mahua Kothi, Madhya Pradesh
Mahua Kothi, a Taj property near Bandhavgarh, is a comfortable base for one of India’s best tiger parks.
It has twelve cottage suites with warm, vintage interiors, fireplaces and large windows, plus an ayurvedic spa. The lodge runs guided safaris with a naturalist, and there is fruit-picking in the garden and stargazing at night.
Getting there: the nearest airport is Khajuraho, about 43 km away; Bandhavgarh is a 20-minute drive.
3. Pashan Garh, Madhya Pradesh
Pashan Garh, another Taj lodge, sits on 200 acres of private forest near the quiet Panna reserve.
Its twelve stone cottages take their design from the dry-stone houses of the Panna area; some have private decks and open-air bathrooms. There is a library and screening lounge, a lookout tower for birding and stargazing, and a pool under the trees. Naturalists lead day and night safaris.
Getting there: the nearest airport is Khajuraho, about 40 km away; Panna is a 45-minute drive.
4. Oberoi Vanyavilas, Rajasthan
The Oberoi Vanyavilas is a five-star tented lodge beside Ranthambore.
Its tents are elegantly done, each with a private garden, and there are pools, water features and a spa. You can safari into Ranthambore and return to the comfort of the tent.
Getting there: the nearest airport is Jaipur, about 180 km away; Ranthambore is a 20-minute drive.
5. Sujan Jawai, Rajasthan
Sujan Jawai recalls the safari camps of the 1920s, with four camps of tents and suites among the granite hills of Bera and Jawai, known for their leopards.
Set among rock formations, riverbeds and caves, its Jawai Leopard Camp is geared to leopard tracking. You can also cycle or walk to explore the country and its wildlife.
6. Reni Pani Jungle Lodge, Madhya Pradesh
Reni Pani sits near Satpura, the largest reserve in Madhya Pradesh, and is a quiet, conservation-minded lodge.
Its twelve cottages are spread over 30 acres, along a seasonal stream, in forest and on a hill, with a pool, library and spa. As well as game drives, it offers canoeing, cycling, and walking and camping safaris.
Getting there: the nearest airport is Bhopal (Raja Bhoj), about 145 km away; Satpura is a 25-minute drive.
7. Banjaar Tola, Madhya Pradesh
Banjaar Tola, a Taj camp, overlooks the Banjar River at the edge of Kanha.
Its tented suites have bamboo walls and floors and glass doors opening onto verandas, set among a green courtyard and the park forest. Wildlife drives and other activities can be arranged in advance.
Getting there: the nearest airport is Jabalpur, about 181 km away; Kanha is a 10-minute drive.
8. Evolve Back Kuruba Safari Lodge, Karnataka
Evolve Back Kuruba sits on the banks of the Kabini River next to Nagarhole, in Kabini, one of the best lodges in southern India.
Its 30 huts take their rustic style from local Kuruba villages, and there is an infinity pool over the river, an ayurvedic spa and Jacuzzi huts. It runs boat and jeep safaris and coracle rides, and the birdlife is excellent.
Getting there: the nearest airport is Mysore, about 80 km away; Nagarhole, Mudumalai and Bandipur are all close.
9. Spice Village, Thekkady, Kerala
Spice Village sits in the cool hills of Periyar, in Thekkady, styled after a tribal village with modern comforts.
Its 52 thatched cottages, built from natural materials, have airy rooms and private porches. There is an arboretum of rare herbs and plants, and guests can visit pepper plantations, learn paper-making, walk the 12-acre grounds with a naturalist, or trek in the Periyar reserve.
Getting there: the nearest airport is Cochin, about 190 km away; Periyar is a couple of minutes away.
10. Jim’s Jungle Retreat, Uttarakhand
Jim’s Jungle Retreat sits in the Shivalik foothills next to Corbett, whose protected forest covers about 1,300 sq km of grassland, forest, river and lake.
It has 18 places to stay, from jungle cottages to lodges, in the style of old Raj-era bungalows, with a pool, library and a nursery growing native plants. It offers night stays, jeep safaris, cycling and heritage walks.
Getting there: the nearest airport is Delhi, about 250 km away; Corbett is close by.
Any of these makes a comfortable base for a wildlife trip, close to the parks but a world away from the city.
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