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As our car entered the gates of Pench Tree Lodge on a rain-drenched evening, we were welcomed by tunes of Cicadas singing in chorus. The lush greenery that enveloped the property glistened, as water droplets studded the foliage like shining crystals.
When we walked in, the manager Ghyansham ji offered us chai (tea) – a perfect welcome drink to beat the chill of the monsoon. As we sipped on it slowly, savoring the aroma and warmth, he pointed towards a tree next to the dining area. A red-headed Rock Agama was perched atop one of the branches!
The ambience instantly transported me to the world of Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book. I couldn’t contain the thrill of staying here for the next 2 days.
Now, allow me to take you through our entire experience of staying at Pench Tree Lodge, a luxurious eco-resort in Sarahiri (tribal village in Madhya Pradesh), located close to the Karmajhiri Gate of Pench National Park. Let’s begin with the highlights?
Contents
Top 3 Reasons To Stay At Pench Tree Lodge
1. Insightful wildlife experience and nature walks
Managed by Pugdundee Safaris, Pench Tree Lodge has a bunch of experienced naturalists who elevate your wildlife experience. Deepa, who accompanied us throughout the safaris, narrated the most interesting stories about tigers and leopards, and helped us spot some unique birds. She was well-versed with the jungle and knew the tiger territories. In just two days, we spotted two tigers and a leopard, a couple of jackals, hundreds of spotted deer and monkeys, and more. She also told us stories of Kaala, the black leopard of Pench.
In the evenings, Deepa took us for nature walks around the property premises, and helped us spot greater coucals, Malabar hornbills, racket-tailed drongo, and Indian pitta, amongst other birds. Sitting at the Kipling Hide (a one-of-a-kind photography hide from where you can click photos of wild animals without getting noticed), Deepa told us that they’ve planted a hidden camera next to the water body, to track the movements of animals.
If I had to score my wildlife experience here, I’d definitely give it an eleven out of ten!
Did you know?
Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Jungle Book’ was inspired by the forests of Pench. But Rudyard Kipling never actually visited Pench (or Seoni, which he mentions in his book and now falls within the tiger reserve area).
Kipling’s imagination apparently stemmed from the writings of British travelers and hunters who explored the region. While chatting with a naturalist, I learned that a British traveler once wrote about seeing a village boy being chased by wolves near Seoni, close to Pench. Inspired by such accounts, Kipling crafted his tales of the Indian forest, and his rich descriptions in “The Jungle Book” are a testament to his storytelling prowess.
2. Luxurious, yet sustainable accommodation
It’s commendable how Pugdundee Safaris adheres to sustainability measures and runs such a gorgeous, eco-luxe resort in the middle of the wilderness. Their philosophy is to minimize carbon footprints and give back to nature. Thus, all the tree lodges and cottages are made with sal wood and rocks.
They offer eco-friendly toiletries, and water is provided in stainless steel bottles. During my stay, I barely noticed any usage of plastic bottles (or any single-use plastic wastage) at the property.
3. Experiential and adventurous meals
Food is a very important part of any trip, and I believe that a journey can’t be complete without indulging in the local delicacies. If you’re a foodie like me, you won’t be disappointed here.
Every meal that was served to us had its unique flavors, and they were simple dishes made from freshly-sourced local produce.
From sumptuous bush breakfasts during the safari at Pench National Park, to village style dinners at the eco-lodge, you will have ample options to satiate your taste buds while you’re here! We’ll talk more in detail about the dishes in the upcoming food section.
The Rooms At Pench Tree Lodge
Spread over an area of 40 acres, the retreat has six gorgeous tree lodges perched on top of Mahua trees. They offer a perfect wilderness experience to those who love to stay amidst nature, wake up to birdsong, indulge in freshly cooked meals, and enjoy thrilling safaris.
Each tree house is made of sal wood, and has a spacious bedroom with attached bathroom and a private sit-out deck, as well as a bay window lounger that overlooks the grasslands. Although minimalistic, these rooms had all the modern and comfortable amenities of a five-star stay.
Apart from the tree lodges, there are ten spacious duplex jungle cottages, perfectly designed for families. Each of them has a private sit-out deck, offering breathtaking views of deciduous forests and grasslands. One might even stand a chance to spot birds like Malabar hornbills, painted storks, and Asian pied starlings.
Cottage No.05:
I stayed in Cottage No.05 and the moment I walked in, I was mind-blown to witness the ceiling-to-floor French windows, offering me unobstructed views of the wilderness. Spread across two floors, the ground level had a king-sized bed while the upper level had a queen bed, making it a perfect cottage for small families as well as couples.
There was a gorgeous work desk, from where I watched the rain pouring through the afternoons while working occasionally. A selection of organic teas and coffees lay on a table, along with a tea kettle, to make that much-needed warm beverage.
The room also had a sit-out deck, making for the perfect setup to just watch the birds, or to read a book during early mornings and late evenings. There was no TV in any of the rooms, allowing you to connect fully with nature.
The Food At Pench Tree Lodge
The gastronomical experience at Pench Tree Lodge feeds your soul. Our mornings began with a cup of tea at dawn, followed by bush breakfasts that the team packed for us. The breakfast scene was more like a picnic in the middle of the jungle!
From aloo parathas (flat bread stuffed with potato mash) to freshly baked muffins, tea cakes, sabudana vadas, sandwiches and wraps, there was a plethora of options. These were accompanied by coffee, tea, and lemonade.
For lunch, we had a local thali one day, which they had named as ‘Paanch Gaaon Andar’ (meaning flavors of five villages). It had laal saag (red leafy vegetables curry), dal tivda (made with the local yellow dal), and chicken curry made of local spices served with rice, and multigrain rotis. For desserts, we had custard made of millets and jaggery as well as rose ice cream.
Dinner was equally lavish, with starters ranging from hara bhara kebabs (vegetarian kebabs) to tandoori chicken wings, daal shorba (soup with lentils) to local fish curry, and beetroot halwa (Indian dessert) with vanilla ice cream.
To say the least, meals at Pench Tree Lodge will leave your tastebuds craving for more. The chefs here have magic in their fingers – and the local spices just add the perfect flavors.
TWT Tip: If you fancy some mahua (local liquor available in this part of Madhya Pradesh), you can make a special request for it. Even better, you can ask the chef to make some mahua infused ice cream for you!
Activities To Enjoy At Pench Tree Lodge
Jeep safaris: The best part about staying here is that you’ll be just 10 km away from the Karmajhiri Gate of Pench National Park. Tucked in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh, this national park became popular as ‘Mowgli’s Land’, thanks to Rudyard Kipling’s classic novel, ‘The Jungle Book’.
Deriving its name from the Pench River, which flows through the boundaries, this national park is home to tigers, leopards, sloth bears, wild boars, spotted deer, sambar deer, blue bull, langurs, jackals, wild dogs and other animals and birds.
There are two safaris — morning safari (from dawn to 11 am) and night safari (from 3 pm to dusk).
Nature walks: As I mentioned earlier, Pench Tree Lodge has a bunch of knowledgeable and experienced naturalists, who will accompany you for enriching nature walks. No matter whether you are a birder or not, you’ll surely end up spotting various species of birds and fall in love with them.
Cycling down the nature trails: The property is surrounded by tribal villages and fields, where you can take a cycle and ride around. It’ll be a great way to observe the local life thriving outside the national park and learn about the Gond tribe as well.
Wildlife photography: Needless to say, this resort is a paradise for birders and wildlife photographers. You’ll have ample scope to capture some beautiful creatures amidst nature.
The Kipling Hide (named after the famous novelist) is a professionally designed underground wildlife photography hide, which is one of its kind in India. It will allow you to get those perfect shots, without disturbing the animals.
Farm dining experience: If a meal under the stars sounds like a dream, it can come true at Pench Tree Lodge. The organic garden inside the property has a village-like setup, where you can choose to enjoy a farm-to-table experience and savor the local flavors of Madhya Pradesh.
TWT Sustainability Trivia: As a sustainable eco-resort, the property ensures that not only the lodge premises are well maintained, but also, the national park remains plastic-free. I didn’t come across any single-use plastic product during my stay at the property. They use steel boxes and containers to pack the bush breakfast, and lunch/dinner is served on ceramic tablewares.
Essential Amenities At Pench Tree Lodge
- All-meals included + tea/coffee
- Nature walk with professional naturalists
- Airport pickup and drop (paid)
- Swimming pool
- Library and sunset deck
- Souvenir shop
Location Of Pench Tree Lodge
Pench Tree Lodge is located in Sarahiri Village of Seoni District in Madhya Pradesh, close to the Karmajhiri Gate of the Pench National Park. The nearest airport to the eco-lodge is in Nagpur, Maharashtra, which is approximately 160 km away and takes 3 hours by road.
You can also take a train to Seoni Railway Station, which is the closest to Pench Tree Lodge, but the connectivity from big cities is not that great. So I would recommend you to take a train to Nagpur Railway Station, from where you can drive to the lodge. The road trip is immensely enjoyable, and you’ll pass by the wildlife corridor of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
TWT Experience Summary Of Pench Tree Lodge
If you’re looking for a retreat away from the chaos and cacophony of the city, and want to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying a few blissful days of digital detox, then this is the perfect getaway for you!
Known to be one of the best resorts in Pench, the tree lodge offers you a wholesome experience of unwinding amidst luxury while enjoying the raw beauty of nature. While I got to spend two days at Pench Tree Lodge, I can go back there any day — just to sit on the verandah and read a book, while listening to the birdsong.
Inclusivity checklist:
✅ Family friendly
✅ Couple friendly
✅ Vegan/vegetarian friendly
✅ Environment friendly
✅ Disabled friendly
✅ LGBTQ+ friendly
✅ Kid friendly
Check-in time: 1:30 pm
Check-out time: 11 am
Tariff per night:
Cottages – INR 25,000 (Includes accommodation in a luxury cottage, 1 cycle of meals, and tea/coffee service)
Tree Lodges – INR 28,000 (Includes accommodation in a tree house, 1 cycle of meals, and tea/coffee service)
Address: Pench National Park, Seoni, Kurai, Madhya Pradesh
Contact number: +91-011-40146400
Cost for Jeep Safari:
Indian nationals – INR 12,900 per jeep on weekdays (Mon to Fri) and INR 13500 per jeep on weekends (Sat/Sun).
Foreigners – INR 16000 per jeep on weekdays (Mon to Fri) and INR 17000 per jeep on weekends (Sat/Sun).
Location: Google Maps
Room booking link: penchtreelodge.com
Frequently Asked Questions About Pench Tree Lodge
1. What is the best way to reach Pench Tree Lodge?
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur, Maharashtra, is about 130 km from Pench National Park. You can easily hire a cab from there to reach Pench Tree Lodge. Alternatively, you can request a pick-up from the airport while booking.
If you are taking a train, the closest from Pench would be Seoni Railway Station. However, due to limited connectivity, it’s better to travel to Nagpur Railway Station and then take a cab to Pench Tree Lodge.
2. Can I book Pench Tree Lodge for a day?
No, you need to make a minimum booking for two nights here. They don’t accept 1 night stay
3. What is the best time to visit Pench National Park?
If you wish to spot the big cats, then summer (April to June) is the best time – because that’s when the animals come out in search of water and can be easily spotted. Otherwise, October to March is a good time, when the weather is pleasant for safaris.
During winters (December – January), the chances of spotting birds would be higher.
During the monsoon (July to September), the core area remains closed, but the buffer is accessible.
4. What are the chances of spotting big cats in Pench National Park?
Let’s be honest, spotting animals in the wild is a matter of sheer luck – and no naturalists or guides can do miracles here! If you’re lucky, you will get to see tigers and leopards, but there’s a vast variety of flora and fauna in the jungle that you can enjoy.
