I have had the privilege to visit Bandhavgarh and stay in some beautiful lodges offering a superb wildlife experience.  For India safaris it is indeed the most popular reserve, Bandhavgarh is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh, right in the middle of India, at a height of about 800 m above sea level. It derives its name from an ancient fort in the area. The thick forest of Bandhavgarh National Park sits in a bowl, encircled by cliffs and wooded Vindhayan mountains, and its plains have a number of grass and reed covered wetlands.

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Samode Safari Lodge is a new venture conceptualized by Yaduvendra Singh of the Samode group in Rajasthan that owns the Samode Haveli and Palace in the vibrant city of Jaipur.   A wildlife enthusiast himself, Yadu has now branched out to the jungles of Madhya Pradesh. Samode Safari Lodge is located towards the southern side of Bandhavgarh. The Samode Safari Lodge at the Bandhavgarh National Park is an extravagant wilderness experience cradled in luxury and unusual sophistication.

For those who are on India safari Bandhavgarh is a divine getaway is designed around a series of individual safari lodges with villas and suites. The inspiration is South Africa, the decor and setting is Indian and the ambience magnificent and hospitable – unmistakably Samode. Two main lodges with spacious lounges on the top floor open onto wooden decks with machans or observation towers for bird and wildlife sightings. Zen in a tree top setting.

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The lodge is designed around a series of individual chalets with a choice of guest suites and private villas. Imagine an elegant and inspired living space with a spacious lounge, a bedroom with a modern en-suite bath and a dressing area, a unique open-air bath court, a private terrace with striking views of nature in its wildest beauty.  Picture a villa with luxurious decor, windows that embrace the outdoors, private pools and sundecks – all created to include the amazing experience of Bandhavgarh’s natural splendour into the surreal sophistication of the living spaces.

Yes, India safari at Bandhavagarh and indeed at the lodge is everyone’s highlight. But imagine a gourmet dinner set for you out in the bushes; long lazy poolside meals; or romantic dining in the privacy of your own chalet. Exciting cuisine and excellent wines await you – there’s a different menu everyday; lighter continental fare during the day to keep you alert to this wonderful world around you, and then come home to an Indian meal each evening.  The picnics are a special treat – be prepared for thoughtful service under the sky and the trees – the very air adding flavour to your food.

Committed to eco-tourism, the Samode Safari Lodge uses natural materials and elements of regional art and architecture, with eco-friendly landscaping and water management systems. It has been designed and built with the lightest possible environmental footprint. The aim was to create luxury in the most sustainable manner. Not only have no trees been cut for building the lodge, but new planting has also been done.  The adjoining villages of Mardari and Gohori are the inspiration for the architectural language of the Lodge. The walls are constructed with the traditional hand moulded bricks and all the building material has been locally procured. The Lodge uses solar energy and does extensive rain-water harvesting to recharge ground water levels.

Expert naturalists at the lodge, knower’s of the secrets of the 450 sq. km. park will guide you to its wildlife wealth and offer India safari that are second to none. The park boasts the highest density of tigers in the world, and is best seen while on a jeep safari, or, whenever possible, on elephant-back. Apart from the famous tiger, Bandhavgarh is home to many wildlife species including the Barking Deer, Wild Dog, Bear, Cheetal, Wolf and the Nilgai, which can be spotted in the open areas of the park.  Birds abound in the vegetation along the streams and marshes. Indeed a hugely exciting new lodge which will be unparalleled in Bandhavgarh as it will cater to so many different tastes.

Bespoke India is really where our heart lies. I mean, here is this incredibly vast and varied country, with so much choice of highly individual accommodation, so many options of activity in the same destinations as to be able to cater to virtually every individual taste. How can you package that? Why would you want to? A bespoke holiday allows you the luxury of choosing the most appropriate accommodation for each area. In Agra we unequivocally recommend the sumptuous Oberoi Amar Vilas. It is almost extravagantly indulgent but in an utterly appropriate manner, for Agra was the capital of the Great Mughals and every single room of this magnificent hotel enjoys uninterrupted views of the Taj Mahal – the central attraction that draws people to Agra from every corner of the globe. The Amar Vilas is built in sandstone and in a style that is a modern iteration of the grace and grandeur of Mughal architecture replete with filigreed stone work, screens, courtyards full of fountains and flowers. Perfect base from which to explore the marvels of Mughal architecture that grace Agra. On a package ‘luxury’ tour you would then willy-nilly be locked into similar opulence everywhere your itinerary takes you. And you will have a safe and predictably fantastic time – but it just could be that when you get to Jaipur for instance, rather than automatically stay at the Oberoi Raj Vilas you would take our recommendation and stay instead in the Samode Haveli – a nobleman’s converted town house which affords you the luxury of stepping out of a historic building bang into the middle of the crowds, colour and bustle of Old Jaipur – which is what you have actually come to Jaipur to see and experience. Samode Haveli is an authentic part of old Jaipur in a way that the Raj Vilas for all its extraordinary beauty and luxury, simply is not. A bespoke holiday allows you the choice.

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But it isn’t just about accommodations, its about people. The most extraordinary experiences for a traveller are when you connect with someone local on a human level and go away with insights about a culture and society that is impossible in large commercial establishments. One of the least ‘stylish’ small hotels that we use for example also is a highlight in terms of experience for people we have sent there. Simply because the experience here is so extraordinary, so remote, so authentically exotic – looking for leopards and wildlife that live amongst a stark rocky landscape at the edge of the desert and inhabited by a hardy, extraordinarily colourful shepherd tribe. The family you stay with are descendants of the feudal barons of the area who can trace their lineage to the mid-13^th century.  And they are the warmest, most gracious and hospitable people you can hope to be hosted by anywhere. It isn’t for everyone – but that’s what bespoke means. Understanding what you want and then designing the holiday to your tastes.

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