26-Nov-2025
Choose Your Perfect Forest Retreat While in the Heart of Jungles
Kanha National Park sits deep within the Maikal range of Madhya Pradesh's Central Highlands, an expanse of sal forests, bamboo thickets, and vast open meadows. It is one of India's most biodiverse landscapes and a thriving stronghold of tigers. It is also the site of one of India's most successful conservation stories, the revival of the hard-ground Barasingha, brought back from the brink of extinction.
Travellers come to Kanha for its safaris, but the park offers far more than big-cat encounters. Beyond the core zones, the surrounding wilderness lends itself to slow, immersive exploration: nature walks that sharpen the senses, cycling trails through quiet forest edges, birdwatching along the Banjar river, and guided safari experiences that feel less like tours and more like conversations with the wild. Evenings bring their own rhythm, sunsets over hilltops, stargazing, and hearty meals in the stillness of the forest.
With so much to experience, your choice of stay shapes the journey. Whether you prefer a comfortable lodge near the gates, an eco-retreat that treads lightly on the land, or a rustic homestay rooted in local life, Kanha offers accommodation for every kind of traveller.
Madhya Pradesh Tourism offers a set of reliable, well-located stays around Kanha that suit both leisure travellers and wildlife enthusiasts. Each property places you close to the park's entrances, while providing the comfort, warmth and understated hospitality.
Located near the Sarhi gate and sharing a boundary with Kanha National Park, MPT Jungle Resort offers an authentic wilderness experience from the comfort of well-appointed rooms. Its architecture mirrors the mood of the forest, appealing to travellers seeking a rustic yet refined stay. The resort features 16 air-conditioned rooms, an interpretation centre, indoor games, and a swimming pool. Sarhi is known for quieter safari routes and excellent birdwatching, making this an ideal choice for those wanting a serene Kanha base.
Set just 2 km from the Khatia gate and positioned on the banks of the Banjar River, MPT Baghira Jungle Resort, Mocha, combines tranquillity with scenic river views. Guests may spot small wildlife right from their rooms, enjoy riverside walks, or take part in cycling activities offered here. The property includes tree houses for elevated forest views, a swimming pool for relaxed afternoons, and on-demand tribal dance performances. Its proximity to Khatia makes it ideal for multiple safaris and visits to nearby villages and haats.
Located near the Mukki gate and bordered by dense forest, MPT Safari Lodge sits beside the Banjar River and offers sweeping natural views. The resort features comfortable rooms, a swimming pool, tree houses and opportunities for cycling, birdwatching, nature trails, village tours, jungle safaris and canopy walks. Its location provides access to varied safari zones, making it a convenient base for a diverse wildlife experience.
For travellers seeking an intimate, design-led stay or an eco-conscious retreat, private lodges at Kanha offer thoughtfully curated experiences that go well beyond the typical safari. Here are three distinct properties that stand out for their warm hospitality, close wildlife access and carefully tailored activities.
Outpost 12 rests quietly within the wild grasslands of Village Tilari near the Banjar, shaped by the animist traditions of local tribes. Its circular, eco-friendly systems include solar power, rainwater harvesting, water recycling and the use of reclaimed natural materials.
Accommodation includes ranger-style cottages and starbeds designed with a light footprint. The riverside setting encourages simple, unhurried pleasures such as dipping by the water, yoga at sunrise and peaceful forest bathing.
Experiences focus on nature and the community: guided bird walks, bush dining, Gond art sessions, Baiga-led interactions, night drives, observatory dinners and interpretive park visits. Outpost 12 champions close-to-nature stays rooted in conservation and local culture.
Contact: Outpost 12, Village Tilari, Kanha National Park | +91-920-224-9129 | outpost12@sinali.in
Set within 16 acres of natural forest near Kanha's buffer, Kanha Earth Lodge uses less than five per cent of its land for built structures. Inspired by Gond architecture, its cottages feature mud plaster, local stone, terracotta tiles and recycled-wood furnishings.
The lodge offers twelve luxury bungalows with verandas, window lounges, writing desks and en-suite bathrooms with double vanities. A lounge, reading room and presentation space enhance guest experiences.
An infinity pool framed by mahua trees offers a restful break between excursions. Dining draws from the organic garden and nearby villages, while composting and grey-water reuse support the lodge's sustainability ethos. Kanha Earth Lodge offers eco-conscious luxury shaped by low-impact design.
Contact: enquiry@pugdundeesafaris.com | +91 11 40146400 | +91 11 40132687
Tathastu Kanha sits within Kanha's forested landscape and offers varied accommodation including Mongolian-style yurts, cottages and family rooms. Guests can explore the Bahmni Nature Trails, enjoy birdwatching, try organic farming, cycle forest paths or relax in hammocks. The resort hosts camping, swimming and family activities, along with bush dinners and tribal dance evenings featuring Baiga and Gond culture.
Dining centres on Vanbhoj, a multi-cuisine restaurant celebrating local flavours, while Balli Bar offers a relaxed space for cocktails and sundowners. Tathastu provides an active base for adventure and cultural immersion.
Contact: Village Santapur Gudma, Tehsil Baihar, District Balaghat, MP | +91 9765550607 | +91 9343695252 | frontdesk.kanha@tathasturesorts.com
For travellers who prefer warmth, stories and authenticity, Kanha's homestays offer a wholesome way to experience the forest. These stays bring you closer to local life, natural rhythms, slow mornings and restful ease.
Sarai Kothi is a quiet jungle home surrounded by sal forests and farmlands, offering fresh air, plateau views and personalised hosting. It has two air-conditioned rooms with en-suite bathrooms and a two-bedroom suite with a shared bathroom, each opening to private sit-outs overlooking the forest and Bamni Dadar.
Guests can enjoy walking safaris, photography-friendly trails to the Banjar River, birdwatching, and relaxed hours in the lounge or under the parachute canopy. Meals range from home-style dishes to gourmet options, making Sarai Kothi ideal for guests seeking a peaceful, comfort-rich stay with attentive hospitality.
Set in Baherakhar village, 7 km from the Mukki Gate, Salban is a locally styled bungalow with a red-tiled roof and a deep veranda facing sal forest. The homestay has four rooms- two in the main house and two in a cottage flanked by trees - and is known for warm, hands-on hosting.
Shared spaces include a central living and dining area, an open kitchen, an upstairs library and a shaded sit-out beneath a mahua tree. The 11-acre property grows fruit, seasonal vegetables, brown rice and kodo millet, with abundant birdlife and nature walks leading to a nearby lake and village lanes lined with traditional tribal homes.
Dak Bungalow is a pet-friendly, two-guestroom homestay set within six acres of forested land, accommodating up to eight guests. With easy access to the Banjar River, Gidli-
Ghogra Waterfall and Sunset Point above Rata village, it offers a serene base close to nature.
The focus is quiet charm, wide verandas and well-kept spaces. Guests can enjoy wildlife sightings near the property and wholesome food prepared by the hosts. Registered with the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, the bungalow suits travellers seeking rustic heritage comfort, privacy, pet-friendly stays and access to Kanha's quieter landscapes.
Kanha is more than a wildlife destination, it's a landscape of quiet forests, open meadows, and stories carried by the wind. Whether you chase dawn safaris, wander through villages, or simply unwind in a lodge or homestay, every moment here feels unhurried and deeply grounding.
Come for the adventure, stay for the stillness, and leave with Kanha lingering long after the journey ends. The forest has a way of staying with you,in the call of a langur at dusk, in the rustle of sal leaves underfoot, in the memory of mist rising over the Banjar at dawn. Choose your stay wisely, for it will shape not just where you rest, but how deeply you connect with this extraordinary place.
The properties mentioned above cater to a wide spectrum of travellers, from those seeking budget-friendly authenticity to guests desiring luxury eco-lodges with world-class amenities. Pricing across these stays is dynamic, varying with season, demand, and the specific experiences or accommodation types you choose.
For the most current pricing, package details, and availability, it's best to visit the official websites of these properties or contact them directly.
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