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Central India National Parks Rejuvenate

Tryst with Satpura Tiger Reserve

Introduction

Situated right in the heart of Madhya Pradesh, Satpura National Park was set up in the year 1981. It is considered to be one of the most bio-diverse heritages of the country with a variety of animals living in an area spread across 1,427 km2. The name of the national park ‘Satpura’ has been derived from Sanskrit, which means seven-hills. It is an integral part of Pachmarhi   Biosphere. This is an ideal place for all wildlife lovers who wish to spend the moments of their life in the lap of the peaceful nature.

Flora

The Park is the highly dense forest in the heart of Madhya Pradesh. Sai and Teak species are commonly found. The forest can be divided into three important categories: Moist deciduous, dry decidous, and central Indian Hub Tropical hill

Fauna

Satpura National Park is the most populated wildlife forest in the country with more than 50 species of mammals, 254 species of birds, 30 species of reptiles, and 50 species of butterflies among others. Some of the animals that can be spotted in the national park are Spotted Dear, Indian Bison, Tigers, Leopards, Wild dog locally called Dholes, Wild boar, Sloth bear, Black buck, Porcupine, Sambhar, Smooth otter, Pangolin, Marsh crocodile, languars, four horned antelopes, etc.

The Indian Giant squirrel spotted here is a special feature of Satpura National Park as sights of this squirrel are rare in India now. A glimpse of leopards, gaurs, wild dog, sloth Bear is good in comparison to other national parks of Central India. Also, the park is an important sight for one of the best bird watching experiences.

Places to Visit

Satpura Tiger Reserve

Satpura Tiger Reserve is recognized as one of the most precious gems of the state Madhya Pradesh,  which encompasses Bori Wildlife Sanctuary, Satpura National Park and Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary. This tiger reserve is unique for a variety of experiences it offers to its beholders. Boat Safari, Elephant Safari, and Jeep Safari are some of the most popular fun adventures of the place.

Asirgarh Fort

Regarded as the key to Deccan, one of the best attractions in Satpura National Park is Asirgarh Fort that holds a significant history of Mughal Empire. The architecture of the fort is inspired Persian and Mughal Empires.

Nandigarh Pahar

Nandigarh Pahar is situated in Pachmarhi, which is one of the main entrances to Satpura National Park. With a variety of adventure activities, this is the best destination for you and your family member to spend some quality time together.

Things to Do

Elephant Safari

One of the best ways to explore the beauty of Satpura National Park is by taking an Elephant Safari. If you are here in Satpura National Park then you should not miss it at any cost.

Jeep Safari

Jeep Safari is another good option for those who want to explore the landscapes of Satpura National Park. Information given by your tourist guides will make your journey even more exciting.

Best Places to Eat

Satpura National Park is in the heart of Madhya Pradesh, which is often described as the hub of some of the most exotic cuisine in the world. Some of the best places to eat near Satpura National Park are:

Dine Inn, Pachmarhi

This is one of the finest places to eat near Satpura National Park. It is situated in Pachmarhi, which is one of the key entrances to Satpura National Park. Dine Inn serves Chinese and Indian cuisine at an affordable price.

Hotel Maharaja, Pachmarhi

Another best place to eat near Satpura National Park is Hotel Maharaja in Pachmarhi. It serves authentic Indian cuisine.

Shri Vrindavan Palace, Hoshangabad

This restaurant is situated in Hoshangabad. It serves authentic Indian vegetarian food at a very reasonable price. The ambiance is very relaxing.

Places to Stay

Woodland Hotel, Pachmarhi, Welcome Heritage Golf View and Satpura Retreat are some of the options to stay, while you are here. If you are looking for luxury then, Forsyth Lodge is a good property to experience.

How to Reach

The nearest airport to reach Satpura National Park is Bhopal airport, which is just 200 km away from here.

The nearest Railway station to reach Satpura National Park is Pipariya, Itarsi, Sohagpur, and Hoshangabad. Satpura National Park has three entrances. First one is from Pachmarhi, second from Madhai, and the third one from Tawa Resort  located in Tawa Dam.

Satpura National Park can also be reached by road from Bhopal (170kms) and Jabalpur (250kms) cities.

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Forsyth Lodge- Experiential Lodge to get lost in Satpura Reserve, Madhya Pradesh

Forsyth Lodge, is a 2 hrs drive from Bhopal airport. It is just 10 min away from Madhai gate of Satpura tiger reserve, Madhya Pradesh.

Accommodation: There are 12 luxury cottages overlooking 44acres of land. Each cottage is well spacious, well maintained with best of fixtures. Rooms are comforting; with few of them have machan terraces. As you enter the room, you are welcomed by a beautiful message that talks about wilderness. Interiors are very artistic and remind you “welcome to jungle”. Their walls are made from packed straw, mud and cow dung (as is the local building style) and painted with wild animals and flowers, giving them a whimsical touch. Cottages have private balconies, wherein you can sip your morning coffee, read your favorite book overlooking the great jungle. Air conditioning, Fan, Mosquito net, Extra beds Terrace Bathrobes, Toiletries , Hairdryer etc are available. The highlight of the cottages are their Eco-friendliness. Every small thing kept there is well thought. Everything here is recycled, even the fixtures in washroom are such that, water can be recycled. Basic amenities like swimming pool, spa is available.


Meals: Meals (included in the room rate) are served in various locations around the lodge. Under trees, by the pool, on sofa’d torchlit terraces or in dining rooms. There are Western and Indian offerings at each meal with detailed menu laid out.
Breakfast was equally delicious and plentiful: fruit and fresh-pressed pomegranate juice, followed by eggs cooked to order, grilled tomato, bacon, mushroom ragout and multigrain toast. Out on an early safari? Then it’s a packed breakfast in the middle of the tiger reserve for you.
Afternoon tea, with its fresh-baked cookies and cakes, is nice, but it’s dinner when Forsyth pulls out all the stops: cocktails and nibbles around a roaring bonfire, followed by dinner under the stars, either on a terrace in the main lodge or out in the bush with oil lamps hung from the trees (the bar was set up on a bullock cart!). You start with a soup and then move on to succulent meat curries and fragrant vegetarian dishes served with Indian bread.
#theForsythExperience – Yes, this is what one would call #theForsythExperience, when you are greeted by wonderful hosts Rishi and his team, who work reluctantly to ensure the best experience for each guest, by their constant efforts. It seems these guys are on a mission to bring you close to wildlife. There are multiple activities, which team involves you in. The itinerary planned is power packed, and the day starts with the wake-up call at 6 AM, to go for a walk inside the Satpura Tiger Reserve. These jungle walks are accompanied by great naturalists David Raju and Surya, who let you discover the vast array of species inside the jungle. The highlight of this walk is spotted dears and breakfast in the midst of the jungle. Other excursions being organized by lodge includes Canoeing, wherein you can watch birds involved in soaking in sunlight, as you paddle the canoe nearest to them and watch the sunrise in beautiful Deneva river. One can also enjoy Jeep safari and enjoy the drive with sloth bears, spotted deer, gaurs, bisons and other wild animals in their natural surroundings. I was lucky to get hold of the mother bear with her two cubs in action. The place is a paradise for the bird watcher. Evenings are made beautiful with bonfires and bullock cart dinner experience, where you can enjoy your dinner under the sky in amazingly romantic ambiance. This dinner is usually followed by star gazing, where you are taken to the stories of greeks and Romans. 2 days are little short to complete the experience as there is a lot more to explore with eminent naturalists. Btw, not to miss is the handsome dog there, who is just adorable. It is indeed a recommended place, if you are looking for a getaway away from the city with limited access to the network, and want to get lost in the wilderness. It is the place, from where you would surely not like to come back. It is indeed bewitching and at times gives you the feeling that whole property belongs to you.


P.S-> During Monsoons, Lodge is closed for renovations.
Thank you Forsyth Lodge for the amazing experience. You can reach out to them at Facebook,Instagram,twitter.

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