Taj Mahua Kothi - Nestled in the neighborhood of the wonderful
Bandhavgarh National Park is the first of the Taj Safaris Lodges. The name Mahua
Kothi draws stimulation from one of India’s most beautiful trees, the Madhuca Indica,
or as it is usually known, the Mahua or butter tree. Its juicy off-white flowers
take centre-stage in many Indian festive rituals, and here, at Mahua Kothi, it is
at the centre of many a unique and wonderful experience. The lodge sprawls over
the 40 acre grounds, around the well-known previous tented camp, Churhat Kothi,
the accommodation and amenities of the lodge merge delightfully into the old-fashioned
and rustic surroundings.
Mahua Kothi is the first of five Lodges that, in true Taj style, break new ground
in the Indian tourism industry. Offering a never-before-experienced Indian wildlife
circuit, replete with both adventure and – unlike any safari experience in the country
so far – impeccable service and lush luxury.
Mahua Kothi promises an experience that is unconventional, focused on guests’ individual
needs and emotions, knowledgeable, sophisticated and innovative.
Accommodation:
Walk in to the comfortably traditional guest area, with high ceilings, terracotta
tiles, overhead fans, a fireplace, huge windows with window seats, beaten Bastar
metal and hand-blown glassware. Freshen up in the Comings and Goings room. Step
into the open kitchen that lets you in on the simple joys of butter being churned,
masala being hand-ground, garden-fresh vegetables being chopped with sickles and
rotis being expertly made on a chulha. Catch the jungle breeze out on the 600 sq.
ft. verandah, browse leisurely through the Safari Shop, idle away the hours at the
library or take a dip in the swimming pool.
When you’re ready to settle in, make your way through a private courtyard, with
its shaded seating, to one of the twelve charming cottage suites, called Kutiyas.
Built to replicate the vernacular style of Central India, affectionately known as
MP chic, each is filled with quaint local touches. Wooden shutters, tapered hand-finished
walls, stone floors, open rafters with roughly-hewn beams, handmade pottery roof
tiles, rust and burnt orange local textile furnishings. Shower off your journey
in the en-suite bathroom, pamper yourself with hand-blended, all-natural, guest
amenities from the Taj Spa, relax with a game of marbles or Chaupad or indulge in
an in-room Ayurvedic massage.