Mahua Kothi Taj Safari MI Evaluation - Platinum

Nestled in the vicinity of the breathtaking Bandhavgarh National Park is the first of the Taj Safaris Lodges.

The name Mahua Kothi draws inspiration from one of India’s most beautiful trees, the Madhuca Indica, or as it is commonly known, the Mahua or butter tree.

Its luscious 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 delightful experience.

The lodge sprawls over the 40 acre grounds, around the renowned erstwhile tented camp, Churhat Kothi, the accommodation and facilities of the lodge blend charmingly into the quaint 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

Mahua features twelve brand-new cottage suites, called Kutiyas. Each charming suite is filled with quaint local touches: wooden shutters, tapered hand-finished walls, stone floors, open rafters with roughly-hewn beams, handmade pottery roof tiles and rust and burnt orange local textile furnishings. Guests can shower off their journey in the en-suite bathroom, pamper themselves with hand-blended, all-natural, guest amenities from the Jiva Spa, relax with a game of marbles or Chaupad or indulge in an in-room Ayurvedic massage.

The guest areas feature high ceilings, terracotta tiles, overhead fans, a fireplace, huge windows with window seats, and a spacious 600 square foot verandah that captures the jungle breeze perfectly.

The original Kothi lodge, comprising the guest areas, remains intact although it has been extensively renovated. Offering the gracious charm of a country house, the lodge has been constructed in the local style by families from the neighbouring community. The design lends itself perfectly to the Taj & Beyond CC Africa core ethos of leaving a light footprint as the building materials are organic and the work was undertaken in the local tradition complete with hand plastered walls.

DINING

Dining in Mahua Kothi is an exciting and unexpected safari in itself, with several deliciously surprising twists and turns. Fresh local ingredients, homemade accompaniments, fruits and veggies grown in backyards, ancestral cooking and dining customs, and quaint village traditions create never-before dining experiences that give each guest as much of a thrill as the daily game drives. 

Breakfast is served with the first rays of the sun. Take a piping-hot breakfast to sustain you in the forest. For a more leisurely first meal, one can make their way to the colourful vegetable garden in the backyard for the charming Baghiya breakfast - a sumptuous meal laid out on a bullock cart. 

At lunchtime, guests have the options of dining by the pool, having a picnic under the Mahua tree or taking their lunch to the nearby watering hole. 

In the evening, everyone is encouraged to enjoy exquisite teas or cocktails made from the sap of the mahua tree, fine Indian wines, icy cold Indian beers and pomegranate syrup. Later, guests can dine under the stars, out on the terrace, with live spit-roasting, generations-old khud cooking, thali dinners and folk dances. Post dinner we offer exclusive desserts and surprise treats in each guest room. 

Guests may also choose to request a cosy private dining experience in their private courtyard or on the terrace if they wish.