Tree House Hideaway

A luxury treehouse lodge in Bandhavgarh, Madhya Pradesh

Few of the resorts that populate the areas in and around Madhya Pradesh’s popular national parks have the kind of magic that Pugdundee Safaris’ Tree House Hideaway has.

Surrounded by the jungles of Badhavgarh, the Tree House Hideaway is located in a 21-acre parcel of forested land. Hidden away among the tall, strong trees are five luxurious treehouses that will make your inner child very happy. The treehouses—Mahua, Tendu, Peepal, Banyan and Palash—are named after the trees on which they are built. The treehouses have all the modern luxuries you could wish for, from ensuite bathrooms to air conditioning. With features like four-poster beds and large balconies with comfortable loungers, the safari-camp look is complete.

Even the dining hall is built in two levels around a century-old Mahua tree. The ground level serves as a cozy dining hall offering Indian, Continental and Barbeque meals and the upper floor as a bar-cum-lounge known as ‘The Watering Hole’. The Lodge also has a machaan overlooking a water hole frequented by wild animals.

In fact, you don’t really need to step out of the Lodge’s property limits to see the wildlife with a number of bird, reptile and animal species residing here permanently. Of course, the National Park right outside is worth a visit or two especially considering Bandhavgarh National Park is known to have the world’s highest density of Bengal Tigers. Apart from the famous Tigers, Leopards, Spotted Deer, Sambhar Deer, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Indian Gaur and Jackal are among the 22 species of mammals that call the Park home. The forests here also host 220 species of birds.

The Tree House Hideaway offers jeep safaris into the deep jungles along with other activities like cycling and picnics in the park periphery, village visits and craft workshops with local artisans and bamboo weavers. It is good that such enticing activities are on offer, for the treehouses are far too interesting and cosy to leave otherwise!

Price: From Rs 21,000 per night; includes all meals, does not include activities.

Read more: https://www.treehousehideaway.com/

Slow Travel

All treehouses at Pugdundee Safaris’ Tree House Hideaway have been made by local staff using regularised wood. Local craft knowledge and traditional expertise were used to ensure that the treehouses blend harmoniously with nature. Plastic bottles are not used at any of the lodges owned and run by Pugdundee Safaris. They have also done away with single-use plastic completely. The natural landscape is left in its pristine form in all the lodges, ensuring the natural habitats are not disturbed and the indigenous flora and fauna can flourish. The lodges also opt for locally grown and sourced food and much of the organic vegetables and herbs are grown on the premises. About 80% of the staff at Pugdundee lodges are from the local communities and many hold key managerial positions. Over 70% of the revenue is pumped back into the local economy in the form of salaries, tie-ups with suppliers, vehicle hiring, labour, park fees and taxes. All six properties have been certified with “Eco practices audits” by Travel operators for Tigers (TOFT).