HOME | Luxury Wildlife Resort - Mahua Kothi

Luxury Wildlife Resort


BANDHAVGARH NATIONAL PARK
MADHYA PRADESH - CENTRAL INDIA

CHitvan Jungle Lodge ( www.chitvan.com )
Like parents start to think of names for their child before the childs birth, exactly the same process started in our minds, and after great deal of thought, and the eventual end product in mind we named it Chitvan.

Chitvan....What does it mean?
Currently there are three stories about the origin of the name Chitvan:

1. The dense jungle there (before men started settlements there) was teeming with Cheetahs, and, the word for 'jungle' in Hindi is van. So, the people around started to call that locality as Cheetah-van, which was later modified as Chitvan.
2. The dense jungle in the past was teeming with spotted-deer, and so they started to call it Chitri-van which gave way to the present word for the district. Chitri meaning spotted.
3. As per Rigveda (an ancient Indian Scripture) life is divided into four stages, namely,

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Brahamcharya (Until 25 years of age)
Grahistha (From 25 till 50 years of Life)
Vanaprastha (From 50 till 75 years of Life)
Sannyas ( 75 years of Life)



By the end of second stage the householder is said to finish all his family responsibilities. He enters the third stage, Vanaprastha (The Hermit in Retreat) and renounces all worldly pleasures, he goes to the Van (Forest), to tame the animal forces of mind, by staying with the animals. This prepares him for the fourth stage of life, where he renunciates practically all his wants and desires and is a wandering ascetic in this stage.

Chitt is a product of Mind, Intellect and Ego, Van is Forest. So Chitvan is the forest which a man in his third stage of life visits to chanelize his Chitt (Mind, Intellect and Ego).

The idea behind Chitvan is to make it a retreat from Worldly Life, a Stage 3 retreat, where a person would free himself from all Illusions.
Logo of Chitvan: Lotus

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"Lotus" is an aquatic plant with broad floating green leaves and bright fragrant flowers that grow only in shallow waters. In India the sacred lotus is legendary and much folklore and religious mythology is woven around it. Rich in meaning and metaphor, the Lotus symbolises divinity, fertility, wealth, knowledge and not to forget enlightenment. A symbol of strong vital force that could withstand extremely adverse conditions. The lotus flower represents long life, health, honor and good luck.. It was this depth of thought that made the founding fathers of modern India enshrine the lotus in the Constitution as the National Flower

Come visit Chitvan.. Thee Van




The name Mahua Kothi draws its inspiration from one of India's most beautiful trees, the Madhuca Indica, or as it is commonly known, the Mahua or butter tree. Pronounced ma-hoo-a, this tree with its fleshy off - white flowers plays a central role in festivals and rituals, as the vitamins, minerals and sugar-rich flowers are used in a number of ways. The twelve charming suites or Kutiyas (jungle village huts) are newly built in the 40 acre grounds of the renowned tented camp formerly known as Churhat Kothi. The original Kothi (homestead) comprising the guest areas remains and has been extensively renovated, but the guest accommodation is all brand new.

MAHUA KOTHI'S GUEST ACCOMMODATION

Charming individual Kutiyas built in the vernacular style of Central India » Each is accessed through private courtyards with shaded seating, traditional swings and traditional mud floors » The architectural style is affectionately known as MP chic (MP being the state of Madhya Pradesh) » Wooden shutters, tapered mud-coloured walls (finished by hand) in lime and earth washes, open rafters with roughly-hewn wooden beams, handmade pottery roof tiles, floors dressed in katni stone strips set in lime mortar » Ensuite bathrooms with twin hand basins mounted on a wooden log, indoor shower, bath, separate w.c. and house gowns in traditional MP cloth » Richly coloured local textiles in shades of rust and burnt orange » Roll-down mats to keep the early morning sun out » Ceiling fans and air conditioning » Built-in seating in yellow situ (local cement screed) » Yoga amenities in a basket (complete with instructions) » Traditional Indian games of marbles and Chaupad » Hand-blended natural guest amenities from Jiva Spa - all made from pure Indian herbs and essential oils » In-room Ayurvedic massage » Rose and Khus (Verbena) sherbets and pitchers of iced water for guests to mix themselves » Kettles of boiling water on Chulhas (charcoal burners) are brought out with early morning tea to the Kutiyas » Beautiful terracotta roof that floats over the Kutiya - MP style » Bicycles for every guest parked in the Kutiya courtyards

MAHUA KOTHI GUEST AREAS

» High ceilings, terracotta floor tiles, overhead fans, fireplace, and traditional sit areas and window seats » An enormous 600 sq ft veranda runs the length of the building with generous built-in seats for star gazing » Beaten Bastar metal and hand-blown glassware » Huge windows to catch the jungle breeze » Open kitchen that welcomes guest upon arrival - watch butter being churned, Masala being grounded by hand, garden fresh vegetables being chopped using traditional sickles, and Rotis being prepared on a Chulha » Browse peacefully in the lodge's Safari Shop, idle away the hours in the library, or beat the midday heat in the swimming pool » Guests arriving early or departing late can freshen up in the Goings & Comings room

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DINING AT MAHUA KOTHI

» Bullock cart breakfast in the Baghiya (traditional garden) » Picnic lunches under the Mahua tree » Chowki roof dinners under a star strewn sky » Moonlit dancing at the lake » Discover fresh lime, exquisite teas and fine Indian wines.

MAHUA KOTHI'S SAFARI EXPERIENCE

» Discover the beautiful jungle of Bandhavgarh National Park » Learn about the rich biodiversity of Central India from a CC Africa trained naturalist » Travel in comfort in a specially designed Tata open 4x4 safari vehicle » View tigers whilst riding an elephant » Twice-daily safaris in the reserve » Tick off Bandhavgarh's ten Star Birds (a unique Taj & CCAfrica programme) » Absorb the sights and sounds as you walk through a traditional MP village

BANDHAVGARH NATIONAL PARK

Nestled amongst the picturesque Satpura hills, this is one of India's most scenic national parks. The dramatic landscape features tropical forests and woodlands, and steep rocky hills with flat grasslands in the valleys below. This forested area is renowned for tiger, leopard, jackal, jungle cat, wild boar, sloth bear, nilghai and sambhar.

ACCESS

» Mahua Kothi, Bandhavgarh to Jabalpur Airport (190 km), Khajuraho Airport (210 km), Kanha (230 km) by road

NOTES

» Children are welcome at Mahua Kothi and the Lodge accommodates one triple per Kutiya per night for children under 12 sharing with their parents. Children under 5 regrettably are not able to go on game drives, and children between 5 and 12 only with the permission of the Lodge Manager