Jaagir Manor
Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

Tucked away in the emerald wilds of Uttar Pradesh, where the jungle murmurs and the grasslands sway, lies Jaagir Manor. A former hunting lodge turned heritage retreat, this colonial-style manor house rests on the fringe of Dudhwa National Park, near the Indo-Nepal border, in the heart of the Terai Himalayan foothills, just far enough off-grid to feel wonderfully untamed, yet polished with the elegance.

Recently restored under the discerning eye of IHCL SeleQtions, this hidden gem is a world where tiger trails and thatched verandahs coexist, where old-world hospitality greets the thrill of the wild with a raised glass (non-alcoholic, of course, Uttar Pradesh is a dry state), and where days are best spent immersed in birdsong and stories.

There are just 20 suites and villas, all imbued with character; hand-carved four-posters, cool stone floors, plantation fans and gauzy drapes that billow in the breeze. The heritage rooms, dating back to the 1940s, exude stately charm, while the villas, some with thatched roofs and private sit-outs, look out across orchards and teak groves. The interiors combine soul and style with antique furniture, warm textiles and a quiet, refined air that invites long reads.

Jaagir Manor is not simply a hotel, it’s a portal into the wild. Days begin with the hush of mist lifting off the Terai plains, and end with fireside tales in the library lounge. In between? Safaris into Dudhwa National Park, where elephants, sloth bears, gharials and the elusive Bengal tiger roam through sal forests and swampy grasslands. This is also one of the last habitats of the endangered barasingha, the swamp deer of Indian legend.

For those drawn to culture, guided visits to the nearby Tharu tribal villages offer rich insight into local customs and crafts. You can even stand with one foot in India and the other in Nepal on a curated cross-border excursion.

And when the adrenaline wanes, you return to afternoon tea on the lawn, a dip in the temperature-controlled infinity pool, or a spot of stillness in the library, where leather-bound volumes and board games await.

Meals at Jaagir Manor are as curated as its experiences. The Pavilion, its all-day dining space, serves up elevated regional fare; aromatic curries, local vegetables and forest-foraged touches, as well as Western favourites, all beautifully plated and deeply nourishing. There are private bush dinners, open-air barbecues and candlelit moments that feel lifted from a Kipling novel. No alcohol is served, in keeping with state law, but the team crafts excellent mocktails and heritage-inspired refreshments.

Jaagir Manor is where you go to exhale. To wake with the jungle, to fall asleep to the wind and to remember that life, at its most rare and extraordinary, often begins at the edge of the map.

To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.
Bill Bryson