Svasara
Tadoba Tiger Reserve

Known as the Land of the Tigers, Tadoba National Park, located in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra, is home to the Svasara Reserve.

Just 300 metres from Kolara Gate, the main entrance to Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, Svasara Jungle Lodge offers a rare blend of immersive wildlife encounters and conscious luxury. This was the first upscale safari lodge to open in the region, set within lush gardens and sprawling grounds that cover 11 acres of rewilded land. Once degraded by mining and agriculture, the property has been painstakingly restored into a thriving sanctuary, with more than 2,000 native trees planted and a deep commitment to sustainability, from solar power and rainwater harvesting to plastic-free guest amenities and community-led initiatives.

Inside, twelve spacious, air-conditioned suites offer a cool, comfortable refuge after a fiery jungle morning. Interiors are simple yet soulful, think reclaimed teak furniture, tribal railings and earthy textiles that nod to the local vernacular. Each suite opens onto a private veranda overlooking the surrounding forest or the lodge’s signature Teakhouse, a thatched, open-air pavilion built with recycled materials, where guests gather for starlit dinners, conservation talks and occasional open-air cinema nights.

Wildlife is the heartbeat of Svasara. Expert naturalists lead twice-daily jeep safaris into the reserve, where Bengal tigers, sloth bears, Indian wild dogs, leopards, gaur and over 200 bird species roam freely through teak forest, bamboo thickets and sun-dappled meadows. Back at the lodge, guests can enjoy guided nature walks, early-morning birding or butterfly spotting right on the property.

Dining is a celebration of local Varadi (Vidarbha) cuisine, fragrant, spice-forward and deeply regional, alongside Indian and continental options. Meals can be taken in the main restaurant, privately in your suite or under the open sky beside a crackling fire. Evenings at Svasara are quiet, low-lit and full of old-world charm - storytelling, stargazing and the chorus of the forest.

Although Tadoba is a dry zone (no alcohol is served), the lodge makes up for it with fresh juices, spiced teas and hyper-local flavours. A small swimming pool and peaceful lounge areas offer moments of stillness between game drives, the kind of understated luxury that feels all the more meaningful out in the wild.

Svasara is ideal for travellers looking to disconnect and recharge, while immersing themselves in some of India's most exciting wildlife. The reserve is known for its frequent tiger and wild dog sightings, but also offers the chance to spot leopards, sloth bears, gaur, rusty-spotted cats and the elusive Indian mouse deer.

Travelling is like flirting with life. It's like saying, 'I would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station.
Lisa St. Aubin de Teran