Singinawa Jungle Lodge, Kanha – Luxury in the wilderness

July 1, 2017
2,819 Comments
Jungles are mysterious in their
own ways. They communicate with people in a manner that stays in memories for a
very long time.  My recent trip to the
beautiful Singinawa Jungle Lodge acquainted me to the dense jungles
of Kanha. Tucked away in the wilderness, Singinawa is a luxury lodge that portrays hospitality at its best.

DAY 1 – The start to a magical experience
 

The distance from Delhi to Kanha, MP is a long
one, but is definitely worth it. I boarded the train to Jabalpur and after a journey of 15 hous was welcomed by the
cab from Singinawa at the station. The 5 hour long journey was tiring, but when I
reached my destination, I could feel the tiredness wear off. A huge gate opened
up and the staff welcomed me with folded hands.

The car drove into the driveway
and left me full of awe with the serene atmosphere. The birds chirping inside
the lodge were like music to my ears.
As I approached the reception area, I was
welcomed by Mr. Ghanshyam, GM of Singinawa and Sachin Sharma, the naturalist
from the lodge. The chilled glass of lemonade as welcome drink refreshed me. I
walked towards the reception where there was another surprise awaiting me.
The Reception – A display of tribal art
The sight of the huge reception
area was very impressive.  A big saal
tree placed in the center reflects an ode to nature which is rarely seen in
lodges. Artifacts of tribal culture can be seen at every corner of the main
reception area.
Cushions with prints of tigers, figurines from MP, bamboo work
evoke a very welcoming feel to the guests. I am automatically connected with
Singinawa as I stepped inside. The manager briefs me about the property and
escorts me to the dining areas located on the first floor.
Both the dining
places were decorated keeping in mind the jungle theme. The fresco dining area
ushers in the branches of huge variety of trees that are encircling the lodge area. After feasting my eyes on the
interiors, I am escorted to my room, which is barely a few steps from the
reception area. The cottages at Singinawa make you feel like you are in your
own private world.
The room –  Luxury in the wilderness 
A leopard painted in gond art is put up on the main door. As I open the door, my heart
skips a beat while looking around the room. Luxury is the first word that
strikes my mind as I walk in.
There are elements of wilderness
with a dash of sophistication in each corner. Comfort and peacefulness is kept
in mind while designing the room.
The rustic furniture fits in perfectly. A
huge king-size bed with soft white sheets was alluring me towards it. A study
table at one corner with stationary and art work was very impressive.
There are other elements like a closet with a
safe , a well stocked snack bar, tea coffee that adds comfort and luxury.
The silkiest cotton sheets, the fluffiest towels and luxury
eco-friendly bathroom products make you feel like a queen. There’s definitely no
need for a TV when you live in such a paradise.
But the most impressive sight was
the washroom. Well lit and beautifully decorated, the plush washroom has all
the luxury amenities and offers a beautiful view of the green hues while
allowing privacy.
I freshened up and moved towards the dining area where a
fabulous lunch awaited me. A delicious waft of cooking drifts in from the
kitchen as I take my favorite seat overlooking the green hues.
Indulgence and Relaxation – 
The smiling chef displays
artistic finesse in his well curated dishes. Simple yet profound, the Indian
meal was a delectable combination of taste and flavors. I devoured a hearty
meal that comprised of paneer, lentils, curd, chicken, rice and salads. The
icing on the cake was the dessert – a soft gulab jamun enticed my appetite and
tantalized my palette.
After a heart meal, I moved
towards the spa area. Located near the poolside, it is done in a very rustic
style that echoes the art of MP and yet doesn’t compromise on luxury.
The
surrounding area offers a lush green escapade into the wild side and
reverberates with the shrill sounds of birds.

The gigantic variety of trees swooping
and swaying add to the charm of the poolside. The therapist, who hails from the
local nearby village, was very skilled with his hands.

His was excellent in
foot reflexology and applied the right pressure on the soles of my foot. The
soft wind, birds chirping in the sky and the gentle swaying of trees etched an
unforgettable experience in my mind that still remains in my heart.
My tiredness was gone and I dozed
off. After a while, I woke up to the sound of birds and squirrels.
A cup of hot
tea was served by the server that freshened me up. I moved towards the main
lodge where an exciting bike tour of the property and the buffer zone was
planned for me.
Kanha is a haven for active and adventurous travelers and
Singinawa ensures guests are given multiple choices to enjoy the wildlife.
 
Adventure activities

There are daily activities in
morning, afternoon and evening. Activities include hiking to biking, jungle
walk, bid watching, jungle safari, nature trek and many others. I was happy to
take up the biking tour.

The experience was a very
different one as I enjoyed the beautiful jungles while riding the bike and
inhaling fresh air. The different varieties of birds sitting on trees made the
ride even more interesting and the sight of unusual creatures on the path
intrigued me even further. Sachin, a talented naturalist helped me in understanding
the different varieties of species in the jungle.

Kanha Museum of Life and Art

It was getting dark and we moved back to the lodge. A warm welcome by the team with fresh lemonade and wet towels
delighted me. We moved to the Kanha Museum of Life and Art to get acquainted
with the varied form of artwork. Tulika, who is the Managing Director of Singinawa, is also
a passionate artist who promotes and supports the various form of tribal art work.
I was floored by the intricate
work and dedication of the Gond
artists who have depicted the tribal life so beautifully. The jewellery of the
tribal women was exhibited that mesmerized me.
After some time, it became dark,
but the darkness only accentuated the beauty of Singinawa. The entire area was lit up with lanterns that looked beautiful; my attention was completely at
the sky.
The starry night was alive with fireflies beaming in the sky. The dark
background looked spectacular and mysterious with these tiny creatures
flickering everywhere.  Dinner was laid
inside and we were invited to devour the chef’s special meal. He prepared some
exotic Italian food that comprised of veggies and chicken in white sauce.
Later, we left for the night
safari, where we spotted a large python crawling. This was a creepy sight for
me yet a very enchanting one. The slithering snake had an amazing pattern and
it looked beautiful. After exploring the jungles in the darkness we returned
back. The day was tiring but a very interesting one. I retired to my room and
immediately curled inside the bed. The giant bed and soft sheets made me feel
comfortable and soon I dozed off.
DAY 2 – An interaction with nature and wild life
 
The next morning, a bird watching
trip was planned for me and I looked forward to it. Barely few kilometers away
from the lodge, was a quaint village called Bhimodi with a humongous variety of
birds and animals in the forest. We spotted deers and goats hurriedly moving,
while the tiny creatures like velvet bug was softly creeping in its own glory.
After clicking few shots, we
moved towards the lodge back and were welcomed by a hot piping breakfast that
comprised of fresh fruits, eggs, poha, paranthas and hot tea. We moved towards the village
where I got a chance to meet the local potters and also tried making a pot. I got a chance to see their beautiful pottery that is their sole means
of earning.
We headed to the lodge for lunch. After a nice Indian meal, I took
a stroll around to spot some exotic birds in the jungle and was lucky to find
some. The weather improved and I decided to take a dip in the pool. It was a
good decision as I enjoyed my swim while enjoying the surrounding jungle area.
The feeling was incredible as I had never had such an experience in any luxury
property earlier.
The weather turned out to be dreamy
and I was enjoying every bit of my stay at Singinawa. The evening itenary included a visit to the nearby village called Lagma to get a peek into the lifestyle of the Baiga
tribe.
A small thatched house with
plenty of members surprised me. The married women of the household have their
foreheads tattooed and their body decorated with jewelry.
They have a small kitchen area which is dark most of the time and a storage place
to keep all the rice.  The villagers
worship a tree called Mahuwa, which is their local drink.
It was a lovely moment
to spend with the villagers and the children.


We bid them good bye after
distributing biscuits and headed back to the lodge. The evening was planned
with a spectacular surprise dance by the tribals.

The dance was brilliant and I
joined in with the group as well. The fun filled dance and recreation worked
very well with the tribals and they felt elated to perform.

I was highly
appreciative of Singinawa to showcase a lovely performance only for me. After
some fabulous barbeque delicacies, I went to sleep.

DAY 3 – The Jungle safari
 
This was the most awaited day as
a jungle safari was planned. The jeep took us at 5.30 am into the wild, where a
jungle guide escorted us. The most spectacular sight was of the tigress and her
cub that were spotted barely a few meters in front of us.
The tigress, playing
with her baby in the water looked the most enchanting sight on my trip to Kanha. It
seemed as if they had met after a long.
We also spotted deers, elephants, wild
boars, monkeys in their playful mode. A lavish breakfast was set up in the
jungle and we devoured the scrumptious English breakfast with hot green tea.
We
were in the jungle till 11 am and still hoped to see the tiger. After few more minutes
of waiting, we returned back to the lodge, still feeling happy to see the
beautiful tigress and her cub.
A Gond and charcoal artist called
Manoj was called to display his finesse in art. His humble way of making a
lovely charcoal painting with charcoal swept me off my feet. The beautiful
display of art work was very appreciative that made me intrigued to try the art
work myself.
A few strokes later, I discovered my artistic abilities were
polished, thanks to Mr. Manoj who taught me with patience and appreciation.
An evening nature trail was later
planned as the last adventure activity for me. The 3 km walk helped me to
familiarize with different species of birds, insects while gazing at some of
the most amazing rock formations.
The night was approaching and I
was feeling a deep melancholy as this would be my last night in Kanha – the place
that made me feel alive for almost four days.
It is impossible to forget those
amazing experiences with Singinawa – The jungle walks, night safari, morning
nature trail, bird watching, dancing with the tribals, gond art, charcoal painting,
relaxing in the spa and pool, the divine feast, the night with fireflies and
the warm hospitality of the staff that made me feel at home for all these days.
I was leaving for Delhi the next day with a heavy heart but the lovely team cheered
me up with something that left me feeling happy.
I planted a small orange
sapling that would be another reason for me to come back to enjoy the fruit nurtured
with love and care by the Singinawa team.

The Singinawa Jungle Lodge was a
refreshing change for me as I experienced luxury amidst wilderness. I shall
cherish these moments in my heart forever.

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