Tucked away in 40 acres of private, re-wilded forest near Sarahiri village in Madhya Pradesh, Pench Tree Lodge is located near the quiet, uncrowded Karmajhiri gate of Pench National Park. Designed by Pugdundee Safaris, the lodge offers an intimate alternative to the heavily trafficked commercial safari gates, placing guests in the heart of the teak and mahua forests made famous by Rudyard Kipling.

The architecture embraces low-impact, biophilic design principles. Built on sturdy timber stilts 18 feet above the ground, the treehouses are constructed using local Sal wood, reclaimed timber, and natural thatch. Wide glass windows and open wooden decks draw the forest canopy directly into the living spaces, creating a seamless connection with the surrounding woodland.

Accommodations comprise six elevated wooden treehouses and six ground-level canopy cottages. Each treehouse features split-level living spaces, king-size beds, air conditioning, hand-crafted wooden furnishings, and private verandas with views across the grassland and forest floor. The spacious cottages offer stone floors, high vaulted ceilings, and open-air garden sit-outs.

Gastronomy at Pench Tree Lodge is heavily anchored in organic farm-to-table dining. Ingredients are harvested daily from the lodge’s organic garden and neighboring farm plots. Guests enjoy fresh regional Maharashtrian and Central Indian delicacies, artisan breads, and global dishes served in the open-air dining hall, by the swimming pool, or as candlelit bush dinners under the night sky.

Days at the lodge revolve around expert-guided wilderness exploration. Guests venture into Pench National Park via the Karmajhiri and Jamunia gates on morning and afternoon 4×4 safaris with seasoned naturalists to track Bengal tigers, leopards, wild dogs (dholes), and gaur. Between safaris, guests can take guided village cycling tours, explore buffer zone nature trails, or relax by the outdoor swimming pool.