Location
Bandhavgarh National Park, India

Set within sal-forested hills on a 32-acre natural wooded estate, Kings Lodge is just minutes from the Tala gate of of Bandhavgarh National Park, one of India's premier tiger reserves. Surrounded by wild terrain, this rustic yet deluxe ecolodge enjoys an exceptional location near some of India's most diverse and abundant wildlife. The lodge exhibits a concern for conservation in every aspect of its design and operations. Utilizing stone, tile, stucco and recycled wood, it was built using local labor to blend with its environment, incorporating a rural vernacular style of architecture and ecologically friendly construction methods, including eco-sensitive waste disposal systems.

Accommodations are in 10 cottage rooms and eight stilt cottages, built in harmony with nature. All have air conditioning, 24-hour electricity, modern en suite bathrooms, crisp cotton linens and bright textile accents, dark wood furniture including a writing table and chair, and a large private veranda with views of the forest. Wi-Fi is available in the public areas. The dining room is a warm and inviting setting, with fresh farm-to-table cuisine served around a huge live-edge wooden table. Both Indian and continental dishes feature locally sourced fare, with many of the vegetables and herb  from the organic kitchen garden and other nearby farms. A stone fireplace adds ambience and takes the chill off during the cool season. An outdoor barbecue and bush dinner area provide opportunities for dining outside. In between morning and late-afternoon game drives, enjoy the swimming pool and sundeck, indulge in an Ayurvedic massage at the spa, borrow a book from the small natural history library, wander through the butterfly farm where more than 40 species flit among the flowers, or climb up into the watchtower to survey the surrounding landscape and look for birds.