Away from the scores of resorts and jungle lodges that lie close to Pench National Park, Jamtara Wilderness Camp’s address is off the grid, yet accessible to the gate, with uber luxurious offerings. Amongst the best jungle retreats of India, Jamtara brings you a legacy of conservation led hospitality. The high-end luxury camps are fitted with understated luxury that melds perfectly with the natural surroundings making you one with nature, yet spoiling you with attentive care and comfort.
Pench National park gets busy in the wildlife months (Oct-May), so it’s best to book your safari ahead with the help of the camp.
Bring the outdoors in with rolled up doors of the luxury tents. While outside nature keeps the senses alive, inside, it’s wildlife inspired art, minimalistic yet warm décor and amenities that speak volumes about the attention to detail that has gone behind the camp. Colourful throws, bedcovers and cushions add a dash of colour to the wooden paneling flooring and characterful furniture, many of it sourced painstakingly from vintage markets. Each room has an ensuite luxury bathroom with all modern fittings. The show-stopper that every guest definitely likes to have a slice of is the star bed – a machan with a netted luxury four poster bed, from where you can see the star-studded sky at night and be even closer to the wild calls. This experience is surreal and one to stay for long in the mind’s eye. For some, this is the ultimate romantic inclusion to a wildlife holiday.
The swimming pool amps up the luxury for the guests, so one can shed the safari fatigue by long lazy afternoons in the pool.
Dining is a time for excellent Indian and Continental cuisine, complemented with stories from the forests. The bush dinner in the middle of a forested copse is even more special as the bonfire crackles the corner.
Jamtara Wilderness Camp lauds itself on the excellent relationship with the local community. Many of the activities for guests allow them to see the simple namesake village at close quarters. The jaggery making process, harvesting or just the simple pleasures of life in a slow stride are therapeutic for the city dwellers. Naturally, being in the vicinity of Pench means wildlife safaris with knowledgeable naturalists who know the jungle like the back of their hands. Apart from that, the experience of a sundowner on a riverbed or a meal under the big banyan tree wants to make you never leave the place.