Banjaar Tola is a 5-star Taj Safaris luxury tented lodge by the Banjaar River near Kanha's Mukki Gate, with 18 river-view tents, pools and naturalist-led
Pick which sources FlightGPT queries. Toggle a source off to skip it during search.
Fares and prices quoted in this guide are indicative estimates only — illustrative, not live quotes, and may be out of date. Search FlightGPT for current fares before booking.
Banjaar Tola, A Taj Safari is a 5-star Taj Safaris luxury tented lodge on the Banjaar River near Kanha's Mukki Gate, with 18 river-view tented suites across two camps, private pools, a spa and naturalist-led tiger safaris, around 202 km from Jabalpur Airport.
Live rates and availability confirmed at booking. All prices indicative — updated June 2026.
Banjaar Tola, A Taj Safari is a luxury tented lodge run by Taj Safaris on the banks of the Banjaar River, on the edge of Kanha National Park near the Mukki Gate. It is arranged as two intimate camps of nine tents each — 18 in total — set within 90 acres of private Sal forest. The design is deliberately light-footed: bamboo, canvas and glass, with Gond paintings and Bastar bell-metal craft, so the lodge sits gently in its surroundings. Each camp has its own pool and lounge, and every tented suite looks onto the river.
This is an ultra-premium wildlife retreat rather than a conventional hotel — the experience is built around tiger safaris, the river and the forest, with luxury in service of immersion in nature.
Banjaar Tola sits beside Kanha's Mukki Gate, about 2 km from the park boundary, in a genuinely remote corner of Madhya Pradesh. The nearest airport, Jabalpur Airport (Dumna), JLR, is roughly 202 km away — around a four-hour drive; this is a long transfer and worth planning for. Nagpur airport is an alternative at a comparable distance. There is no quick way in: reaching the lodge is part of committing to a Kanha safari trip, and most guests arrange the lodge transfer in advance. The reward for the journey is one of central India's finest tiger reserves on the doorstep.
Accommodation is in 18 tented suites split between the two camps. Each has bamboo floors, a canvas roof and glass doors opening onto a floating verandah above the river, so the sound and view of the Banjaar are constant. Interiors combine contemporary comfort — proper beds, air-conditioning, ensuite bathrooms — with local craft including Gond artwork and Bastar metalwork. Every suite offers a river view, and the small scale of each camp keeps the atmosphere private and quiet.
Dining at Banjaar Tola is deliberately unstructured, on an “anywhere, anytime” basis rather than through fixed restaurants and hours. Meals might be breakfast on the bonnet of a safari vehicle after a dawn game drive, a poolside lunch, an interactive session with the chef, a campfire dinner or a private bush dinner lit by lanterns. The cooking draws on regional Indian and international dishes, adapted to the rhythm of safari days that begin before sunrise.
Each of the two camps has its own swimming pool and indoor and outdoor lounges, and the lodge has a spa offering massage treatments — welcome after long hours in a safari vehicle. Common areas include a library and lounge, and the 90 acres of private forest allow guided nature walks and birding around the property. Wi-Fi is available in common areas; the emphasis throughout is on quiet, nature and the wildlife experience rather than on resort facilities.
The lodge exists for Kanha National Park, one of India's premier tiger reserves and an inspiration for Kipling's The Jungle Book. Expert naturalists lead morning and afternoon game drives in search of Bengal tiger, leopard, dhole, sloth bear, gaur and the rare barasingha (swamp deer) that Kanha is known for. Beyond the drives, guests can take guided nature walks, birding sessions and visits to the park's interpretation centre, with sunset viewpoints such as Bamni Dadar within the reserve. The Banjaar River itself, threading through the property, is a focus for quiet riverside time between safaris.
Banjaar Tola is for wildlife and tiger enthusiasts, photographers and birders, and couples seeking a secluded luxury retreat in nature. It suits travellers willing to make the long road transfer in exchange for a small, immersive lodge right beside one of central India's best reserves. It is not a city or sightseeing base, and its remoteness and price place it firmly in the ultra-premium safari tier.
| Room | What you get |
|---|---|
| Tented Suite (River View) | Luxury tent with bamboo floors, a canvas roof and glass doors opening to a floating verandah over the Banjaar River. |
| Camp 1 Tent | One of nine tents in the first riverside camp, with its own pool and lounge. |
| Camp 2 Tent | One of nine tents in the second camp, similarly appointed with river views and Gond and Bastar artwork. |
| Landmark | Distance | Approx. on foot |
|---|---|---|
| Kanha National Park Mukki Gate | 2 km | ~24 min walk |
| Banjaar River (on site) | — | — |
| Kanha core zone | 3 km | short taxi/auto |
| Bamni Dadar (sunset point) | 25 km | short taxi/auto |
| Kanha Museum | 20 km | short taxi/auto |
Distances are straight-line estimates; walking times assume roughly 12 minutes per km. Confirm routes locally.
On the Banjaar River near the Mukki Gate of Kanha National Park, in Balaghat district, Madhya Pradesh, within 90 acres of private Sal forest.
Jabalpur Airport (JLR) is about 202 km away, roughly a four-hour drive; Nagpur is a comparable alternative. The transfer is long and should be planned in advance.
There are 18 tented suites in total, arranged as two camps of nine tents each, every one with a river view.
Kanha is known for Bengal tiger, leopard, dhole, sloth bear, gaur and the rare barasingha (swamp deer), seen on naturalist-led game drives.
Dining is flexible and “anywhere, anytime” — from in-vehicle breakfasts and poolside lunches to campfire and private bush dinners — rather than fixed restaurant hours.
It is best for a dedicated safari trip of two or more nights given the long road transfer and the rhythm of morning and afternoon game drives.