Where To Stay For The Finest Safari Lodge Experiences In India

Get Ready To Plan For Long Weekends Across The Wilderness of India

Image: Tented Pool Pavilion at Aman-i-Khás, Ranthambore

What could be better than travelling through the wilderness of India during spring? Absolutely nothing comes close. That’s why a well-planned luxury hideout is the ultimate way to make the most of your time. Forested luxury offers the perfect escape from cities plagued by unhealthy air, and with safari season in full swing, The Style List’s 2026 guide spotlights the best safari lodges, boutique hotels, and tented camps in India, promising some serious R&R.

Aman-i-Khas, Ranthambore

Securing a safari on the long weekends in this park has become equivalent to a game of expensive roulette. But Aman-i-Khas (the only tented property by Aman Hotels in the world), offers a way to commune with the forest on your own terms. This year, the property has added four new Grand Tented Pool Pavilions to the existing ten tents, each now featuring private pools and spa areas. True to the brand’s minimalist aesthetic, the spacious canvas tents are equipped with private jacuzzis, automated toilets, and supremely comfortable beds. Each tent comes with a private butler, called ‘Batman, ’who caters to your needs from arrival to departure.

Excellent gourmet meals are served at their dining tent, but outdoor dining areas are also equally appealing, especially in the evenings by the crackling bonfire, where talented local musicians break the silence of the forest with their soulful renditions. Apart from private pools, a large stepwell-style pool also presents itself as a reminder of the landscape you inhabit, while recalling the days of kings and queens, with herbivores often visible from your lounge.

Samode Safari Lodge, Bandhavgarh

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is a four-hour drive from Jabalpur airport, it stands as one of India’s most esteemed national parks, with heritage strewn around the depths of its forests. From a mythical fort to a 35-foot-long reclining statue of Lord Vishnu (Shesh Shaiya), Bandhavgarh is home to tigers, sambar, spotted deers and now even elephants, who moved into the forest some years back from the neighbouring state.

Perched along the Dhamokhar buffer zone, Samode Safari Lodge sits on a great swath of wilderness across 35 acres, with only 12 intimate and opulent cottages. Thoughtfully designed and decorated with family heirlooms, each suite features outdoor patios and a large roll-top tub facing hand-painted murals. Elegant continental and Indian fare is served at their fine dining restaurant under a large tree, as expert naturalists share tales of the forest. Incredible flora and fauna enthral nature lovers, while safaris across the three core and two buffer zones often lead to majestic sightings of the big cats.

Brij Sone Bagh, Bandhavgarh

Spanning 32 acres, the newly opened Brij Sone Bagh is a retreat where nature, history and culture co-exist. The lodge is surrounded by ancient sal forests, traditional tribal villages and a gentle river that winds its way through the property, lending a meditative calm to the surroundings. With only five thoughtfully designed villas set across its expansive grounds, guests find themselves at the threshold of the rich tiger habitat—waking to birdsong, venturing onto mist-laced safaris, and returning to villas that echo the region’s folk art traditions while offering profound stillness. “

Brij Sone Bagh is a celebration of central India—its forests, wildlife and rich tribal heritage,” says Udit Kumar, Co-Founder, Brij Hotels. “Our vision was to create a space where luxury blends seamlessly with authenticity, and where every experience tells the story of the land and its people.”

Designed by Atelier15 and led by architect Deepika Sethi, the hotel draws inspiration from central India’s forests and tribal heritage. Built with natural stone and timber, its minimal, earthy design blends seamlessly into the landscape. Vernacular materials, tribal art and animal-themed villas reflect Bandhavgarh’s culture, while verandas, plunge pools and forest views keep nature ever-present.

While structural constraints limited the integration of solar or rainwater harvesting systems, sustainability is prioritised through passive cooling, thermal mass materials, and wildlife-friendly lighting, ensuring year-round comfort. Thoughtfully renovated and completed in six months, the retreat balances subtle storytelling with a strong sense of place.

Evolve Back Kuruba Safari Lodge, Kabini

A stay at Evolve Back’s signature property is shaped by the gentle flow of the Kabini River and the surrounding forests. Nestled along the banks of the Kabini River and bordering Nagarhole National Park, the lodge feels like an extension of its wild setting. Thatched roofs, earthy textures and open courtyards echo the architectural language of a traditional riverside village, while private pool villas and expansive decks ensure both comfort and seclusion.

Mornings begin with boat safaris or guided jeep drives in search of elephants, big cats and avifauna. Afternoons invite unhurried indulgence—spa rituals inspired by traditional Ayurveda at Vaidyashala, or leisurely regional lunches with dishes like fish curries and pork dishes, overlooking the infinity pool, or even a few quiet hours watching ospreys hunt on the water. As evening descends, the lodge takes on a softer, almost cinematic glow with oil lamps lit along corridors. Sundowners segue into candlelit dinners drawing on regional flavours at the Kuruba grill, before the night settles into a symphony of cicadas and distant calls from the forest.

With curated village experiences and interactions with the Kuruba tribes, Evolve Back defines luxury as deep immersion—enriching both guests and the local community.

Chunda Shikar Oudi, Udaipur

Rajasthan is filled with royal homes, but Chunda Shikar Oudi,  located 25 km outside Udaipur in Batharda Kalan village, represents a deeply conscious and passionate side of royalty. A former erstwhile hunting lodge has been rebuilt to re-establish a natural balance between the adjacent forest range and the villages.

With a pristine lake as the centrepiece,  it features two units: one with six spacious, elegantly appointed rooms, a living room, dining area, and striking infinity pool; the other, an exclusive two-bedroom ‘oudi’ with private kitchen and plunge pool across the lake.

The staff's warmth is reflected in every meal, from carefully curated thalis with family recipes served outdoors to lively bush dinners by bonfires. The highlight is the sunset hi-tea at a forest viewpoint, where freshly fried bhajiyas and piping hot tea accompany the calls of the animals returning home at dusk. From bluebulls to leopards, the forest hosts great diversity, and is a constant project for the staff headed by naturalist Chandra Vijay Hada.

Kanha Earth Lodge, Madhya Pradesh

As one of Pugdundee Safaris' flagship properties, Kanha Earth Lodge is a case study in building with local materials and blending well with the original landscape. With just 12 exclusive cottages, each with furniture, upholstery and linen sourced locally and sporting private patios, the lodge speaks the language of the Baiga land fluently in both design and hospitality.

Safari goers can expect the best naturalists to accompany them and help decode the forest’s importance in India’s tiger conservation project. At the lodge, farm-produced gourmet meals await your return, paired with soulful cocktails using local Mahua liquor.

Located at the Khatia gate buffer zone, sundowners are truly memorable with picnic baskets accompanying you to a quaint riverside or on top of the rocky outcrops for a vantage point. The lodge also champions local artists through its souvenir shop and by inviting painters to create on-site.

Pench Tree Lodge, Madhya Pradesh

Hidden away from the bustling tourism village of Turia in Pench, Pugdundee built its Tree Lodge in a grassland near the lesser-known Karmajhiri gate. Constructed using local and upcycled materials, it has six built cottages and four treehouses and is one of the only safari lodges in the region with a bird hide for photographers.

The chef delights guests with innovative set menus that blend local ingredients with global techniques, from beetroot halwa to rose ice cream, all grown in-house, for a real soil-to-table concept. Poolside bonfires in the evenings become gatherings where guests share their tales of adventures, while mornings start with piping hot tea before leaving for safaris, wrapped in comfortable blankets and a hearty supply of hot bags to keep you warm in the winter.