Route (5N/6D)
Bhopal – 40km/80minutes – Ratapani – 125km/3hrs – Satpura National Park – 83km/2hr 30 minutes – Pachmarhi – 206km/6hrs – Bhopal;
Day 1: Bhopal
Spend a leisurely day in Bhopal exploring its green lung and a slice of urban wilderness – the Van Vihar National Park. Stretching along the banks of the Upper Lake, the zoological park is home to injured and aged rescued animals. Tigers, leopards, crocodiles, bears, and a wealth of other wildlife roam in the forest and wetland. Choose to drive, cycle or walk through the park in the early hours to enjoy the beauty during the day or go just before sundown to see a variety of birds as well as herbivores like chital, nilgai, and blackbucks. Carnivores like large cats and hyenas are housed in wired enclosures while the Snake Park is home to cobras and vipers. Spend the night at the luxurious Noor-Us-Sabah Palace hotel.
Day 2: Bhopal – Ratapani
The next day, drive through the beautiful teak forest to the Ratapani Jungle Lodge in the buffer area of Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary. The little-known sanctuary on the edge of Bhopal swarms with animal and bird life including tigers, sloth bears, jackals, and several species of birds. Enjoy a hearty buffet lunch at the lodge and stroll around the property on the edge of the Kolar Reservoir. The lodge arranges many activities for its guests like a boat ride on the reservoir, night drives through the buffer zone and gypsy drives through the safari. Sail up to the Kolar Dam in the evening to see cranes, geese, and migratory species in winter, along with a glorious sunset. A night drive through bamboo and teak forest is a thrilling experience, as you get to glimpse jungle cats, civets, jackals, and other animals going about their nocturnal activities. Keep an eye out for birds that are especially active at night, like jungle owlets and nightjars.
Day 3: Ratapani – Satpura National Park
Rise early the next morning and head into the sanctuary in an open-top gypsy for an early morning safari. As the sun rises, spot herds of chital, sambhar and maybe even a tiger in the 823sq km sanctuary that stretches across the Vindhya Hills. Look to the branches to see black drongos, paradise flycatchers, and other species of birds that inhabit this wilderness. Proceed onwards to Satpura National Park and check into the luxurious Reni Pani Jungle Lodge. Relax in the lodge that evening, or go for a walk around the lodge before the sun sets. The lodge is located in the buffer zone of the national park and you might spot monitor lizards, deer, snakes, and a wide variety of birds that inhabit the forest.
Day 4: Satpura National Park
Satpura National Park offers a unique experience. Drive to the Madhai Gate, cross the Tawa Reservoir in a boat and then board the jeep that will take you into the 524sq km park. Drive through hills and grasslands, past rivers and streams to spot a wealth of wildlife, including large cats like tigers and leopards, along with massive bison, herds of deer, sloth bear and other animals. The landscapes are ethereal in the early morning sun, and a packed breakfast at a designated spot makes for a perfect treat in this gorgeous setting.
Return to your lodge for a rest and lunch before heading out for an afternoon safari. In Satpura, you can also choose from a jeep safari, a walking safari or a boat safari. A two-hour boat ride allows you to glide down the Denwa River and into the very core of the forest. It is an especially good way to spot birds like storks, ospreys, egrets, and kingfishers. On the banks, look out for cleverly camouflaged crocodiles, and animals like deer who stop over to drink water.
Day 5: Satpura National Park – Pachmarhi
After breakfast at your lodge, head to the colonial-era hill town of Pachmarhi and check in to the lovely Greendale Resort. Set out after an early lunch for a safari from the Panarpani Gate. In a 4×4 vehicle, drive along a 20km trail from Panarpani to Neemghan, right in the heart of the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve. With sandstone hills and sheer gorges, open grassland and dense forest of teak and sal, the landscapes are stunning. Stop for expansive views of Satpura’s mountain peaks. Look up into the branches to see the Indian giant squirrel leaping through the trees. Tigers, leopards, bison, wild boars, monitor lizards and a range of other wildlife inhabit these forests. In the grasslands, look out for spotted deer and peer into the foliage to spot the shy and elusive mouse deer. Pachmarhi is home to a beautiful world of butterflies. Stop at the Panarpani Nursery and Butterfly Garden to see several colourful varieties, including the Painted Lady and Blue Tiger. Return by sundown to your cosy resort, where a hot dinner is most rewarding after a long day in the jungle.
Day 6: Pachmarhi – Bhopal
After a relaxed breakfast at the resort, drive back to Bhopal along scenic hill and forest roads to catch your flight or train home.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
STAY
Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, Bhopal
Address: VIP Road, Koh-E-Fiza, Bhopal Madhya Pradesh
Website: http://noorussabahpalace.com
Tel: 07554223333
Tariff: Double room starts at INR7,500/- inclusive of breakfast
Ratapani Jungle Lodge, Ratapani
Address: Kolar Dam, Panchayat Veerpur Lawakadhi
Website: http://www.ratapani.com/
Tel: 9584551234
Tariff: Double room starts at INR4,000/- inclusive of breakfast
Reni Pani Jungle Lodge, Satpura National Park
Address: Reni Pani Village, Sohagpur
Website: www.renipanijunglelodge.com
Tel: 9981997714
Tariff: Double room starts at INR30,000/- inclusive of all meals
Greendale, Pachmarhi
Address: Jaistambh, Rajbhawan Road, Pachmarhi Cantt
Website: http://www.greendale.in/
Tel: 9584551234
Tariff: Double room starts at INR5,000/- inclusive of breakfast
Van Vihar National Park, Bhopal
Timings: 7am to 6pm
Fees: INR 250 per car (max 5 people)
Address: Krishna Nagar, Shymala Hills, Bhopal
Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary
Open from: 15 October to 30 June
Safaris: Sunrise to Sunset; organize through Ratapani Jungle Lodge. Night drives in the buffer area costs INR2,500 for 6 people. Daytime drives in the core area cost INR3,500 for 6 people.
Satpura National Park
Timings: October to July; Closed on Wednesdays afternoon
Safaris: 6.30am to 11am and 4pm to 6pm
Fees: Jeep safaris booked at the Madhai Gate start at INR 4,160 per vehicle (max 6 people), depending on the route you take; boat safaris cost INR 3,060 per boat (8 people) per hour. Safaris booked through your lodge will cost more.
Pachmarhi (Panarpani)
Safari Timings: October to July, 6am to 10am and 2pm to 6pm
Entry Fees: INR2,500 per registered gypsy, plus guide charge of 360 (max 6 people)