Tiger Safari in Kanha, India

Just like 2 humans do not have same fingerprints, no 2 Tigers have similar stripes.

We at Chitvan Jungle Lodge, Kanha National Park, M.P. are delighted to announce that the PUG Audit team, on behalf of TOFT had audited our footprints, and has subsequently awarded Chitvan operations with a PUG rating of "Outstanding Practice", in accommodation provider section.

This accreditation makes us even more vigilant to further graph, and enhance every process, leading towards improving the well-being of local community, environment, and guest delight. We take this opportunity to express our gratitude for your support and confidence in Chitvan.

Hope this New Year brings more triumphs and tranquility to everyone.

With Warm Regards

Sharad Vats

Drive through Kanha to Chitvan

It was that time of the year when my soul desired for some peace, some solitude. I packed my camera equipment and set out to Kanha National Park. My overnight train reached Jabalpur in the morning, I couldn’t wait to get off the train and set out on road to Kanha. Had breakfast en route, about 50kms short of Kanha and entered the Jungles which Kipling immortalized.
The tall Sal trees on both sides of the meandering road, every bend of the road saying slow down, do not be in a hurry to reach the destination, enjoy the journey. I listened, and asked the driver to change gears. Stopped the a/c of the car, rolled down the window panes, and I was hit on my face by this intoxicating daft of fresh air. I felt I was breathing, as if my lungs had come alive, my heart was rejoicing, my mind focused only on the present, past did not exist, future did not matter. This moment had to be lived to eternity. The ground was full of leaves shed recently by the Saja trees. Sal stood tall and green, Teak completely barren, and Gulmohur interspersed occasionally and adding soothing red somehow completed the painting. Looked up to the smiling clear blue sky, which was welcoming me, just like an aging father welcoming his son back home. Some rays of sun piercing through the trees, falling on some leaves, making its presence felt, and telling the denizens of the forest you are blessed to be living this day.
Some old Bollywood songs came to mind, began humming, but was cut short by the wonderful sound of Indian Koel, moved on, and the Indian Cuckoo was on song, Coppersmith Barbet did not want to be left behind, and behold the orchestra of Kanha had come alive. My Bollywood tunes took a back seat, and I merged in this evergreen melody of nature.
Einstein’s relativity came to fore. How and when did that hour pass, did the time fly? Did it freeze, as I do not recall when my driver said, Sir, we have reached Chitvan.
A spellbinding drive through the forest came to an end, but I knew this was not the end, but the end of a beginning…

Sharad Vats

Tiger tourism

A huge relief for the Tiger fans, and the biggest relief to the Tiger itself, the proposed ban on Tiger tourism by some conservationists is not being implemented. Only some more regulations and some more restrictions will come into effect, which in a way is much desired. The current scenario in few national parks is a bit disappointing with loads of Jeeps waiting to get into the park, and few times competing with each other to get a closer and a better look of the Tiger.

Some quarters felt this disturbed the Tiger and its habitat, to some extent the same is true but if one views the impact of tourism on the habitat, which is negligible and to the community which is priceless. The surrounding villages are mostly dependent on the tourism coming into the area. With lot of staff getting employed in the lodges, as drivers and as guides, the economy of the area has changed. Imagine if there was no tourism tomorrow in the area, what wuold the locals do in such remote area. MOre dependence on the forest for daily livlihood, would mean more depletion of the forest, it would also mean more man-animal conflict.

Today a Tiger is used to tourists, tomorrow with no humans going in, once the Tiger sees humans chances of such conflicts will be very high. Today for about 8-9 hours tourists are inside the core area, which means there is unofficial patrolling happenning of the area. This implies that poachers do not get inside the parks when the tourists are there. Poaching mistly happens during the monsoon times and also after sunset or before sunrise when the tourists are not present in the parks. Imagine a situation if the parks are opened 24X7, would poachers have easy access, i doubt very much.

But a humble request to all tourists to conduct themsselves better inside the park. Tiger is such a joy to watch, let us do it silently, patiently, and besides Tiger the forest is full of such wonderful moments watch them as well simultaneously.

Hope to see you soon sometime.

Sharad

Chopper landing in Chitvan, Kanha

With great delight we announce that Chitvan became the first Lodge in Kanha to have its own helipad within the Lodge, and the first landing of a chopper took place on 29th Jan 2010. The Captain of the chopper rated our helipad to be one of the best he has landed on. Please see some attached shots

Choolah cooking at Chitvan,Kanha

We are very proud to communicate that at Chitvan we have reduced LPG consumption by 80%. Initially we installed the Solar cookers, which iimediately reduced the consumption by 50%, and now lately Choolah cooking, which has reduced the LPG consumption by another 30%.

Daily the cakes are made from cow dung, dried, and used for cooking, these cakes are being used in an open Choolah (a traditional mode of cooking practiced even today in Indian villages). Not only does this reduce the LPG consumption in our kitchen, but it also enhances the taste of the item cooked.

So now you see Muffins being made by our solar cooker, entire boiling of vegetables being done by solar cooker, all breads being made on the Choolah,only the final touch is being given on LPG.

Chitvan Ranked No 1 by Tripadvisor.com

New Year begins with a good news for Chitvan, Kanha. We have been rated as the No 1 Lodge in terms of popularity and guest satisfaction in Kanha by Tripadvisor. The credit for this goes to our guests who believed and booked with us, and to our team which put their best foot forward. But the real challenge begins now,as we feel that attaining No 1 rank is good but sustaining it is the key. So whole new benchmarks are being set so that our guests get what they never expect in a Jungle Lodge.