Why Is Pench The Perfect Abode For Nature Enthusiasts
Pench had intrigued my curiosity quite a few years back. I wanted to visit it and get smitten by its wild beauty. I wanted to go on a jungle safari in Pench National Park and spot a tiger or two. But, I didn’t want to visit just the national park and come back. I wanted to spend some quality time in the midst of wild nature, and that is why I waited for a ‘slow travel’ experience, which I got with Pugdundee Safaris’ Pench Tree Lodge – a nature driven luxury resort in Seoni, Madhya Pradesh.
Pench Tree Lodge allows you to have an intimate rendezvous with nature in the most authentic manner. Yes, they practice sustainable ways and ideas to make sure that nature and wildlife are disturbed the least. I truly appreciate their gesture of gifting me a steel water bottle as a souvenir the moment I checked in. Therefore, staying at Pench Tree Lodge is an unhindered joy for a true-blue nature enthusiast.
Also read: Kanha Earth Lodge – A Safe Sojourn During COVID
Why Is Pench The Perfect Abode For Nature Enthusiasts
The tree houses and the cottages make you soak in the untainted nature
The experience of staying in a tree house is exclusive. The tree houses at Pench Tree Lodge are shaded by Mahua trees and built over tree stilts. Also, the cottages are steeped in nature. I can say it without an iota of doubt that Pench has been my best nature escape thus far. There’s something so ‘unspoiled’ about it. You get to immerse yourself into the rawness of nature like nowhere else. It’s like everything is so fresh and pure. There’s no human touch to it.
You can hear the sound of birds, marvel at their vivid colors and simply surrender to the magic. If you enjoy birding, one of the naturalists at the lodge would be happy to take you on a bird-watching tour.
Also read: Dandeli – My Foray Into The Wild
Walking into the bushes
Although I have always been zealous for nature, I have lately realized my ardent love for bushes. I think it happened after my sojourn in Binsar (Uttarakhand), where I explored the homestay farms with my host and ended up embracing the bushes. I have had innumerable mountain trails, and have treaded through farms and fields, rivers and streams of various places. But, there’s something about bushes.
Perhaps that’s why I loved my stay at Pench Tree Lodge so much. The bushes make you embrace nature in a much deeper way. The property is huge and it’s mostly covered with bushes, which is the most unique aspect of it.
The pretty wild flowers
I’m crazy about wild flowers! They are so pretty, unruffled and unassuming. Pench Tree Lodge just reaffirmed my love for wild flowers. The yellows, the pinks, the violets…the wild flowers make you think how beautiful God’s creation is, and how grateful we are supposed to be.
Also read: My Intimate Rendezvous With Nature In Sikkim
The organic farm
Pench Tree Lodge also has its own farm where they grow vegetables and fruits organically. It’s a beautiful farm, which is worth a glance, especially in the early morning light. I was just too amazed to see the farm and the rustic-style open-fire kitchen where they occasionally arrange dinners for guests.
The sunrise and the sunset reflections
As a traveler, I’m always chasing sunrises and sunsets. I’d say Seoni is one of the places where you can witness the orange ball in the most beautiful way. Since there are quite a few water bodies around the property, you get to see some really magical sunrise and sunset reflections. It’s one of the few destinations where I didn’t miss the mountains.
The Pench River
The Pench River, an Indian tributary of the Kanhan River, is so picturesque! My guide and the naturalist were gracious enough to show me some of the best spots in the jungle, and the Pench River was my favorite. The river originates in the Chhindwara district (Madhya Pradesh) and flows through Pench National Park. The river divides the national park into east and west Pench. The Pench River flows from north to south across the forest reserve.
The serene landscapes
I’m absolutely fanatic when it comes to beautiful landscapes, and there’s something about the landscapes that you discover in a forest. Pench has plenty of such landscapes that just captivate you with their unusual beauty. Unfortunately, you cannot get down the jeep to take pictures. But, it’s a rare experience to take in their beauty.
Also read: 8 Reasons To Visit Dudhwa National Park
The undisturbed wildlife
Pench National park is one of the most nature-driven forests in India. The wildlife is well-preserved and unaffected by human manipulations. There are national parks in India, where safari guides manipulate tiger sightings, which tarnishes the true atmosphere of a jungle. The naturalists at Pench are well trained to respect nature and wildlife. I enjoyed my experience of learning a few insights on wild animals and their behaviors.
The jungle Safari and the breakfast
I have to mention that one of the experiences that I really looked forward to and I thought it was great was the Safari breakfast in the national park. The thrill of getting out of bed at 5 am and basking in the pink tint and the moon of the early morning sky was rare. Foraying into the jungle at 6 am and spotting wild dogs, spotted deer, sambhar deer, grey headed fish eagle, skating spiders, giant wood spider, white throated kingfisher, scaly breasted munia, black hooded oriole and yes, a tigress was a spectacular experience!
The gorgeous corn fields
Perhaps one of the highlights of exploring Seoni is riding a bicycle through the corn fields. Corn is the main produce of the villages in Seoni. And, the fields look beautiful! I got to ride a bicycle unexpectedly, which I simply loved. So yes, staying at Pench Tree Lodge is about lots of such free-spirited activities.
Also read: Pumpkins, Mustard Fields, Cows, Calves And Faces Of Suhelwa – A Photo Essay
The village of Sarra Hiri
I visited one of the villages called Sarra Hiri in Seoni, and it was so pretty. It’s just 5 minutes away from the lodge. The huts, the doors and the walls are interesting to photograph, as usual. The village folks are lovely. The best part is that the village children go to school regularly.
Pugdundee Safaris is involved in community projects where they support the education of village children and provide employment to the villagers.
Note: I visited Pench Tree Lodge in collaboration with Pugdundee Safaris. However, I chose to write about it only because I enjoyed my stay and the wildlife experience.
Have you experienced staying in a jungle lodge?
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