Just 5-minutes from the Panna National Park, Sarai At Toria, a luxury eco-retreat nestled within wilderness and tranquility focuses sharply on ‘conscious travel’. It sits on the bank of the river Ken. Nature been an active part of the hotel design, having cottages styled in line with the rural architecture. Designed and spearheaded by the conservation biologist Dr. Raghu Chundawat and his wife Joanna Van Gruisen, wildlife photographer, writer and conservationist, Sarai At Toria is built out of their passion for wildlife.
A Stay Into The Wild
There are eight cottages that open to lovely sit-out overlooking the grassy forest ground. Each room boasts huge windows which filter sunlight and nighttime guests can luxuriate in a candle-lit setting or at a gathering by the bonfire.
Four independent classic cottages stand to one side featuring spacious rooms designed to rule out the need for energy heating and cooling. High ceilings and thick mud walls keep them cool in the warmer months and warm at colder times. The rest four cottages extend upstairs to mezzanine spaces connected in pairs with a machan, of which two overlook the flowering grass and river in front while the other two overlook the forest behind. The mezzanine has a cosy space with a child's bed, making it convenient for couples travelling with kids.
Design & Concept Focuses on Sustainability
In simple language sustainable architecture embody the ideal that what’s best for the environment serves best for our lifestyles. The architecture redefines the use of local material. Traditional mud cottage feature thick mud walls and roofs made of tin and grass. The designer has thoughtfully incorporated smooth mineral oxide-finished floors and the large design plan for the attached powder room is well-equipped with a hot shower coming from the heating boiler outside. Classy-wooden dressing table adds a vintage look to the powder room.
Sustainable Accommodation To Holiday In
The cottages look grounded with the forest cover behind and the high grass in front. The colour of the walls and furnishings are intentionally subdued allowing the lush natural surroundings to take precedence. They continuously strive to lessen the negative effects on environment so much so even in using simple remedies like the use of mosquito oil instead of power-backed repellents, solar and biomass power, and saying no to landscaping. The owners say — " Our staff is from the local community, so along with providing you wonderful service, they can share their knowledge of the surrounding area and customs. A main facet of our ethos is to benefit the local economy and help bring development to an agricultural area that has few employment opportunities".
Spaces Where Design Meets Nature
One of the favourite space is the resort's open stone, wood and tile-canopied pavilion overlooking the river that doubles as a lounge and dining space. If you're craving for sometime in nature, the hammocks, day beds and benches placed at the best vantage point with lovely views over the grassland and river to the hills beyond is your ideal cosy spot to unwind.
Garden To Table Concept Is Treated Serious Here
Yes, you heard it right. Sarai At Toria take pride on fresh-organic cooking and the garden onsite ensure an abundant supply of fresh produce. Homemade jams and croissants, scones, banana breads are all baked in-house. Breakfast here would mean out in the jungle. Your day would start in a game drive to the Panna National Park and the team arranges for a breakfast at the wilderness. Indian and continental dishes would make up to the table and on special request on meals, the staff can curate as per your taste and preference.
Dinners are a delight with pre-drinks or teas and coffee by the bonfire outside, chatting with other guests and knowing about each's luck for the day's tiger sightings. The signature experience is the captivating alfresco dining-under-the stars decking the ground with lanterns and candles.
Activities Curated
Sarai At Toria is an experiential retreat cocooned in a green cover by the river Ken. Birdwatching opportunities abound within the periphery.
Grasslands, forest and riverine habitats that attracts a great variety of birds wall the property in. Stroll around the property, along the river-side or walk down hedge-lined paths through agricultural fields to nearby Toria village. The diversity will delight birders wherever they go.
Game Drives are the Highlight
As the owners are conversationist, arranging for safari drives is not a problem. Two safaris a day can improve your chance of sighting. Panna National Park is a dry deciduous expanse and bounded by plateaus and gorges. In 2009 Panna was completely devoid of tigers that led to relocation of tigers from Pench, Bandhavgarh and Kanna and with two females and one male they gave cubs one by one and that's how the tiger population started thriving. Today there are more than 5o tigers in the Panna Tiger Reserve and sighting is not that of a tussle but as they say sighting in the Indian jungles are a game of anticipation so take the game drive to enjoy every moment inside the forest.
Boating in the River Ken
The good news is the property is on the bank of the river ken and therefore the team arranges boating and the paddle down feels like a zen-like experience during sun down and for birders, an opportunity to watch riverine birds. Among large boulders laying scattered in the river one might be lucky to spot a kingfisher or storks, raptures — all part of the landscape.
The other trips that are curated according to traveller's preference are country walks, a day trip to Khajuraho, Rareh falls, Kalinjar Fort and Pandava caves.
For special occasion the resort arranges for celebratory dinners that are as memorable as you would have planned.
Sarai at Toria is a compelling story where architecture meets wilderness, and being a wildlife resort catering in experiences that goes beyond wildlife sighting and by redefining luxury through experiences that are sustainable and regenerative. As travellers it made us aware of design and architecture, unfailingly drawing us close to the landscape with smart design solutions and without disturbing the land during construction.
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