Satpura National Park, North & Central India, India

Reni Pani’s beautifully designed accommodation and eco-friendly infrastructure were the combined efforts of brothers Faiz and Ali, whose family own the grand Jehan Numa Palace hotel in Bhopal. The twelve cottages in the heart of the forest are set around a pool and cruciform central building with library-lounge and airy dining room. Splashes of forest colours enliven the interiors of the low-slung cottages, which skilfully fuse five-star chic with earthy indigenous style.

The metre-thick walls have a coat of adobe on the outside and whitewash within, which sets off the traditional quilts, village rugs, Bastar bronze lampstands and chunky wood furniture to great effect. Village charpois (string beds) and easy chairs provide lounge space on the shady verandas, and if the heat gets too much there’s always the lodge’s exquisite pool, wrapped in greenery and offering plenty of shade as well as sunshine.

Our opinion

A stylish and comfortable wildlife experience.