The short answer
Pench Tree Lodge: what visitors should know first
Pick Pench Tree Lodge for a quiet stay on the Karmajhiri side, away from the busiest gate. Rates are premium, so confirm the tariff and permit arrangements directly with Pugdundee Safaris.
Useful facts
Pench Tree Lodge facts at a glance
- Location
- Sarahiri, Karmajhiri landscape, Seoni district
- Stay style
- Six tree houses and ten cottages on 40 acres
- Location trade-off
- Quiet, but farther from Turia
- Best suited to
- Quiet-minded couples and small families
- Operator
- Pugdundee Safaris
Why it matters
Why Pench Tree Lodge is worth your time
Many Pench lodges cluster near Turia. A lodge near Karmajhiri offers a different pace, with less traffic on the road and a quieter evening.
The lodge is the first property of Pugdundee Safaris in this part of the reserve, per Outlook Traveller, and its tree houses and hide give it a distinct character compared with tented camps.
Cost and distance are the main considerations. Tariffs are premium, and the lodge sits on the Karmajhiri side, so ask about road transfers from Nagpur and the typical early-morning drive to the gate.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Tree houses
Six tree houses on stilts among mahua trees.
- 02
Kipling Hide
An underground wildlife photography hide.
- 03
Local food
Produce from an organic garden and nearby villages.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Pench Tree Lodge sits on about 40 acres in Sarahiri, a small hamlet in the Karmajhiri landscape, around 20 minutes from the Karmajhiri gate by one recent account. The property has six tree houses on stilts among mahua trees and ten cottages.
It is known for the Kipling Hide, a below-ground wildlife photography hide, and for food sourced from an organic garden and nearby villages, as reported by Outlook Traveller.
It works well for travellers who want to be away from the busiest gate and prefer a smaller, quieter property. Confirm your gate, transfers and permit arrangements early, since distance to Turia is greater.
Before you commit, ask three questions: which gate your safaris will use, whether the tariff includes permits and guides, and which accommodation type suits your mobility. Tree houses are raised on stilts, so cottages are the easier choice for anyone who finds stairs tiring.
Plan with confidence
Before you book the room.
- Confirm the gate-to-lodge drive
- Ask about stairs for tree houses
- Check what the tariff includes
- Book permits early
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Sarahiri village, Karmajhiri landscape, Seoni district
- Time needed
- Two to three nights
- Best time
- Open season, roughly October to June; confirm with the lodge
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- Choose a cottage if stairs to the tree houses are a worry. Paths between units are on forest ground, so carry a torch at night.
- Tickets and access
- Guests-only; book direct with Pugdundee Safaris. Permits are arranged separately; ask what is included in the tariff.
Best for
Plan it with
Book with confidence
Check rates at Pench Tree Lodge
Compare room types, cancellation terms and breakfast before you book. Ask for a ground-floor or lift-access room if anyone finds stairs hard.
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Travelling with parents?
Choose a cottage if stairs to the tree houses are a worry. Paths between units are on forest ground, so carry a torch at night.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Which gate is closest?
Karmajhiri, about 20 minutes per recent reports; confirm with the lodge.
Who runs it?
Pugdundee Safaris.
Are there ground-level rooms?
Ten cottages are separate from the tree houses; ask which suits you.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
