Wildlife, luxurious sustainable construction, and authentic regional cuisine are making the recently opened Waghoba Eco Lodge, the new wilderness destination. Nestled in the raw wilderness of Tadoba, the lodge lies near Tadoba Tiger Reserve, which is a popular weekend getaway for wildlife lovers from Maharashtra, Gujarat & Hyderabad.
Each of the 14 sensitively appointed private cottages have been created keeping elements of sustainability and comfort, meticulously in sync with each other. The spacious single-room cottages draw on the modesty of eco-friendly construction, with the sophistication of comfort infused in every element while complementing the local craftsmanship.
Spread out in a forested campus giving the discerning traveler privacy, every cottage has an attached modern bathroom with w/c, hot and cold water, double vanities, and a large luggage area. The highlights of the room include handcrafted teak furniture including a writing table with a chair, a deck area, and a large day bed.
The linen used is 100% organic cotton and the upholstery has been exclusively made with soft linen fabric. Handmade Adobe bricks, Guna vault roof tiles, half stone, and broken ceramics lend it a rustic yet deluxe look and at the same time bring down the ambient temperature in the harsh heat of Tadoba, making for a very comfortable stay.
At Waghoba Eco Lodge, a north-east-facing bird hide has been thoughtfully crafted overlooking a small, all-season water body, with morning and evening light falling perfectly on the subjects. The hide has a stunning backdrop of small forested hillocks and also offers an opportunity to capture reflections of subjects in the water.
The perches are carefully designed to accommodate birds with different morphologies, weights, and behaviors. Keeping the comfort in mind, chairs, sofa and a coffee set up has been created to let photographers spend long hours inside the hide & special windows with easy wooden counters are available to enable the shoot at an eye level.
To accentuate the bespoke elements, a large shaded pool with a nice sun deck has been created to let guests enjoy the mild winters of Tadoba & give guests an option to relax and rejuvenate between safaris, in extremely hot summers. A nature library & lounge area with a hill view, lets guests get a change from the otherwise flat terrain of the region gives them an amazing sense of vastness.
At Waghoba Eco Lodge, the rich culinary repertoire is a wholesome experience that takes its guests on a gastronomical journey. The food menu has been expertly crafted to not just include traditional flavors of Varadhi, Maharashtrian & Hyderabadi thali but also lends a unique opportunity to pique the palate with the most authentic international delicacies.
To experience great wilderness in October lends moody magic to the neighboring Tadoba forest, where wildlife enthusiasts can wander on a well-marked trail to explore the bountiful wonders of nature & wildlife.
Talking about the newest lodge, Manav Khanduja, Founder Pugdundee Safaris said, “In the last few years Tadoba has emerged amongst the top parks in India. This is a result of the immense conservation efforts, rise in wildlife population & innovative tourism development. Moreover, this seemed to us like a natural extension to our existing wildlife circuit, as Tadoba connects well with Pench & Satpura and makes Pugdundee Safaris cover the entire Central Indian Highland landscape. Additionally, we have also committed to having a 50:50 men women staff ratio for our Waghoba Eco Lodge to meet our long-term vision of breaking the stereotype of jungle lodges, being run only by men.”
He further added, “Traditionally our focus has been more on guests looking for a pure wilderness experience from India and abroad. Covid has changed these dynamics completely and we have to adapt to the changing times, by establishing ourselves as a safe travel partner for our guests. We are now also focusing on guests looking for a quiet weekend break or just spending time in nature, who are willing to take a break from their mundane daily routine, to find some peace amidst the jungles of India.”
Hospitality and tailor-made experience at Waghoba Eco Lodge, just like the other properties of Pugdundee Safaris, begins even before the arrival. A friendly guest relations team executive helps you craft a personalized itinerary, making sure all your dietary & other stay-related requests are taken care of. Strict Covid protocols have been put in place to make sure the safety of guests takes priority over everything else.
Packages starting from INR 18,500, which includes three meals a day are offered with a zero charge reschedule facility available before 7 days of travel. Additional bespoke experiences include exploring the jungle safari – morning, evening & night, boat safari, bird watching, cycling & foot trail.
