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Pakistan Karakoram Highway Expedition
Pakistan
The Sarai at Toria is a small, charming safari lodge, set on the banks of the Ken River, just outside Panna Tiger Reserve. The property is owned and operated by Dr Raghu Chundawat and his wife Joanna Van Gruisen, who have visions for conservation and a passion for wildlife. Accordingly, they hired Eugene Pandala, an Indian architect known for his nature friendly design, who incorporated regional architecture and building style to build an eco-friendly lodge with a local character.
Spread over nine acres of undulating land between the river and a Sal forest, Sarai at Toria offers just eight independent cottages. All are spacious in size, fabricated in mud with thatched roofs. Inside, the décor is minimal and traditional in style; high open-beamed ceilings, polished floors and hand-crafted furniture. Outdoor veranda with comfortable chairs look out over an undulated ground onto a small forest patch, visited by local animals and a wide variety of birds.
There is a large sitting area in Sarai at Toria, with comfy sofas and dining area where delicious meals, based on a rotating seasonal menu are served. Activities at the lodge include daily two game drives to Panna National Park in search of a tiger and wildlife. Other activities include boat trips up the river, village walks and bird watching tours to nearby wetlands. In the surrounds are historical sites of Ajaygarh Fort, Khajuraho temples, Rajgarh castle, and temples of Ajaygarh.
Amenities
24hr Room ServiceBar/PubCoffee ShopConciergeMultilingual StaffOutdoor PoolRestaurantSafety Deposit BoxesSpa/SaunaWi-Fi AvailableYoga Classes/Instruction On SiteStay The Sarai at Toria features just 8 eight pastoral cottages. All are spacious in size, fabricated in mud with thatched roofs, and designed in traditional style. Each whitewashed cottage is furnished with twin or king-size beds, local handcrafted furniture and large windows. While private porches and courtyards are finished in different rustic oxide shades. The aesthetic detailing, and meticulous attention to comfort and come with spacious bathrooms with modern facilities.
ChildCare Families with children are welcome to stay at Sarai at Toria. Four of the cottages have mezzanine floors with beds that are ideal for families. There are no specific facilities available for children but staff and restaurant is flexible with menu and timings.
Dine Dining at Sarai at Toria is gourmet affair supervised by Raghu and his team of local chefs. Expect freshly baked croissants and bread for breakfast with fruits, juices, yoghurt and eggs to order. Those going on game drives can take a picnic which is served with hot tea. Lunch is served under the shade of a ficus tree and dinner is by candle light under a star-lit sky. The menu is a mix of home-style Indian dishes and western favourites. There is a bar offering a range of Indian and imported spirits.
Relax There is a large sitting room with comfy sofas and a library at Sarai at Toria, which is a good place to relax. Alternatively, you can relax on a charpoy near a sandy patch by the river. Most guests prefer an afternoon siesta under a shade of tree with fresh air to cool or cool off with a swim in the river.
Experience Guests at the Sarai at Toria can enjoy two daily game drives into the Panna National Park. Among the animals found here are the tiger, leopard, nilgai, sambhar and sloth bear. One day, explore the rarely visited but wonderful hilltop Ajaygarh Fort with temples even older than the nearby Khajuraho temples. Back at the lodge, a boat tour over the Ken river is an excellent way to get to know this part of Bundelkund and for birdwatching at nearby wetland areas.
Location Sarai at Toria lies on the banks of the River Ken, less than 2 kilometres from the entrance to the Panna Tiger Reserve at Madla.
Getting there The nearest airport is Khajuraho which is only an half an hour from Sarai at Toria. Sarai at Toria is also only 20-minutes from the new Khajuraho railway station.
When to go The best time to visit Panna Tiger Reserve is between November and May. If you can tackle the hot tropical climate, visit between March and May. Between November and January, the climate is mild and there are a lot of birds. We recommend visiting during the month of March when there are good chances to see a variety of wildlife species that the Panna National Park boasts of.
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