Things to do in India

Singinawa Jungle Lodge: where the tigers roam

I love that incredible moment when people lay eyes on their first tiger…

By Deepankar Mukherjee

General Manager at Singinawa Jungle Lodge

We’re right in the heart of India adjoining Kanha, a very old and particularly beautiful tiger reserve. What makes Singinawa stand out is that we offer an experience similar to an African safari lodge. You explore the jungle in a sustainable way and there’s a lot of personalisation – for example you have your own jeep when out on safari.

Other than its population of tigers, the reserve is known for its huge sal trees and vast grasslands at their most picturesque during winter with the golden light and hanging mist. I love it when people come here for the first time and see their first tiger. It’s that incredible moment when this majestic animal appears right in front of you sometimes even closer than 10 feet away.

Close to the reserve, we have twelve cottages and two bungalows set within 110-acre grounds. Every cottage uses locally sourced stone and is adorned with one of Kanha’s residential animals like tiger, sambar, barasingha and leopard. The bungalows are ideal for groups or families who get picked up for their safaris right from the doorstep. It feels like you’re staying in your own home.

When you’re not on safari, we have a lovely spa and a tree-shaded swimming pool from where grey coloured langur monkeys sometimes come to drink. There are plenty of places to dine but the bush dinners in the boma are quite special offering a traditional Indian barbecue with meat and locally picked vegetables flavoured in a wood fired stove. We also set up dinners under a large banyan tree decorated with hanging lanterns and candles. It’s called the Leopard Rock because it has these large sandstone rocks jutting out of the ground. Wherever you are in the property you feel like you’re pretty much in the middle of a forest.

Available in these itineraries…

Itinerary

In Search of the Bengal Tiger
by Malcolm Holcroft

Length13 Days

Price rangefrom £4,095pp

Alfred & Deepankar Mukherjee

As a defence officer’s son, Deepanker spent his childhood in air force stations outside the cities, wandering jungles and exploring wildlife. This ignited a love for nature that later brought him back to the wilderness after spending 18 years in advertising. He spent five years managing a lodge in Satpura before travelling to Kanha in what he calls ‘a pursuit of happiness’. When he’s not striving to create the best guest experiences, you’ll find him chatting to the locals and the forest department about conservation or roaming the jungle photographing birds.

Deepanker Mukherji, General Manager at Singinawa Lodge

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Malcolm Holcroft

Travel Expert for Alfred&
Sharath Kumar

Kathakali Maestro

Sharath began learning the classical dance of bharatnatyam at the tender age of 5 and his kathakali journey began soon after. He has had the privilege of working with several great maestros and has competed in various festivals winning many prizes. He represented India in the World Youth Festival held in Havana in 1978 as India’s youngest cultural ambassador and has travelled the world performing to audiences including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and former American Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.
Ishwar Dewani

Tie dye guru

Ishwar Dewani is an expert in the art of Banhani, tie dye, in his hometown of Jodhpur. The tradition was passed down to Ishwar from his grandfather and he still follows their original techniques today, yet with additional colours and designs. Ishwar loves sharing his passion for tie dye through workshops and owns a small boutique store where he sells his colourful clothes.
Chandra Kala Purohit

Cook and host

Chandra Kala Purohit lives in Jodhpur with her husband Lalit, a former tour guide who loved to invite visitors in for tea – which is how the Blue House cooking classes began. An accomplished chef, Chandra learnt her skills from her mother and grandmother, later passing them down to her own daughter. Chandra loves hosting guests in her home and teaching them how to make authentic Rajasthani food.
Ritu Kalra

Founder of Old Delhi Rickshaw Tours, Alfred&'s partner in India

Growing up, Ritu Kalra would visit her grandparents’ Mughal-era haveli in Old Delhi and was fascinated by their stories of the city. After graduating from Delhi University, Ritu worked in the financial industry for many years before launching her passion project in 2010: When in India Tours. Ritu lives in Delhi with her husband and son and is a travel freak who loves cooking, yoga and showcasing her hometown to travellers.
Rajeev Goyal

Co-founder of Delhi Photo Tour, Alfred&'s partner in India

A chef by profession, Rajeev Goyal co-founded Delhi Photo Tour in 2010, the first company of its kind in the city. Rajeev loves to share his passion for photography with guests, helping them capture unique images of everyday life in Delhi. Rajeev specialises in portrait photography and is an expert in framing, lighting and determining advanced shutter and lens settings.