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The Mela Kothi – Chambal
Safari Lodge - is an
oasis of calm and
tranquillity nestling in
the midst of a sprawling
35 acre heritage
plantation, surrounded
by family owned
farmland. The plantation
is part of a much larger
area that was used by
the Zamindars (feudal
Chieftains) of Jarar to
conduct their annual
cattle fair (Mela).
After
decades of neglect, the
Mela Kothi and its
grounds have been
lovingly restored. Ram
Pratap Singh and his
wife Anu have turned
their inheritance into a
charming eco-lodge,
where their nine year
old son Sumer is the
'chief
naturalist-in-charge'!
The
Mela Kothi now offers
two luxurious bedrooms,
a cosy sitting-room and
library and numerous
interesting verandahs
and courtyards to read,
reflect and relax.
(Find out more about our
conservation profile and
eco-friendly practices) |
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Our
Accommodation:
With an
eco-friendly
philosophy, the
Chambal Safari
Lodge combines
the natural
warmth of local
homes with the
comfort of
modern
amenities.
The Chambal
Safari lodge
offers twelve
rooms.
There are eight
independent
cottages with
private
verandahs in the
woodland around
the restored
Mela Kothi. The
twin bedded
en-suite rooms
are comfortable,
colourful, airy
and spacious.
Large windows
allow fresh air
and natural
light into the
rooms whilst the
sloping roofs
with canopies
add warmth and
charm.
The restored
Mela kothi has
two large
well-appointed
bedrooms with
front and rear
verandahs and
access to the
library across
the pebbled
courtyard. The
period furniture
and furnishings
bring alive the
stately grace of
this heritage
building and
provide a
tantalising
glimpse into an
earlier era.
There are two
small and cosy
bedrooms – a
twin and a
single - in the
restored Stables
nestling under
the
bougainvillea
creepers. |
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Electricity:
The Lodge is located on
a rural feeder line and
the electricity supply
canbe very erratic.
Generators deliver
complete back-up in the
mornings and evenings.
We provide torches,
candles and hurricane
lanterns in all the
rooms. |
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Water:
We have running hot and
cold water. There are
hot water geysers
installed in all the
bathrooms.
Our
water source at present
is deep bore wells at
220 ft and 440ft.
Although showers are
available in all the
bathrooms, we recommend
bucket baths, as an
average shower utilizes
over 100 liters of
water, whereas bucket
baths consume just 20
liters. |
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Our Meals:
The Lodge kitchens serve
authentic ‘home cooked’
meals with fresh
organically grown
ingredients. Most of the
produce is from our own
farms or procured
directly from the local
farmers. Our recipes
include local
specialties that have
been fine-tuned over
generations. |
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Our Team:
Our team members are a
highly motivated,
enthusiastic and
friendly group of people
from the local
community.
(Find out
more about us) |
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Our Resident Wildlife:
The sprawling grounds of
the Chambal Safari Lodge
are home to numerous
birds and small mammals.
Evening Nature Walks
around the Lodge, with
our resident Naturalist,
are the best time to go
looking for Palm Civet
Cats, Jungle Cats,
Foxes, Jungle Hares,
Fruit Bats, Hedgehogs
and the Indian Striped
Hyenas. With a checklist
of over 180 birds,
birding in the Lodge
grounds starts with the
‘wake-up call’ of the
Barbets & Babblers, and
continues through the
day with the birdsong of
the hornbills, koels and
treepies and well into
the evening with the
foraging fruits bats and
hooting owls.
(See our
Checklist) |
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Our Operating Season:
1st October to 30th
April
Temp/Climate:
The daytime temperatures
vary a great deal, but
it is usually warm in
the sun. The
temperatures dip around
mid-December, with the
onset of morning and
evening fog, and the
days and nights remain
quite cold till the end
of January.
The temperature ranges
between:
• Day:25-35 °C
Night:10-20 °C October,
November, February and
March
• Day:10-20 °C Night:
2-10 °C December and
January
• Day:25-35 °C
Night:15-25 °C April
Clothing and equipment:
We recommend all weather
walking shoes, jackets
and hats. We advice all
our guests to bring
pocket torches.
*Image of Civet Cats
courtesy Dhritiman
Mukherjee. |
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