ABOUT
The Sarai at Toria is an intimate, conservation-led lodge overlooking the Ken River near Madhya Pradesh’s Panna Tiger Reserve.
The Sarai at Toria is an intimate, conservation-led lodge overlooking the Ken River near Madhya Pradesh’s Panna Tiger Reserve. Eight spacious cottages, built from mud, stone, bamboo, grass and locally made tiles, combine traditional design with understated comfort. Solar power, home-grown produce and locally recruited staff reinforce its low-impact ethos. River excursions, birding, village walks and tiger safaris create a deeply personal introduction for guests to Panna’s wildlife, landscapes, rural communities and ancient cultural heritage.
Key Highlights
- Riverside setting – Peaceful views over the Ken River, surrounding grassland and the forested plateau of Panna Tiger Reserve.
- Intimate accommodation – Just eight spacious cottages, each with an en-suite bathroom, veranda and private courtyard.
- Conservation expertise – The lodge is owned and hosted by conservation biologist Dr Raghu Chundawat and wildlife photographer and conservationist Joanna Van Gruisen.
- Varied nature experiences – Activities include Panna safaris, birdwatching, river excursions, countryside walks, cycling and visits to nearby waterfalls.
- Thoughtful food and hospitality – Seasonal home-cooked meals feature produce from the garden and nearby markets, accompanied by warm, personalised service.
Seasonality
The lodge is best visited from October to March, when days are pleasant and Panna’s post-monsoon landscape is green. April to June is much hotter, but thinning vegetation and animals gathering near water can improve wildlife sightings. Core-zone safaris usually close during the July-to-September monsoon, although local experiences may continue.
Experience Types
DETAILS
ACCESS & LOGISTICS
The Sarai at Toria is approximately 20–30 minutes by road from Khajuraho Airport and Khajuraho Railway Station. The lodge can arrange private transfers from either. It is less than two kilometres from Panna Tiger Reserve’s Madla entrance. Road transfers take approximately two to three hours from Orchha or Jhansi and four to five hours from Bandhavgarh, depending on conditions.
CONSERVATION CREDENTIALS
CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS
The lodge’s owners founded Baavan to support wildlife conservation, environmental education and sustainable community development around Panna Tiger Reserve. The Sarai provides an economic base, expertise and practical support for the trust’s work.
SUPPORT PROVIDED
The Sarai at Toria was partly established to create a reliable economic base for Baavan’s conservation and community programmes. Income from the lodge helps its owners remain in the region and contribute funds, staff time, facilities and professional expertise..
CONSERVATION VISITS
Guests learn about Panna’s conservation challenges through conversations with the owners and naturalists, reserve safaris, river excursions, birdwatching and countryside walks. The lodge also introduces interested visitors to Baavan’s work, demonstrating how wildlife tourism can support education, livelihoods and conservation beyond protected-area boundaries.
Guided village walks, school visits and locally led experiences provide income and encourage respectful contact between visitors and neighbouring communities.
Purchasing crafts directly from participating artisans or through organised handicraft activities helps retain more tourism income within the area.
LOCAL EMPLOYMENT
The Sarai at Toria ensures that its staff are recruited from the surrounding community wherever possible. Local employment is central to the lodge’s aim of retaining tourism income in an agricultural area with limited formal job opportunities. Team members receive hospitality and natural-history experience while sharing their knowledge of local landscapes, traditions and rural life with guests.
COMMUNITY PROJECTS SUPPORTED
Through the Baavan Trust, The Sarai at Toria supports communities around Panna Tiger Reserve with nature education, school assistance, health and eye camps, women’s health initiatives and guide training. Projects have also included livestock improvement, waste-awareness programmes, litter clean-ups and wildlife monitoring. The Trust works with children, teachers, villagers and local organisations to improve livelihoods and education while building support for tigers, forests and wildlife beyond the reserve’s formal boundaries through long-term, locally led engagement.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Community and conservation visits should be arranged with The Sarai at Toria in advance. Guided countryside walks can include Toria village, local farms, temples, artisans and, when appropriate, a nearby school. Guests may also be introduced to Baavan’s work or current activities, depending on staff availability, community consent and project schedules.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
WATER MANAGEMENT
The Sarai at Toria avoids disposable water bottles, treating drinking water through an on-site four-stage reverse-osmosis system and serving it in reusable containers. Rainwater harvesting supplements its conservation approach, while guests are encouraged to use water carefully. The lodge’s small scale and seasonal operation also help limit demand on resources.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste is reduced through refillable drinking water, limited single-use plastics, reusable bathroom containers and planned set menus. Organic kitchen waste is composted for the lodge garden, while other materials are separated where local recycling routes permit. Natural cleaning products are used, and wastewater is filtered before returning to the ground.
FOOD SOURCING
Menus are shaped around seasonal, local and organic ingredients. Vegetables are bought from markets, while salads and herbs are grown in the lodge garden. Organic flour is sourced locally, and breads, biscuits, croissants and cakes are baked on site. Set menus help the kitchen plan accurately and minimise food waste.
ADDITIONAL INITIATIVES
The cottages were designed using mud, stone, locally made bricks and tiles, lime mortar, bamboo, grass and timber, with minimal concrete and steel. Thick earthen walls, natural ventilation and insulated roofs reduce the need for energy-intensive air conditioning.
The lodge originally operated entirely from a 10-kilowatt solar installation and now participates in Madhya Pradesh’s net-metering system. Low-wattage appliances and lighting further reduce electricity consumption, while traditional or biomass-based systems are used for some water heating.
CONSERVATION INSIGHT
NATURE & CONSERVATION IN THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE
Guests can explore Panna Tiger Reserve on guided jeep safaris, learning about tigers, leopards, sloth bears, ungulates, raptors and the reserve’s different habitats. Quiet boat excursions on the Ken River introduce its birdlife and crocodilians, while guided walks reveal grassland species, plants, insects, farming landscapes and village life.
Birdwatching is possible throughout the grounds, riverbank and surrounding fields. Conversations with the conservationist owners and local naturalists provide further insight into tiger research, wildlife tourism, community livelihoods and Baavan’s efforts to extend conservation beyond the reserve.
RELEVANT SPECIES
CONSERVATION THEMES
Other: RARE India, India Responsible Tourism Award Winner, TOFTigers
