Central India Holidays
A Central India vacation with Scott Dunn offers untouched villages where traditional culture thrives, access to the best tiger safaris and lodges in India and gorgeous gastronomy tours of Mumbai.
- Tailor-made itineraries that tick all your boxes
- Tours and trips from award-winning travel experts
- 24/7 support from us before and during your vacation
- Unique experiences with local private guides
The state of Madhya Pradesh is the lost jewel of India – often left off many itineraries for being tricky to access – but if a safari in India is high on your bucket list, you can’t afford to miss it. With the countries best national parks and conservation efforts, wildlife thrives here with the Bengal tiger being especially prominent, as well as, elephants, sloth bears, and even a few elusive leopards.
Want to pair the jungle for a slice of India's cosmopolitan side? The home of Bollywood, Mumbai offers dramatic cityscapes intertwined with relics of the country's colonial past.
Our friendly and knowledgeable travel specialists have extensive experience in creating memorable Central India vacations. Let us know what your idea of luxury looks like today.
Why take a luxury vacation in Mumbai and Central India?
With Scott Dunn, you can enjoy a wildlife tour of India that features a whole lot more than the bare necessities. We'll take care of everything, from award-winning hotels and fine-dining restaurants to safari tours where private guides will help you lay eyes on the largest of the Big Cats.
A Bandhavgarh National Park safari or game drive in Kanha National Park offers the best chances of spotting a tiger.
Enjoy a Mumbai vacation and visit the home of Bollywood. Rub shoulders with stars of the silver screen and take in the latest blockbuster while you're there. The city is also one of the culinary centers of India; here, you can sample a wide range of delicacies, from street food favorites to gourmet restaurant experiences.
For a Mumbai tour with a difference, get a feel for the old 'Bombay' by visiting the city's colonial districts and seeing how this place pulsates to the rhythms of daily life.
Where to Visit on Central India Vacations
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Bandhavgarh National Park
The smallest of Central India’s National Parks, Bandhavgarh is located in Madhya Pradesh and is open from October to June. With 65sq miles of undulating forest, meadows and swamplands, its varied topography is home to a good population of Royal Bengal tigers, elephants, sloth bears and leopards, as well as deer, wild boar and antelope.
Morning and afternoon game drives take you into the grasslands and forests in search of the park’s inhabitants, tracking the tiger’s pugmarks and looking for telltale signs. The mighty Bandhavgarh Fort looks down imperiously, its impressive ruins forming a dramatic backdrop to the park’s natural beauty.
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Kanha National Park
It’s said that Rudyard Kipling was inspired to write The Jungle Book by tales of Kanha, and it’s not hard to imagine Mowgli running through the open meadows and swinging through the dense forests. Tigers, leopards and the rare hard-ground Barasingha (swamp deer) roam the park, along with pythons, cobras and 300 species of bird.
Driving through the early morning mists on a Kanha safari you may catch sight of a tiger ambling through the undergrowth, or a leopard stretched out on a branch. More common sightings include chital, gaur, common langur, wild pig, black buck, striped hyena, jackal, chinkara, and ant-eating pangolin.
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Mumbai
Mumbai is a city of extremes. Crumbling Victorian buildings stand proudly against the shimmering glass of the city’s high-rises while sprawling slums conceal a maze of resourceful livelihoods. The ‘Gateway to India’ is a worthy introduction to the rich tapestry of cultures, cuisines and heritage found throughout the country.
Whether you party all night in the home of Bollywood, dine at its world-class restaurants or shop till you drop in its stylish boutiques, this frenetic and fast-paced city will astound you with its energy. While it can be chaotic at times, Mumbai offers a snapshot of India’s future, while proudly embracing its past.
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Pench National Park
Just two hours from Nagpur in Madhya Pradesh, Pench National Park is one of the more accessible parks in Central India, though also one of the least visited. Named after the famed river that runs through it, Pench National Park is another location said to have inspired The Jungle Book, with tropical forests and grasslands that are home to tigers, sloth bears, leopards, jackals, chital and around 200 species of bird.
Explore the park in the crisp morning air with a jeep safari. Being a smaller park, tiger sightings may seem less common although they have around 50 tigers here. Pench safaris also offer lush teak forests and languid watering holes that are home to the endangered Indian wild dog, spotted deer, langur and wild boar for those wanting a more unique experience away from the tiger crowds.
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Satpura National Park
Taking its name from the Satpura Range in Madhya Pradesh, Satpura National Park is a rugged landscape of sandstone peaks, deep ravines and dense forest. This diverse terrain provides a home for an equally varied wildlife population, including nilgai, chinkara, four-horned antelope, porcupine and Indian giant squirrel.
One of the least visited of Central India’s parks, Satpura may not have the tiger populations of other destinations, but the low visitor numbers make it an excellent choice for exploring the extensive wildlife without the throng of jeeps. Your safari here can be done on foot, by boat or by jeep.
- Bandhavgarh National Park
- Kanha National Park
- Mumbai
- Pench National Park
- Satpura National Park
Hotels in Mumbai, Kanha National Park and Beyond
Whether you're looking for resorts in the Kanha tiger reserve or a hotel for a Bandhavgarh National Park safari, we can help.
Make the Treehouse Hideaway your base for a Bandhavgarh National Park trip. Camouflaged amid the branches, many of the area's natural wonders may simply come to you. When the city beckons, visit Mumbai's Taj Mahal Palace. Here you'll find 10 grand restaurants and a yacht service if you want to explore by the water.
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1 - 10 of 12 Hotels
Treehouse Hideaway
Bandhavgarh National Park, Central India, India
Camouflaged in the trees these five private thatched treehouses with rustic charm put you at the center of nature and are located at the edge of Bandhavgarh National Park. A perfect base for Tiger spotting and wildlife watching.
Shergarh Tented Camp
Kanha National Park, Central India, India
Shergarh is a small family-run camp of just six tasteful tents with en suite bathroom facilities, set apart for privacy, and in a young woodland around a picturesque lake. Shergarh is ideally located for the less busy Mukki gate of Kanha National Park.
Adventure Wildlife Couples Off the beaten track
Taj Pashan Garh
Panna, Central India, India
Set within the enchanting Panna National Park, Taj Pashan Garh offers a luxurious escape. This safari lodge, featuring 12 private stone cottages, blends the rugged charm of traditional Indian hunting lodges with the refined elegance of the Taj brand.
Wildlife Off the beaten track
The Leela Mumbai
Mumbai, Central India, India
The Leela Mumbai is located just five minutes from Mumbai's international airport in the commercial district towards the North of Mumbai. The hotel boasts all of the facilities and style that one would expect from this world class hotel group.
Couples
Banjaar Tola
Kanha National Park, Central India, India
Situated on the Banjaar River bank, Banjaar Tola overlooks the lush forests and grassy meadows of Kanha National Park. The latest addition to Taj's portfolio in Madhya Pradesh, the lodge has 18 contemporary tented suites and impeccable Taj service.
Wildlife Adventure Couples Off the beaten track
Flame of the Forest
Kanha National Park, Central India, India
Flame of the Forest is an intimate and boutique safari lodge of only four exclusive cottages nestled in a 10-acre campus in Kanha National Park - one of India’s original tiger reserves, and a premium location for viewing a whole array of Indian wildlife.
Couples Wildlife Adventure Off the beaten track
Jamtara Wilderness Camp
Pench National Park, Central India, India
Jamtara Wilderness Camp is a luxury tented camp which is located adjacent to Pench National Park in India. Jamtara provides a perfect wilderness retreat from which you can venture off on a tiger safari in Pench National Park.
Wildlife Couples
Reni Pani Jungle Lodge
Satpura National Park, Central India, India
Reni Pani Jungle Lodge is a 12 cottage lodge set 30-minutes away from Satpura National Park’s entrance over the Tewa Reservoir by boat. Each cottage is widely spaced apart in a woodland to give a peaceful and private atmosphere.
Wildlife Adventure Couples
Samode Safari Lodge
Bandhavgarh National Park, Central India, India
Samode Safari Lodge is a 12 cottage hotel on the edge of Bandhavgarh National Park. The cottages take inspiration from the architecture of the local villages and the lodge offers daily game drives with specially adapted vehicles and knowledgeable guides.
Couples Wildlife Adventure Off the beaten track
Taj Falaknuma Palace
Hyderabad, Central India, India
The Taj Falaknuma Palace has raised eyebrows after its delicate ten-year restoration. Exuding sheer opulence and regal splendour, the palace recreates the bygone lifestyles of the ruling Nizams and their stately visitors.
Culture Couples
Our team of India specialists are waiting to help you book your next adventure. Contact us today to start planning your personalized trip.
Central India Vacation FAQs
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The best time to visit Central India is during its winter season from October to March. The weather is ideal for sightseeing, wildlife safaris, and exploring historical sites. Temperatures will climb significantly from April to June, which can make for stifling days and difficult conditions for safari. June–September is the monsoon season and can make tiger sightings difficult as vegetation grows higher and provides them with extra cover.
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Our Wild India tour takes in the four major national parks of Central India over 14 nights. Of course, this itinerary is purely our suggestion, and you can amend your trip as you see fit. Discuss what you'd like to see and do with our travel specialists.
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Naturally, the search for tigers and other exotic wildlife is a staple of any luxury vacation in Central India. But there is so much more on offer in this fascinating region:
- Discover waterfalls and spiritual sites in Pachmarhi
- Take a tour of the home of Bollywood, Mumbai, and see how these legendary films are made
- Trek to Gwalior Fort, a Tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site that has stood in various forms since the Stone Age
- Visit the Khajuraho Group of Monuments, a collection of temples and famed erotic structures
There is no limit to what you can discover and explore in this magical region. With several areas that are far less traveled than other regions, a vacation in Central India truly offers a unique outlook on the nation.
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Plan Your Trip
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Why Choose Scott Dunn for Your Luxury India Vacation?
Unique to You
- We listen to your travel goals and craft unique trips that are personalized to you.
- We’re with you every step of your life’s travel journey, from honeymoons to family trips and beyond.
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- Global offices in the UK, US, and Singapore for 24/7 seamless service.
- We offer flexibility if your plans change so you can book with confidence and peace of mind.
Carefully Curated Collection
- We’ve curated an elevated collection of accommodation, experiences, and guides.
- Committed to fostering close global relationships to continue bringing you unique experiences.
Luxury in Every Sense
- We deliver a sense of luxury that matters most to you.
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Call us on 212 660 0228 to start planning your vacation
