Mela Kothi – The Chambal Safari Lodge

National Chambal Sanctuary

Uttar Pradesh

Ram Pratap Singh and his wife Anu have turned their run down inheritance, Mela Kothi, into a lovingly restored homely lodge nestled in 35 sprawling acres of scenic woodlands. Originally built as a mela or cattle fair camp in the late 1890s, the house and its stables now welcome you in style and comfort to the little known wilderness and cultural heart of the Chambal region. Combining the Rajput style of the old and the comforts of modern living, it has a range of bedroom suites and cottages with courtyards, verandas and even a library. You come together over food in the stable’s dining room or under the stars in a courtyard setting within the original homestead. It’s very much ‘your home away from home’.
  • With a team of trained naturalist guides, the lodge is able to offer several excursions designed to best discover the natural, cultural and historical attractions of the Chambal valley; including safaris by boat, jeep or camel, village walks, and temple visits to the site of an ancient cattle and horse fair that is larger in size than the Pushkar fair.
  • The lodge has 13 rooms, one large heritage room, two suites, a suite and a twin-bed room in the Bougan Serai, and eight cottages in the grounds surrounding the main house. Rooms have private sit-outs overlooking the woodland and fields.
  • Authentic home-cooked meals with local specialities are served, all made with fresh organically-grown ingredients from the lodge’s farm or procured directly from the local farmers. Relax in the evening with beer or a glass of wine. 
  • Closed from 1st May to 30th September.
  • Nearest airport - Agra (70 km) 
    Nearest railhead - Agra (70 km), Gwalior (140 km) 
    Nearest park gate - Nandgaon Ghat (17 km)
  • Children of all ages are welcome.
  • From £127 From price based on lowest category room per night. Enquire direct to get full range of pricing and to book.
  • In-house lodge naturalist
  • Credit cards accepted
  • Bikes
  • Wifi access

Further Information and Booking:


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National Chambal Sanctuary

As you glide quietly down the powering Chambal River, you are mesmerised by the deep ravines that envelope you on both sides, formed by continuous soil erosion of monsoonal floods over countless millennia. They form a maze of entwining cliffs of ancient mud and dry scrub forest – home to various species of mammals, reptiles and birds. National Chambal Sanctuary is named after the river, one of India’s cleanest and longest rivers and covers an area of 1,235 square kilometres. It was declar Read more>>

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