Luxury Tents
INR 39,875/ NIGHT
Jamtara Wilderness Camp, Pench TR
10Madhya Pradesh, India
An exclusive luxury tented camp in the wild.
Set on the quieter edge of Pench Tiger Reserve, Jamtara Wilderness Camp offers an intimate safari experience shaped by open landscapes, restored grasslands, and a deep commitment to conservation.
Located close to Jamtara and Karmajhiri gates where there are a total of four lodges, Jamtara Wilderness Camp was the first luxury camp on this side of the national park. The camp occupies a unique position between forest, farmland, and seasonal watercourses, allowing guests to experience the wilderness with a sense of space and exclusivity.
Inspired by classic safari camps, its ten elevated tents and thoughtfully designed shared spaces blend understated comfort with with stunning interiors and a strong connection to the surrounding environment. Guided by his grandfather's conservation legacy, Amit Sankhala and his team of experienced naturalists have made Jamtara all about fostering a meaningful relationship with the landscapes, wildlife, and communities that define Pench.
Operational Period
Oct 1 to Jun 15
From
INR 39,875 / Night
Inclusive of Taxes
From
INR 39,875 / Night
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What you would love
Set amid restored grasslands where native trees and wild grasses thrive, and defined by just ten discreet tents far from crowded tourist zones, Jamtara Wilderness Camp embodies understated luxury by design. Every detail of the experience has been consciously shaped, choosing the quieter, more meaningful path. It is perfect for discerning wilderness lovers, slow travellers, couples seeking seclusion, and families eager to introduce children to the rhythms of the wild.
Your Stay at Jamtara Wilderness Camp, Pench TR, Madhya Pradesh
Each of the 10 elevated safari-style tents sits in isolation within its own space in the wilderness next to a dry river bed or an extension of the forest. With wide patios lead into spacious and comfortable living area with king or twin beds, a writing desk, lounge seating, subtle lighting, ample charging points. Interiors are spacious yet unadorned, with high canvas ceilings that allow cross-ventilation and let ambient forest sounds permeate the space.
En suite bathrooms are permanent, adjoining structures that ensure comfort while maintaining continuity with the tented aesthetic. Furnishings remain functional and understated, reinforcing the camp’s emphasis on presence rather than luxury display. Staying here means living at the threshold — between water and grassland, between observation and participation.
Perfectly RARE
Visit Jamtara village to step into a slower, simpler India. Cycle, walk, or ride a bullock cart through a farming community where corn is grown and jaggery is still made by hand, an evocative window into rural life and a photographer’s dream.
Destination
Set away from the crowded jungle roads of Pench, Jamtara Wilderness Camp offers rare access to one of Central India’s most vibrant ecosystems. Pench Tiger Reserve is marked by rolling terrain, teak forests, open grasslands, riverine belts, and abundant wildlife.
Named after the river that divides it north to south, the park allows quieter safaris from the Jamtara gate, with fewer vehicles and deeper immersion. The setting is open, breathable, and intimate — where wildlife movement is not a distant spectacle but lived proximity.
This is not a lodge inside dense forest, but a camp positioned at the meeting point of land and water. The forest is teak-dominated, interspersed with evergreen species and the striking ghost tree ( Sterculia urens) whose pale bark glows in moonlight. Pench is renowned for leopards, wild dogs, and a strong tiger population. Sightings may include sloth bears, sambars, gaur, wild boars, nilgai, civets, and a wide variety of birdlife.
Design and Concept
Located in northern Pench near Jamtara village, the camp enjoys exclusive access via the Jamtara gate, just two minutes away. Inspired by classic British jungle lodges, the camp blends heritage design with modern luxury.
A grand banyan at the entrance sets the tone—rooted, welcoming, timeless. Spread across 10 acres, the camp sits between buffer forest and farmland, dotted with teak, arjuna, and kusum trees, and crossed by a dry riverbed. Birds and insects provide the natural soundtrack.
The central lodge houses the lounge, library, pool, and dining space. Behind the scenes lie the staff quarters and organic kitchen garden. The tents rest along grasslands near the forest edge. Arrival is memorable—dirt tracks, a timber bridge, the banyan tree, and a warm welcome with chilled lemonade and cold towels signal both wilderness and indulgence.
Décor is understated yet distinctive—ochre, turquoise, green, and pink accents layered with storied furniture and reclaimed materials. Ship-deck flooring, vintage Supreme Court writing tables, and restored furnishings lend each tent a singular character.
The defining architectural gesture is restraint. Nothing blocks the horizon. Nothing interrupts the water’s presence. Shared spaces open outward, allowing the camp to feel porous rather than enclosed.
Know Your Host
Amit Sankhala carries a legacy rooted in Indian conservation. He is the grandson of Kailash Sankhala, the founder of Project Tiger, and the son of Pradeep Sankhala, who developed the Kanha and Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodges.
As Managing Director of Encounters Asia, Tiger Resorts Pvt. Ltd., and Jamtara Wilderness Camp, Amit brings decades of experience and deep field knowledge. His global wildlife journeys span Botswana’s Okavango Delta, Patagonia, the Arctic, Uganda, the Galápagos, and India’s high-altitude snow-leopard terrain.
Amit is also a trustee of Tiger Trust, supporting education, healthcare, legal action against wildlife crime, and rural outreach.
Camp operations are led by Kriti Patil, a seasoned professional with nearly 2 decades of experience in wildlife and luxury hospitality. Kriti is supported by naturalists Saket Shrouti, Hemant Kumar, and Pranad Patil.
Facilities
A central lounge and dining area overlooks the water of the swimming pool, encouraging shared moments of quiet observation between safaris. A stunning installation shaped as a peacock made of scrap metal looks down regally at the pool above the deck.
The layout prioritises openness and visibility, allowing wildlife encounters to unfold naturally. Facilities remain intentionally simple to maintain ecological balance.
Dining
The food experience at Jamtara is exceptional, blending the best of traditional and modern Indian kitchens. Breakfasts feature eggs made to order—especially their much-loved, near-perfect scrambled eggs—alongside sausages, marmite, grilled tomatoes, hash browns, and a selection of local nashta.
Lunch and dinner are predominantly Indian and largely vegetarian, guided by the kitchen’s commitment to fresh, seasonal, and locally sourced produce. The dinner settings are usually outdoors and sometimes set up in a secret spot under forest trees and lit by flaming torches.
Experience
The landscapes around the camp and within Pench National Park are rich with biodiversity. Guided explorations lead through varied habitats, offering sightings that range from resident birds to rare migratory species. Nature walks around the camp are highly recommended, revealing the beauty of Pench’s open, dry deciduous forests.
Unlike the denser jungles of Kanha and Bandhavgarh, Pench offers depth, visibility, and a more immersive sense of space.
An overnight stay on the Star Bed is a signature experience. Inspired by the elevated platforms villagers use to guard their crops, it places you under an open sky as the forest comes alive after dark. Fall asleep to the music of crickets, owls, frogs, and jackals, punctuated by the distant alarm calls of spotted deer signalling the presence of predators and of wilderness at its most elemental.
Conservationists shape every RARE lodge, and Jamtara visibly reflects this ethos. Its naturalists bring deep knowledge, warmth, and storytelling to every interaction, tailoring safaris, nature walks, and village experiences around each guest’s personal interests for a truly customised jungle journey. It suits those who want to see the forest as much as feel it – birders, nature lovers, slow travellers, and first-time safari-goers who prefer open landscapes and visibility over dense, closed jungles.
Writers, photographers, and quiet observers will appreciate the space Pench offers to pause, notice, and listen. It is also ideal for guests who enjoy thoughtful luxury – people who are comfortable trading constant activity for meaning, storytelling, and a strong sense of place. The Star Bed speaks to romantics and the gently adventurous, while the personalised guiding will resonate with guests who like experiences shaped around their curiosity rather than a fixed itinerary.
Explore Around
Karmajhiri and Jamtara Safari Experience
Enjoy scheduled 4x4 safaris through the Karmajhiri or Jamtara gates with Jamtara’s expert in-house naturalists, who bring the forest to life with deep knowledge and a lifelong connection to the land.
Explore Pench National Park
Explore Pench National Park, the forest that inspired The Jungle Book. Venture out in custom safari vehicles on morning and evening drives, offering the best chances to encounter tigers, leopards, wild dogs, and a rich diversity of birdlife in their natural habitat.
Night Safaris in the Wilderness
Discover the wilderness after dark on guided night safaris, offering an entirely different perspective of the forest. With expert local guides and focused spotlights, these drives reveal the secret lives of nocturnal creatures - civets, owls, and, with luck, the elusive leopard or a rare nocturnal hunt unfolding in the shadows.
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