'Salban' is ideal for the independent traveller looking for eco-friendly accommodation set in the forest. It offers four rooms and all meals are served in-house. The hosts are Jhampan and Sheema Mookerjee, who enjoy meeting people from all over the world and sharing their knowledge of wildlife and the local culture.
I chanced upon Salban Home Stay almost by serendipity, just seeing the vibe of the place on the website was love at 1st sight. I stayed with my truly warm lovely host Jhamapan & Sheema on my extended solo trip post completing a yoga retreat. I was pampered silly with scrumptious meals laid out at their lovely indoor & outdoor settings so i could enjoy the weather & sounds of nature along with my host ensuring me company & lovely conversations. The flavours of their farm fresh herbs and tasty rice yet lingers in my mouth. I got pampered to some yumm Indian & World cuisine. Must warn you the food is so yummy that ur sure to over eat and how. The stay was very comfortable, The rooms are very well maintained & the staff ensures great housekeeping services. The host guided and also accompanied me to near by serene beautiful lakes & villages where i enjoyed long walks & simply sitting and soaking it all in. I totally enjoyed the pre dinner bonfire sit downs & conversations with the other guest too. The breakfast under the mahua tree was my favorite. The flora, fauna, butterflies & freshness that surrounds the beautiful home is so serene & healing. Their little pet dog is quite a delight to have around. They made sure of my comfort, conveyances & safety as a solo lady traveller. I'm sure to visit them again as it truly felt like home ! Absolutely must experience homestay ...
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Date of stay: February 2021
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A beautiful homestay in the buffer zone along the core forest of Kanha, owned and managed by people that practice sustainable living. Salban is a great escape from city life and a perfect base for those interested in safari rides. Their eco-friendly rooms (that are built to let in natural light and ventilation) offer the luxury/independence of a hotel stay, along with the comfort of a family home.
The property is owned and managed by Sheema and Jhampan, a warm and fun couple, who ensure you are well fed and looked after through the stay. Sheema is a master planner and has an amazing menu planned (in consultation with the guests) for each day. The fantastic food is cooked either by Sheema and Jhampan themselves, or by locals that they have skilled up. Ingredients are mostly local produce, some of which is grown on the property. This includes an interesting giant lemon variety brought over from Ladakh, and flowers from the local mahua tree that are used to make a yummy treacle (must try!).
Sheema and Jhampan (who is a naturalist) have a deep knowledge of the forest and some amazing stories to share of the wild that add much excitement to the evening fireside chats. The property itself is a mini forest, for those not wanting to go on Safari. It is also child friendly – our 6-year-old enjoyed exploring the place, a lake nearby, picking oranges and lemons from the orchard, and observing a wide variety of spiders, worms, butterflies, and little insects.
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Date of stay: October 2020
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Visited this lovely home in October, 2022, with my parents, uncle and aunt. Every part of the trip was made comfortable for us, right from the home / airport pick ups, to thoughtfully provided hampers for the safari, fresh roasted and brewed coffee at all hours of the day, filling and imaginative meals every single day, and most certainly not the least, the scintillating and warm conversations courtesy the hosts. Sheema and Jhampan, our hosts, seem to genuinely enjoy company, and that is difficult to top when it comes to customer service and customer care. Built on a fairly large acreage, the main lodge houses multiple dining venues, guest rooms, library, den and kitchen. A lawn strewn with fire pits, tall trees, lotus ponds and budding gardens separate the main lodge from the guest cottages, providing privacy as well as making the best use of space. Fresh linen, clean rooms, spacious bathrooms with hot water aside, the behind the scenes turn down service and frequent cleaning of the entire place is a wonderful additional reason for a return trip. The safaris will be well planned, and as many as you can accommodate on your trip. The drivers and guides are friendly and knowledgeable, with lots of little anecdotes to fill in the silence, as one waits for the elusive beautiful cats. Do visit and enjoy the special hospitality this family offers. You won’t regret it.
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Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Carry warm clothes, the forest and morning safaris always get chilly.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sheema Mookherjee, Owner at Salban - the Kanha Homestay
Responded 31 Oct 2022
Thanks for the brilliant review! Come again!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
After a long flight from the UK, and busy week in incredible but hectic Delhi, two nights back at Salban was a salve for the soul. In anticipation of our arrival, mouth-watering regional dishes were meticulously assembled incorporating fresh ingredients grown right there on the property (trying the Mahua in all its forms - from cookies to liquor is a must!). Nestled snuggly into surrounding trees, the homely guest rooms are a thoughtfully stylised haven. As if the relaxing sleep at Salban was not reward enough, it was also the perfect launch pad for an early safari into Kanha National Park the next morning (fingers were firmly crossed for tiger and duly rewarded with an excellent sighting right before the park gates shut). If wildlife is your thing, the safari continues back at Salban where Jhampan can name and regale you with the life history of anything you encounter – be it animal, vegetable, or mineral.
Authentic and charming in equal measure, whether you are first timer to India or old hand, a homestay at Salban is an experience to savour.
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Date of stay: June 2022
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Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bidding farewell to Sheema and Jhampan felt like taking leave of friends we had been visiting. They are an incredibly well read, accomplished, welcoming and down to earth couple. Salban is a beautiful property located in the buffer zone of Kanha; very well managed and maintained by Sheema & Jhampan who are assisted by their able and attentive staff (Komal, Naveen, Manu, Bijen & Ravi). We stayed in a comfortable, well appointed cottage a few steps away from the main house and flanked by a sal forest. The staff did a fantastic job with housekeeping. Meals were invariably a gastronomical delight; Continental and Indian, including Bengali delicacies like mustard fish, malai prawn curry, eggplant fry). Jhampan would whip up a special dish every evening; a special gruel with chicken, mutton pulao, roast chicken, frittata with bacon. Sheema also baked us a yummy carrot cake with condensed milk and salted caramel icing for our 20th wedding anniversary which we cut during dinner after drinks by a cosy bonfire. That morning was special too as we had breakfast under the mahua tree in their courtyard. We went on 2 safaris which were very well organised by Sheema and Jhampan, including blankets for the cold and ponchos for rain. We even got to have a picnic type breakfast in the forest break out area during the morning safari. Jhampan accompanied us on both safaris and Sheema came on one. We were lucky to land up at the house of the man who was instrumental in setting up the 2 mahua distilleries (both owned & managed by self help tribal groups) in the state and got to sample this wonderful indigenous liquor. The icing on the cake was the visit to the Mahulo distilerry (about 2.5 hours one way from Salban) which Jhampan was kind enough to take us to on our last day there. Salban was a gem we discovered after reading an article online and I can't wait to go back; maybe in summer when the mahua tree is in bloom.
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Date of stay: December 2023
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We enjoyed a 5-night stay at Salban with family and friends. The house & the property are even more beautiful than the photographs suggest. Each room is tastefully designed, and yet exudes warmth and comfort. But what made our stay truly memorable was Sheema & Jhampan's hospitality. They are remarkable hosts who take care of everything one needs and more. The safari arrangements were impeccable. Every meal was a delight. The bonfire and the outdoor breakfast are particularly worth calling out. We would love to go back, and would highly recommend Salban to anyone planning a visit to Kanha.
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Date of stay: November 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our stay here was fabulous. Our hosts, Jhampan and Sheema were great company and their staff looked after us so well. Everyone went to great lentths to ensure our stay was perfect in every way.
We stayed in a garden cottage, and ate with our hosts and other guests. The food was exceptionally good - we were served something different at every meal with a variety of choices. Sheema described this as Indian home cooked food, it was tasty but not spicy hot and fresh from local markets or their garden. Absolutely my favourite food of the whole of our extensive India trip because of the freshness and variety.
Jhampan took us on a walk around the local area and to the nearby lake when we arrived. The property borders on the core zone of the Tiger reserve (although it’s fenced off so you’re quite safe). I would have liked more time in the lovely homestay, but we had booked ourselves onto twice daily safari's in nearby Kanha Tiger Reserve.
The Salban doesn’t have its own safari vehicle they had booked us the same driver (whom they knew) for all of our drives which was great as we got to know him too. Either Jhampan or Sheema accompanied us on every game drive.
We will definitely return to the Salban - it's at the top of our favourite lists now!
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Date of stay: October 2023
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:great location for visiting Kanha Tiger Reserve
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Located 20-25 minutes from the Mukki gate of Kanha National Park, Salban is the perfect base to explore this side of Kanha NP. The owners Jhampan and Sheema live on the property (it's their permanent home). They are outstanding hosts and make you feel right at "home". The property itself is quite large and a nice place to wander around. The core zone of the National Park adjoins the property (there's a fence erected by the forest department). In the morning I could hear clear barking deer and langur alarm calls signalling presence of a big cat, possibly a tiger. Jhampan grows various crops on the property including wheat, tomatoes, rice, bananas and different herbs. There is a picturesque lake nearby which can be a nice leasurely morning or evening walk. Talking about the homestay itself, there are 4 rooms. 2 are in the main house (ground and first floor) and 2 in a cottage built a little distance away from the main house. The rooms remain cool even during heat of the day as they have been built with traditional techniques (mud and balaghat tiles in the roof). Last but not the least is the food. Food is exceptional. There no other word to describe it. The biggest surprise for us was mulberries from a bush in their garden. They were most delicious mulberries I have ever eaten. Between me and Harshada (wife) we finished a big bowl in no time! All in all, I would highly recommend Salban.
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Date of stay: March 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Being a family that values freedom during vacations, we generally avoid travel agents, packaged deals, homestays and airbnbs. So, when a strong recommendation came to us from a good friend, it is with some skepticism and trepidation that we made the decision on a homestay as a means to visiting the Kanha forest reserve at MP. As mentioned to Faiza multiple times, this was the easiest and fastest vacation I have ever booked. The exact flights were recommended by her and other than booking the flight tickets online there was little else we needed to do! The rest, which included the pick up and drop from and to the Raipur airport was completely taken care of by the Mookerjhees. The Salban which the Mookerjhees have made their home for the last decade or so, is as rustic and exciting as it gets, being nestled in the wooded areas surrounding the Kanha jungles and we were more than happy to have spent a few nights at this wildlife lover’s dream home. The nights, in the spacious “Tiger” room lined with wooden beams on their sloping roofs, were filled with sounds of jackals and owls, each attempting to outdo the other in their decibel levels. Slumber however, after a hard day’s safari and active jungle walks, was always still and peaceful. Special mention must be made of the cuisine and service levels at the Salban. Sheema strove to outdo herself each time in both the menu and the service levels. Whether it was dinner indoors or lunch at their balcony front or drinks and music by the fire, each experience was something worth remembering forever! Similarly, the ever-varying cuisine, the pendulum of which swung wildly from North Indian to Continental to even South Indian, as experienced by us on Pongal day, was a treat to the palate. The jeep safaris were exciting and tiring at once, as hoards of tourists in open jeeps, starting at the crack of dawn made forays into the 940 sqkm forest, in search of that elusive tiger! The jeeps were normally packed with tourists ranging from wildlife experts to hobbyists to sportive early risers to the habitual somnambulists! Jhampan and Faiza did a fantastic job of navigating the complex logistics of park tickets, ids and our places in the queue! Btw, the samosa and tea at the park restaurant is something to die for😊 We returned after a satisfying five days spent in self-exiled detoxification, rejuvenation, and yes weight gain as well! We are happy to note that we arrived skeptical but departed ecstatic!
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Date of stay: January 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
After many days on cycles and in a tent, what a refuge of calm and culture. Fabulous hospitality, very comfortable rooms , delicious food ,great service and hosts really helpful with both local guidance and wider travel advice . Very highly recommended
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Date of stay: November 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Kanha National Park area.
LOCATION
IndiaMadhya PradeshKanha National Park
NUMBER OF ROOMS
4
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