Absolutely loved my stay at Sarai at Toria, most gorgeous minimalist property ! The ken river- adds to it all ! The hosts Raghu and Joanna are the nicest, and the knowledge they have, loved the discussions with them !! and what Excellent food !
The best stay in panna tiger reserve it is amazingly good in all aspects starting from connectivity ,Hospitality, cleanliness,food which was extremely good and homely and their activities which they offered was excellent overall it was overjoyed experience
This is a fabulous boutique hotel. It's very unobtrusive and does not even have a board announcing where it is. Only after you get in do you realise what an excellent property the owners, Raghu and Joanna have created. The rooms are superb with an amazing attention to detail in every aspect. The food - we had some excellent meals. Here is a description of one of them. We had a delicious lunch served outdoors near their vegetable garden under a shady tree. Beetroot soup, greek salad, an aubergine dish the like of which i have not tasted before, gnocchi with pesto followed by a campari pana cotta. The food here is outstanding! The service is also impeccable with a well trained staff who are always smiling. We loved it and are sure to return!
after a first visit in April 2019 it was really great to meet the owners, Raghu and Joanna again. They are amazing hosts. The cottages are spacious and comfortable. The food is very good and authentic and some desserts are fabulous ( thanks Raghu!! ) I thoroughly enjoyed the safaris in the beautiful Panna Tiger Reserve.
Even in a crowded itinerary, it is worth making time when in India to visit a Tiger Reserve. If you only have time for one, The Sarai at Toria would be a fabulous choice. It is an oasis of calmness and serenity, beautifully located on the banks of the River Ken looking across to the hills of the Panna reserve. It's not far from the stunning Khajuraho temples and the nearby airport, so easy to fit into a wider tour The accommodation at The Sarai is welcoming and comfortable, surrounded by a wooded landscape that is alive with birds and butterflies. The food is of a very high standard and staff here are friendly and always on hand to help if needed What really marks The Sarai out however is the chance to meet the owners, Raghu and Joanna. Both are renowned conservationists as well as being excellent hosts. Talking to them around the fire in the evening really helps to understand and bring to life the the environment of Panna, the great successes of the conservation movement in India and the undoubted challenges that the natural world currently faces. This knowledge also translates into the excellence of the naturalists that accompany your forays into the Tiger Reserve. We enjoyed three tiger sightings and a very close up view of a leopard in our days here and found the naturalists to be the best that we encountered. We have nothing but praise for this marvellous place and hope to return one day…
Unbelievably beautiful place managed by Raghu and Joanna. This small jungle resort on Ken River is unique. Extremely eco friendly. Besides the owners, the whole staff is so friendly and helping. The food which is personally supervsed by Raghu is so good. The location is perfect. Within 50km radius you can have one day excursions to Khajuraho, Ranhe Water Falls, Panna Tiger Reserve.
We stayed at Serai at Toria for 3 nights and had booked 5 safari trips. Our guide therefore took us to 5 different areas of the park. The vegetation in each was quite different. We were very lucky that we saw a tiger on every trip, but apart from them there were lots of other wildlife such as boars, nilgai, bears, leopard, a variety of deer, monkeys, etc. Our stay at the lodge was very comfortable. Lunches were outside and dinners in the main building. The food was good home cooking and varied. We hope to be back at some point. This was our tenth visit to an Indian wildlife park and certainly one of the best.
I stayed here end of March 2022 with my husband and I am speechless about the beauty of the place. Completely eco-friendly, the mud huts have thick walls that keep out the heat. I was taken aback by how cool it is inside the room. The rooms are so tastefully done and it's clear that a lot of love and attention to detail has gone into it. Run by wildlife conservationist Raghu chandawat and his wife Johanna, this is a must stay for those who like to be far away from the crowd, stay in a quiet but tastefully done place, and interact with a small eclectic crowd.
A paradise in panna: Stunning location, delicious farm to table food, gorgeous old world rooms and it is right next to the national park. The view and sound of the Ken River while you laze/work/read is so, so soothing. Everything is eco conscious and the attention to (literally every) detail is a bit mind boggling! But it's most unique and special feature are Joanna and Raghu who are your hosts. Knowledgeable, generous and so attentive. Could've stayed another whole week honestly.thank you for a magic time.
This is the kind of place you could stay for days- and not get bored. And discover new corners and hidden little details that have obviously been thought of with SO MUCH LOVE and care. One moment I turned to discover a double sided wardrobe(GENIUS!) encased in pakistani mashroo curtains, and in another moment I found myself doing yoga next to a beautiful silk chanderi curtain with the tiniest little booties you could have gone days without noticing. The food was incredible, and simple and you really felt spoilt after every meal. Piyush and his team took such care of us that my rotis were never without a good dollop of butter. Breakfast(on days you dont venture into the park) is on this beautiful long table in the lawns overlooking the river, and lunch was served in the vegetable patch, only a few metres away but an entirely different experience. Joanna and Raghu who run the place are so integrated into the community, they know two boatmen who now work permanently for Sarai's guests and recognise every species of bird you will spot on your little boat ride- complete with fantastic cushion upholstery. <3 But what I will never forget is the careful choice of cosmetics and the sweet tea station in our room- filled with only the most wonderful teas and coffee for any kind of craving. PS: I still miss their shampoo.…
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