Central India

This collection covers the tiger heartland of Madhya Pradesh and the rock-cut caves of the Deccan. It runs from the sal forests and open meadows of Kanha and Bandhavgarh to the painted and chiselled hillsides of Ajanta and Ellora in Maharashtra, two halves of the same overland region that reward being seen together.

What makes it distinct is the contrast held in one journey. Mornings are spent tracking wildlife across grassland and forest, where a tiger may or may not appear; other days are given to caves cut and painted by hand over several centuries, among the most accomplished works of early Indian art and architecture. Few parts of the country place living wilderness and ancient craftsmanship this close to one another.

The range suits travellers who want more than a single note. It works for wildlife photographers and first-time safari-goers, for those drawn to Buddhist, Hindu and Jain art, and for families willing to trade some comfort for early starts. Expect long forest drives, unhurried afternoons and a pace set by park timings rather than a checklist.

What you’ll find

• Tiger reserves and forest lodges
• Jeep safaris in the core and buffer zones of Kanha and Bandhavgarh, guided by trained naturalists
• The rock-cut caves of Ajanta, known for their surviving murals, and Ellora, known for its carved temples
• Comfortable forest lodges close to park gates, from simple to genuinely refined
• Birdlife, deer, langur and the wider cast of the sal forest, sightings that never depend on the tiger
• Slow overland stretches through rural Madhya Pradesh and northern Maharashtra
• Regional food, local guides and the option to build in a heritage stop such as Nagpur or Jabalpur

When to go. The tiger reserves run broadly from October to June, with the cooler months best for comfort and the hot pre-monsoon weeks often best for sightings around water. Core zones close during the monsoon, roughly July to September, when access is limited to buffer areas. The caves are most comfortable from November to February, when the Deccan heat is milder, and are best avoided in the deep summer. A trip that combines both is easiest in the shared window from November to March.