Location: The Sarai at Toria is located only half an hour’s drive from Khajuraho. It lies on the banks of the River Ken, less than 2 kilometres from the entrance to the Panna Tiger Reserve at Madla. Khajuraho is well connected to major cities by road, rail and air.

We are just off the Jhansi-Satna national highway, a regular tourist route to and from other destinations such as Agra, Varanasi, Gwalior, Jhansi, Orchha and the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.

About Us: Sarai (or Serai) is an ancient Persian term for an inn and Toria is a nearby village; hence the Sarai at Toria. Welcome! The Sarai at Toria’s uniquely designed accommodation is situated on a beautiful riverside site, close to Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh, India. It can be a destination in itself, as the surrounding area is full of wonderful history and natural beauty, and it is also conveniently located to fit into a number of central Indian itineraries.

This luxurious but earth-friendly small retreat is envisaged as the founding component of a wider project that seeks to play a positive role in the economic and social development of the local area; we also see it as a base for conservation activities and for wildlife and climate change research.

Accommodation: The Sarai at Toria opens with 6 independent cottage rooms, each having attached bathrooms, verandas and private courtyards; we will later add a further 4 rooms. Four of the present six cottages are especially suitable for families, as we have included tucked-away mezzanine bed spaces that are great for children.

Facility: Keeping environmental concerns in mind, we have used minimal concrete and steel and sourced most of our materials locally - mud, stone, wood, brick, lime, tile, bamboo and grass. Our spacious cottages are fabricated in mud, with thatched roofs; we have combined traditional methods and modern architectural design to insulate them from the extremes of the outside climate. But the rustic mud exteriors hide elegant and contemporary interiors.

A large dining and lounge area is situated on the highest point of the land commanding magnificent views over the Ken River and towards the plateau of the Panna Tiger Reserve. This stone, wood and tile building, designed in an open style, is the perfect place to view sunrises and sunsets and generally to relax and enjoy the tranquil scenery. 

Activity: At 'home' we offer boat rides and fishing on the pristine Ken river, walks through the crop fields of the surrounding countryside and birding on site or at nearby forest and wetland areas. Lunch in the cool shade of a spreading neem tree or dine by candlelight under the stars.

A sample of tour destinations include:

Khajuraho – this world heritage site of 1000-year-old temples is well known for its magnificent sculptures.

Panna Tiger Reserve – the reserve encompasses a unique landscape of gorges and plateaus that provide important habitat for an abundance of central Indian dry forest species.

Rock paintings – see the ancient art of past civilisations along the escarpments of the Panna Tiger Reserve.

Waterfalls – some of these are historic and seasonally very dramatic.

Maheba/Dhubela – see the majestic Chhatris of the Bundela Maharaja, Chhatrasal (1649–1731) and his queens and explore the remaining ruins of his capital city. The Dhubela museum, situated in an old fort, contains sculptures and artefacts revealing more of the "historical enigma" of the Bundela kings.

Ajaygarh Fort – a rarely visited wonderful hilltop fort that has equally rich and even older temples and carvings than Khajuraho. These ruins are situated in dry forest, in a setting similar to how Khajuraho may have been when it was rediscovered.

Panna – a town with an interesting mix of architecture - ancient, Mughal, Bundela and even Palladian styles. There are several fascinating places to explore, ranging from modern temples to ancient cenotaphs.
 

How to get there:

By Flight: The nearest airport is Khajuraho, which is connected with Delhi (one hour 40 minutes via Varanasi) and Varanasi (40 minutes). Several major local airlines fly everyday to Khajuraho during the tourist season.

By Train: We are twenty minutes from the new Khajuraho railway station and about three and half hours from the busier Jhansi station. Jhansi is well connected by fast trains with all the major cities. There is a convenient over night train to Khajuraho from Delhi that runs three days a week and another also running three days a week from Varanasi via Allahabad to Khajuraho.

By Road: We are half an hour from Khajuraho and from Panna town, three and half hours’ drive from Jhansi and four to five hours’ drive from the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.

We are just off the NH75; if you have crossed the River Ken and Panna Tiger Reserve when driving east, you have just passed us! We are on the north / west bank of the Ken (on the Khajuraho side).

When driving from Varanasi or Bandhavgarh, after climbing down the ghats and crossing the river Ken, turn right at the white flags about a kilometre from the bridge. We are just another few yards ahead on the left at the end of the mohua tree-lined avenue.

Tariff:

Cottages:

This includes all meals, taxes and on site activities-