Churna Madhai Tour – Satpura National Park

About Satpura National Park

The Landscape of Madhai

Satpura National Park is more renowned for the elusive Leopards, sloth bears and the enigmatic Central Indian Giant Squirrel The tiger population in Satpura National Park is healthy, although chances of sightings are relatively lesser than the other National Parks of Madhya Pradesh like Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench and Panna.

The big 5 of Satpura are the Tiger, Leopard, Sloth bear, Indian Gaur and the Indian Giant Squirrels along with fresh water crocodiles whose sightings are eminent.

All five roam freely in this blissful forest.

This is one of the only parks which offers multiple activities unlike the others, the most surreal experience being the Jungle Walk in the core area.

Jungle Walk in the core. Note the guide carrying a pressure horn as a deterrence for sloth bears

One of the best ways to explore the forests is by jungle safari.

Exploring the core zone of Madhai, zones are allocated to the tourists.

View of the mainland from Madhai

Jungle safari in Madhai zone has the following zones :

  • Keria round
  • Lagda round
  • Zinzini Mahal round
  • Chutakidev round
  • Churna – double round ( full day tour or overnight tour )
Madhai FRH

Each & every zone has an unique habitat & topography. However, the Churna round effectively showcases Satpura National Park in a diligent way.

About Churna

Churna is located around 30 kms from Madhai, deep inside the Satpura National Park core area and falls under the Bori range.

The landscape of Churna consists of core tiger habitat has records the best tiger sighting in Satpura National Park. The topography has abundant sparkling water streams channeling through the entire forest. The prey base is one of the healthiest here especially for herbivorous thus ensuring ample tiger population too.

One of the best ways to explore the forests is by jungle safari.

Exploring the core zone of Madhai, zones are allocated to the tourists.

Jungle safari in Madhai core area has the following zones :

  • Keria round
  • Lagda round
  • Zinzini Mahal round
  • Chutakidev round
  • Churna – double round ( full day tour or overnight tour )

Each & every zone has an unique habitat & topography. However, the Churna round effectively showcases Satpura National Park in a diligent way.

Churna can be visited as a full day trip or as an overnight excursion.

Thie trip to Churna, one of the ten ranges of Satpura Tiger Reserve is a rare privilege among the wildlife enthusiasts.

Ruins of ancient temples in Churna

It is worth also mentioning the existence of ancient temple ruins & pre historic rock paintings which can be explored while going to Churna FRH.

Highlighted below are the three options one can avail to visit Churna :

PLAN A : For a full day trip, you start early in the morning ( for the usual morning safari ). Explore the forest & reach Churna FRH (Forest Rest House) well in time before lunch. Take rest & lunch. Later, start for Madhai to reach before dusk.

PLAN B : Start early in the morning in the usual safari time. Reach Churna FRH, c/in take rest & lunch. The entire evening at leisure to enjoy the wilderness & dinner. Next day morning, post breakfast, proceed for Madhai to reach before dusk.

PLAN C : Start in the afternoon in the usual safari time ( around 2.30 pm, depending on the season ). Reach Churna FRH, c/in take rest & dinner. The entire evening at leisure to enjoy the wilderness. Next day morning, post breakfast, proceed for Madhai to reach before dusk.

Note :

Churna FRH is to be booked manually from the office of the FD, Satpura Tiger Reserve, Hoshangabad. We can assist in the booking. Along with the FRH booking, permit bookings as per the period of stay has to be done too.

Since this accommodation facility is operated by the forest department and its primary function is not tourism, bookings may be cancelled at forest department discretion. Please be informed that the Forest Department hold the authority to cancel any booking in the last moment & as a service provider, we can not be held responsible. Refunds in such cases will be subjective.

The cost of excursion to Churna is more expensive than the regular Madhai rounds. It is advisable to have a group of six to share the cost.

Churna FRH ( Forest Rest House )

The elusive location of Churna FRH is what makes a tourist wander so far.

To have an opportunity to stay in the core area of a National Park is an extremely rare occasion.

The Churna FRH is a British era rest house engulfing all the colonial designs & architecture. Located extremely deep inside the Bori sanctuary, Churna FRH offers modest accommodation & food.

Lights & Fans courtesy Solar energy.

Till a few years back, there was a large village settlement near the camp and therefore there was a fair amount of human activity in the forests around as the natives were into agriculture & grazing. As part of the current voluntary relocation program undertaken in Tiger Reserves across the country, Churna village was relocated in May 2013. The resettlement of nearly 150 households to the buffer area of the park has made the Churna area an ideal grazing area for wild herbivores & by default, drawing predators too.

The Churna FRH is located right in the middle of a forest. The FRH has a electrified barbed wire fence all around with 2 gates for entrance. The jungle is silent except for the chirping of the birds or the occasional alarm call of the Spotted Deer or a Langur. Malabar Giant Squirrel, Black Hooded Oriole, Golden Oriole, Rose Ring Parakeet, Mage Robin, and Indian Roller are some of the birds commonly seen at the Churna FRH.

The rooms are fitted with Queen sized beds. A western commode and wash basin are provided in the bath room. You are advised to bring your own toiletry kit. The FRH provides towels, blankets only.

The experience of having a cup of tea at dusk in the open balcony in Churna FRH is devine.

There is NO TV or any other form of entertainment.

Please carry a spare battery / portable battery charger for your camera / mobile phone. One can charge the battery in the rooms at the FRH.

Mobile connectivity is restricted to BSNL network only.

Exploring the wilderness of Churna

The best time to visit Churna is from October till March.

  • Accommodation at Churna FRH

Satpura National Park ( Madhai )

  Room Category Available
          VIP Room           Normal
Room
Forest Rest House Madai                            2              5 

Bori Sanctuary ( Churna )

                                                    Room Category Available                   
 VIP RoomNormal
Room
Forest Rest House
Churna
               2                   2
Eco Centre
Churna
                0                   4

Meals at Churna FRH

Basic & hygienic Indian food is served in the canteen & is surely worth the taste. We carry bottled water for all our guests. The authentic flavor is refreshing as it is prepared on mud stoves ( chulahs ).

It’s a place like no other—a forest whose beauty and wilderness is unparalleled—This is Satpura Tiger Reserve—your forest home in Madhya Pradesh.

All images courtesy Mr Gabriel Gargallo, Barcelona, Spain, with his consent,(anella.ico@gmail.com) for whom we had arranged a trip to Churna in Jan ’20.