The Chambal River Weekend
Two nights in the ravines: gharials, dolphins and skimmers from a boat, and a lodge that hands you a bird checklist on arrival.
From ₹20,599£180€210$260 per person · 2 nights · taxes in
The Chambal is the river the crowds never reach. An hour and a bit beyond Agra, the National Chambal Sanctuary holds gharials basking on sandbanks, Gangetic dolphins breaking the surface, and Indian skimmers working the shallows. Mela Kothi sits in its own plantation on the edge of the ravines: two nights, buffet breakfast daily, the river safari with the Sanctuary entry and a naturalist included, and the lodge's own guided nature walks on the house.
Every day, taken care of
Arrive at the ravines
The river
One more walk
Mela Kothi – Chambal Safari Lodge
Built around the River Safari on the National Chambal Sanctuary, with the lodge's naturalists and their printed checklist of 200-plus species.
And the parts you'd rather not think about
You book with Indiaesque and pay Indiaesque: one total, taxes in. We confirm the lodge, the safari slot and the naturalist, and a real person on WhatsApp holds your dates and answers the small questions. The safari is 22 km from the lodge; the drive there is arranged locally and settled at the lodge.
What's included in this Chambal package
- 2 nights · Twin Bed Cottage/Room (Koel, Thick-knee, Ibis, Tern, Hans)
- Buffet breakfast daily
- River Safari on the Chambal — National Chambal Sanctuary entry and naturalist included
- Guided nature walks with the Lodge naturalists — on the house
- Tea and coffee through the day — on the house
- The lodge's printed checklist of 200-plus species
- Children 5 and under stay complimentary
Not included: Getting to the Chambal · Transfer to the Sanctuary jetty (22 km, settled at the lodge) · Lunches and dinners — buffet at the lodge, ₹2,050 / ₹2,350 per person · Other tours and excursions
Getting to Chambal: not included in the price above. Flights are easy to add: tell us where you're flying from and we'll quote them with your dates and fold them into the same single payment.
Do more
- Bhareh Confluence Tour — a 6 to 7 hour excursion to where the rivers meet
- Ater Fort visit
- Holipura Heritage Village Tour
- Etawah Colonial Tour
- Yoga at The Kunj, Bateshwar — for the group
All of these are priced on request — tell us what interests you when you enquire and we'll build it into your quote.
Choose where you stay
Twin Bed Cottage/Room (Koel, Thick-knee, Ibis, Tern, Hans) is the room in the price above; the others show what they add. Per person, two sharing, for the complete 2-night experience — the whole itinerary above included, taxes in. Prices move with the season.
Rates valid 1 Oct 2026 – 30 Apr 2027 · October 2026 - April 20271 Oct 2026 – 30 Apr 2027 · October 2026 - April 2027 · subject to availability
The small print
- Prices are per person, two sharing, for the full 2-night experience, and include all taxes. Nothing is added afterwards.
- These rates apply for 1 Oct 2026 – 30 Apr 2027, 1 Oct 2026 – 30 Apr 2027. Rates move with the season — the figure shown is the lowest available for the dates you choose.
- No payment is taken on this page. We confirm your dates, room and the final price with you first — then you book and pay Indiaesque, one clear total with taxes in, and our team takes care of everything with the property.
- Itinerary timings (aarti, boats, darshan) follow the river and the temple, and can shift with weather, water levels and local directives.