Thomas Cook (India) Limited announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited (SHRL), has opened a new wilderness property in Maharashtra. The launch adds a significant location to the company's growing portfolio of jungle resorts across India.

Strategic expansion into wildlife tourism

The new property, Sterling Vanyatara Tadoba, is located in the Chimur region with access to five safari gates of the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve. The resort has been designed as an intimate 18-key retreat to ensure a personal and quiet experience. Room categories include Indulge Rooms with Sit-out, Forest Villas with private lawns, and Two-Bedroom Villas. Amenities feature a swimming pool, spa, and outdoor areas for downtime between excursions.

Integration into regional circuits

Sterling already operates in Pench and Tipeshwar. The addition of Tadoba enables a Pench-Tadoba-Tipeshwar forest circuit, allowing travellers to experience three distinct wilderness landscapes in one journey. Vikram Lalvani, Managing Director & CEO of SHRL, stated that the company aims to make the forest the experience rather than just the safari, building depth in this hospitality category.

Culinary and cultural offerings

The resort emphasizes immersive experiences beyond wildlife sightings. Dining options include The Jungle Table, which serves traditional Vidarbha Saoji cuisine inspired by Nagpur and Shedgaon street food. Evening rituals include storytelling sessions with naturalists, cultural performances by Gond tribe artists, and Saoji cuisine showcases by rural locals.

Portfolio context

Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited operates over 4,000 keys across more than 70 unique destinations. The company is a 100% independently managed subsidiary of Thomas Cook (India) Limited and part of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited. The opening of Vanyatara Tadoba strengthens Sterling's presence in Maharashtra and supports its strategy of positioning wilderness travel as a distinct leisure category for families.

Thomas Cook (India) Limited announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited, has entered the spiritual tourism market in Varanasi with the opening of Sterling Varanasi. The new property adds a key destination to the company's growing network of faith-based travel locations.

The 33-room hotel is located near the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, providing guests with convenient access to major landmarks such as Assi Ghat, Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, and Banaras Hindu University. This strategic location aims to cater to travellers seeking a well-connected base for experiencing Kashi.

Strengthening the spiritual portfolio

This opening reinforces Sterling's presence in destinations where spirituality drives travel decisions. The brand already operates in Ayodhya, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Guruvayur, Tiruvannamalai, Pushkar, Madurai, and Puri. Varanasi joins this list as a significant addition to the company's destination-led growth strategy.

Vikram Lalvani, Managing Director and CEO of Sterling Holiday Resorts, stated that the strategy focuses on understanding why India travels. He noted that while faith initiates the journey, the experience often extends to family, culture, cuisine, and history. The goal is to make these journeys more comfortable and reliable.

Property features and amenities

Sterling Varanasi offers contemporary accommodations, including Premier Rooms with balconies overlooking Kashi. Key facilities include:

• RASA KASHI: A vegetarian restaurant inspired by local food traditions, offering a wider menu for contemporary travellers.
• KASHI REGALIA: A partially covered glass-roof venue on the fifth floor with 180-degree views, designed for intimate celebrations and family gatherings.

Guests can engage with local rhythms through early-morning boat journeys on the Ganges, evening Ganga Aarti, temple visits, and explorations of Sarnath and local craft traditions.

Strategic context

The entry into Varanasi advances Sterling's Destination Architect strategy, which builds its network around travel motivations rather than conventional categories. Arya Vishwajeet Singh, Owner of Sterling Varanasi from Aditi Group, highlighted that Sterling brings brand reach, operating expertise, and distribution strength to establish the property as a trusted hospitality address.

Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited operates over 3,900 keys across more than 67 unique destinations in India. It remains a 100% independently managed subsidiary of Thomas Cook (India) Limited and is part of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited.