Back to the wild....yet again!

Divali was the ideal time to escape to the peace and beauty of the jungles--K.Gudi and Bandipur of course, as my friends know! So I will not repeat the details, but just give you brief account of the memorable 4 days! A comfortable Volvo bus to Mysore, then by cab to K.Gudi, to be given a warm welcome by our old friend, naturalist Lokesh. The time before lunch was spent enjoying the sight of a tusker Sriram being bathed in the adjacent pond! Soon, we met the manager Ashish, who had taken a group of visitors to see a local tribal village. It was interesting to hear that he is an engineer by profession, but shifted careers to pursue his passion--wildlife. He has a site, www.livingintothewild.com, dedicated to the wild denizens of K.Gudi! The safaris with Lokesh and Ashish were enjoyable as usual, though most of the animals stayed away, due to the steady and intermittent drizzle. Ashish and the veteran driver, Thapa (who I mentioned in the last post) showed us a number of bird species on the big gulmohur tree in the resort. On the second day, Lokesh took us to the Ranganathaswamy temple atop the hill, the Soliga tribal village and the medicinal plants nursery adjacent to the forest department office. It was an immensely enriching day--and very encouraging to see the progress in the village. The 2 nights at K.Gudi passed all too soon, and we set off for Bandipur, where the rain dogged our footsteps! This time we stayed at the Bison cottage, the last one on the edge, and enjoyed the solitude. Once again, we met Sunita Dhairam, who I've written about earlier, (and who had painted the bison, apart from the other cottages!) and were once again awestruck by the incredible service she does for humans and animals alike. The safaris with Basavanna were enjoyable, though here too the animals chose to remain invisible, except the most gorgeous peacock, who remained motionless as our jeep stopped next to him! The other interesting episode Basavanna releasing a cobra near the dam; he had caught it earlier near his home! The 2 days again passed too soon, and we were back at Mysore, boarding a bus back to the chaotic and drab city. Till the next trip!

Bandipur beckons yet again!

My post of April 15 was titled “Bandipur beckons again” and I ended by saying that chances of going back were dim!! But here we were, back again on May 4, the third trip in six months –need I say more! This was a sudden and short trip, mainly to accompany a visiting uncle and aunt from Kolkata, but also because one doesn’t need an excuse to go to Bandipur! My regular readers/friends will know that the central figure in our Bandipur safaris is Basavanna H.S, the naturalist, whom I’ve written about earlier (http://colorsofindia-nita.blogspot.com/2010/04/another-unsung-heroa-naturalist-par.html) So we first had to check if he would be free, and then check the accomodation, as this is the busy season. However, thanks to the help and efficiency of Manjunath of Jungle Lodges resorts, we booked cottages for a night. Being at the resort is always such a pleasure—one gets the warmest welcome, the best of accommodation, facilities and meals amidst very homely surroundings, and of course, the natural beauty and weather add to the experience. This post is especially for those who have not seen my two earlier posts on Bandipur--the last one at http://colorsofindia-nita.blogspot.com/2010/04/bandipur-beckons-again.html.(Note for my online friends abroad, at blogit and AC, and specially Betty, Stanis and Janice-—I hope this tempts you to visit India!)

The Bandipur Safari Lodge is part of the Jungle Lodges and Resorts organization, and is the first one as you reach the area. There are 12 ordinary and 10 special cottages, but only in name, the ordinary ones too are no less special! The 12 are named after wild animals—dhole, tiger, chital etc. Some of them have the murals of the animals painted on the inner walls, (with matching linen and curtains) and are truly works of art. Last time was the elephant cottage, and this time we stayed at the chital cottage, with a spectacular mural(see photo)painted by Sangeetha Kadur. The special cottages are named after birds of the area. The landscaping is very aesthetic and well maintained. Flowers of every hue add splashes of color to the scene. A circular “gol ghar” is the setting for the elaborate and sumptuous buffet meals, of excellent quality, variety and service. Moreover, at one end of the buffet table, chefs prepare customised dhosas, omelettes and the like! (There is also a restaurant called Pugmarks for day visitors).

After checking in at 12 noon, there’s ample time to freshen up and walk around till lunch at 1.30 pm. Hammocks and benches near the cottages invite one to spend a lazy afternoon under the trees! Any direction that one looks out to affords scenic views of the hills and countryside. After a quick tea at 4, it’s time for the jungle safari in a jeep (or van if there are large numbers) with a naturalist—it is an immeasurably enriching experience. (Read about this on http://colorsofindia-nita.blogspot.com/2010/05/call-of-wild.html) One is pampered again with hot tea/coffee and delectable snacks on return, around 7 pm.
The resort has a conference center (with an attached bar) where a wildlife documentary is screened at 7.30, before dinner. We have seen different ones on the last 3 visits, all really worth watching. After a very elaborate and multi-course dinner, one can sit around a bonfire, under a clear starry sky, or retire to bed, lulled by natural sounds, a reprieve from the TV and music which is by default a part of our noisy city lives.

The morning is an early start, with tea at 6 am followed by another jungle safari. Those that wish can opt for a nature walk/trek with a naturalist. This time we met another naturalist, Gurudutt, who has joined Bandipur recently--it is heartening to see young people following their passion for nature and trying to safeguard our wildlife. All good things come to an end, so after a breakfast fit for a king, it’s time to say good bye.(The 2 day program includes a drive (after breakfast) up to Gopalaswamy Betta, the highest peak, which affords a panoramic view of the countryside below. An ancient Chola temple is also an attraction there).

Apart from the accommodation and facilities, the service at Jungle Lodges is excellent, and the staff extremely courteous, professional and helpful, exuding a rare warmth.

Warning: Bandipur is addictive! you will want to return again and again!

A Wild Get-away...to Bandipur!

A trip to Bandipur national park, 220 km from Bangalore, gives a glimpse of the rich flora and fauna of the Nilgiri Biosphere reserve, of which it is a part. Once the private hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Mysore, it became the first (of the 7) parks under Project Tiger to save the species.









There are rock formations, lush green fields, coconut groves, banana plantations and lakes and ponds on either side of the highway leading to Mysore, and on to Bandipur. One can stop at any number of places for a quick, hot South Indian meal on a traditional plantain leaf!













We stayed at the Bandipur Safari Lodge, situated at the end of and about a km from the Bandipur national park. There are 12 very comfortable cottages, each named after a wild creature! We stayed at the Mayura (peacock) cottage, complete with a huge motif on the wall.






The facilities and food are excellent, and the most attractive feature is trips in the early morning and evening in open top jeeps into the park, with well trained guides. (You can find detailed information on other activities on the “Jungle lodges and resorts' site). Tips for visitors: opt for an open jeep (instead of a covered van, worth the experience, even if it rains) request the person arranging the safari (Mr.Nataraja) for a guide called Basavanna (extremely enthusiastic and knowledgeable) and carry extra sets of clothes and socks (even for a one day trip) in case of sudden showers during the jeep ride!










The view from the resort is lovely, and the road leading to the park affords a view of hills and green countryside. More about the park in the next post.