Mar 05, 2009 09:23 AM
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I set out with my family to the Bannerghatta nature camp on Feb 28th 2009. After reaching the main entrance to the national park, I called the manager of the resort, Mr.Kumar and he sent the vehicle to pick us up.
The camp is located within a few kms from the main entrance. It has its own parking lot where the guests can park their cars and is a little away from the parking lot meant for the daily visitors to the national park. The check-in procedure was really smooth. I had booked a log hut which costs 2000 per person /night. AC can be used at an additional cost of 250 / day.
But, frankly speaking, an AC is not really required as the interiors in the loghut are cool and comfortable, despite being the weather being warm and sunny outside. That just indicates how kind nature can be to a man, if he knew how to live with it. Most of the furniture and the upholsteries are made out of locally available material. The interiors and the bath/toilet are clean and well maintained. There is supply of hot water too.
We had lunch at the "gol ghar" (the restaurent within the camp) at 1:30 PM and the food was excellent. An ardent Non-veg lover may be disappointed since there are very limited non-veg options. After a brief interval, we were taken to the safari ride in the special JLR vehicle. The safari takes you to the protected areas in the jungle and it is a treat to watch especially the white tigers. We were lucky to spot tigers within a few feet away from our vehicle. I would have wished if they had better vehicles specially designed for a safari, with a broader view and seating. We then visited the butterfly park and this definitely would be a photographer's delight. (You need to pay the camera charges as it is not included in the package).
This is really absurd in our tourist spots. I wonder why is there this special "camera charge". Photos speak a million words and in the digital age, pictures taken are mostly uploaded in the web or emailed to friends and relatives and they would serve as an excellent marketing tool for any tourist spot. And how are they identifying who has a camera or not and with most people using camera phones, are they being charged this fee? Anyways, after returning to the resort, at around 5:30 pm tea/coffee with snacks was served. There was a film show played at 7 pm at the Golghar (the dining place), followed by campfire and dinner. The film show could have been better. They were merely showing wild life programmes recorded from various TV channels.
The dinner again was excellent after which we spent the evening enjoying the cool breeze in the "balcony" of the log hut. Next day morning there was a guided nature trek where they take you around the herbivore park after which the sumptous breakfast was ready. There is a small "store" in the dining place, where they sell mineral water, beer and soft drinks and are billed seperately. I wish they would have had a general store which sells essentiall commodities, eatables like bisuits, icecreams etc. This must have been deliberately avoided as it is possible that such a store can "pollute" the camp. I read intructions that the camp is a "plastic free" we should avoid plastic waste and disposables within the camp.
But more than anything else, lazing in the hammock was the best thing I liked. The silence was just amazing and the occasional "interruption" would just be the sounds of bamboo leaves or the birds chirping. The interesting feature is that most of the furnishings in the entire resort use just the naturally available substances. The evenings in the resort are very much cooler than Bangalore urban areas or the city center. There is a lake just outside the resort, but it is not advisable to walk across since there are crocodiles in it. As we drove out, I could see the carcass of a wild bore in the same lake and the driver explained that it must have been a victim of a croc attack. Deers just wander about in the vicinity of the cottages/tents, giving us a perfect feel of living with the nature. Beware of monkeys thou, they can really scare you off. As far as services are concerned, the staff members are well-trained and are the best. They are ready to serve you in every way possible. There is a common tip box at the dining area where one can "tip" the employees as a whole. I cannot stop appreciating Mr.Kumar and his staff.
Located just about 20 km from Bangalore, perhaps, this is the best and the easiest way for a Bangalorean to experience nature and is definitely a worthwhile weekend break too. My suggestion for anyone wanting to visit this place would be to do so on a Saturday, when there is near full occupancy and the place appears very lively. The entire locality would be much greener during the rainy season. On a week day, I heard from the staff members that there is a possibility of a low occupancy rate. This can be really boring. We spent two nights in the resort, but as far as the activities are concerned it is just ideal to spend a single night at the resort. (Except for those who just want to relax and do nothing else). After checking out, we were driven in their vehicle to the entrance of the national park. The driver who drove us back was very kind and friendly. He dropped us right in front of a BMTC volvo and also informed the driver of the bus who was in a local restaurant that we were waiting for the same bus. We left the place within a few minutes with the fond memories of an unforgettable weekend break.
There are day visits available, but it is really worth to spend a night. Swiss tents are much cheaper (1500 per person/night). I will always look forward for a trip again to the other nature camps of Jungle lodges. Once again, good luck JLR, Mr.Kumar and his team.
