India Chronicle December 2005


	INSIDE THIS ISSUE


	01 MAIN


	02 TRADE & ECONOMY


	03 INVESTMENT UPDATE


	04 NEWSMAKERS


	05 INFOTECH


	06 CULTURE


	07 TRAVEL


	08 CALENDAR


	HIGHLIGHTS

BMW investment in India
MORE [+]

A Taste of Kolkata culture
MORE [+]

On the Tiger Trail
MORE [+]


	07. TRAVEL
	On the Tiger Trail

A short haul away from the busy pace of bangalore lies jungle retreat, a calm haven that offers tiger and other wildlife sighting opportunities. Sita Ramamurthy spent a few restful days in the wilderness.

Searching for paradise in the wilderness?

Try Jungle Retreat. Spread over 35 acres and bordering the twin wildlife sanctuaries of Bandipur and Mudumalai, Jungle Retreat is a haven away from a busy world at 6500 ft above sea level, with fabulous views of the Nilgiris Hills and surrounded by deciduous forests.

The Mathias family, who run Jungle Retreat, have converted a sericulture plantation into a holiday retreat that combines peace and adventure.

Getting there took just over two hours from Mysore, itself a few hours from Bangalore. A bus to Theppakadu and we were picked up by jeep for the final part of the journey. As you get out of the jeep and walk to the reception, you can feel yourself relax - you can hear a pin drop. The Mathias family give you a wonderful welcome; it’s like arriving at a family home and a very special one at that.

The choice of accommodation ranges from deluxe rooms with a fan to dormitories; if you are brave, you could try a tent. The bamboo cottages looked very inviting; even the windows are made of bamboo with bathrooms open to the sky. However, they can be quite noisy at night; you can hear every creak and sound of animals outside.

My friend and I chose to stay in a regular room. It was spacious, with a fan, attached bathroom and a large veranda. If air-conditioning is a must for you, choose a deluxe room. A buffet style breakfast, lunch and dinner is available at additional cost with plenty of variety even for vegetarians.The Retreat is so well designed that the rooms are far away enough from the reception that if you want peace and quiet you can have it at any time. It can get noisy in the evenings around the restaurant with guests sitting round a campfire chatting. However, back in the room there is only a delicious silence.

Animals do come onto the land. A guest I met had seen a snake on her veranda and wild boar during her time there. And shortly before we arrived, elephants had crashed the perimeter fence. While you do feel very close to the jungle, it does make sense to be sensible and look where you step.

There’s a beautiful swimming pool, but it isn’t heated and can be freezing cold. Still, it is nice to sit around and catch up on sunbathing. Alternatively, you could avail yourself of the board games or simply sip a drink at the bar and chat with other guests, many of whom are international travellers with stories to share.

If you want action, there is plenty to do at Jungle Retreat. Try going on a safari, trekking or visiting the Elephant Camp. The National Park organises van safaris that last about an hour, but on ours, we didn’t see much more than wild boar. It was more interesting to hire a jeep to go on a night safari – a real treat, we saw wild elephants, bison, deer and jungle cat, even a baby elephant only a few days old.

The Elephant camp that is run by the Forest Department nearby houses around 30 elephants. We were told that one of them had been captured by villagers after having caused havoc and killed people. Now tame, it is looked after by the forest department. You can watch the elephants being fed, each with their own diets; after the feeding the elephants take part in an elephant puja where they pray.

For those of you who are more

adventurous, try going on a trek. These are tailor-made and there are lots of options. A group of us went on an early morning trek that was stunning. We left about 5 am and made our way to the Mudumalai, walking through the jungle with a trekker whose exceptional knowledge of flora and fauna was quite staggering. We spotted wild boar, wild bison, wild elephants and samba deer.

Then we heard the alarm call of the langur (a black-faced monkey) followed by the alarm call of the samba deer. We found fresh pugmarks of a big cat. The jungle was suddenly alive with the sounds of creatures fleeing from a wild predator. Our trekker followed the pugmarks and we followed. Then through the trees, about 60ft away, we saw a Royal Bengal Tiger. It looked at us, turned tail and ran.


	TRAVEL TIPS


	JUNGLE RETREAT, BOKKAPURAM, MASINAGUDI P.O. 643223, Nilgiri Dist. Tamil Nadu Tel: 91-423-2526469/70 E-mail: bookings@jungleretreat.com Website: www.jungleretreat.com ACCOMMODATION Costs Rs 200 in your own tent to Rs 2500 for a Delux room. MEALS Average at Rs 200 GETTING THERE Jungle Retreat is 2 hours driving time from Mysore. Get on a bus to Theppakadu and then hire a jeep. Alternatively, get a bus to Ooty and a shared taxi from there. Check the website for more information. TIPS FOR A GOOD STAY » Bring a jacket/shawl or sweater unless you are planning trip in May. It can get chilly in the evenings » Good walking shoes are a must, particularly if you want to go trekking » A torch is essential for getting to and from your accommodation.

MAIN I TRADE & ECONOMY I INVESTMENT UPDATE I INFOTECH I CULTURE I TRAVEL I CALENDAR


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