Oct 27, 2006 01:50 PM
5543 Views
(Updated Oct 28, 2006 08:51 PM)
Being avid nature lovers me and my hubby packed off for a 2N/3D AI package at JL's Bandipur Safari Lodge in May 2005. After staying in a shabby hotel in Mysore(can't even recall the name), we weren't expecting anything great...but we were in for a pleasant surprise !!
The Lodge is on the fringes(2kms) of the Bandipur National Park on the Banglaore-Ooty highway.Recommend that one drives down from Bangalore in a rented / owned vehicle since there is virtually no other means of transport...unless hitching a ride or travelling in the state run buses(Kannada film music playing endlessely in the background) is your idea of fun...we reached the lodge after their check in time but the staff was courteous enough to allot our cottage quickly so that we could have lunch...
The acco is in the form of individual cottages(can accomodate 4 pax) with their own private little verandahs in the back and hammocks in the front...Drinking hot piping tea in the verandah while watching the morning mist dissipate in the pale sun was a beautiful experience which was cut short when some monkeys decided to join our tea party !!! The bathrooms are very big and extremely clean (no tubs tho). One wall of the cottage is entirely painted as a wildlife scene(ours had the bison in the tall grass).. Food is served in the 'Gol Ghar' restaurant, an open round hut with thatched roof and is quite decent(could have done with more variety.)..
The best part of the stay was the safaris into the jungle. Per the package we had 3 safari's and a trek or a ride to a nearby temple. Guys..if you are true blue wildlife enthusiasts, then wriggle a place in the car that JP(the manager) is driving...that guy knows the jungle like the back of his hand and exhibits the same joy after spotting a rare sighting like a first timer would, even though he is doing this for the last 15 years.. We were lucky enough to spot an entire pack of the rare Indian wild dog...but just missed the elusive tiger by a whisker...(the other group saw a tiger dragging a kill into the nearby bushes).Apart from that we also saw herds of elephants, bison,deer,monkeys and many bird species ...
The lodge organises a wildlife film show and a campfire dinner..would recommend that you catch it asthere is no other form of entertainment...so it gets very quiet in the evenings. Wish they can organise more activities like star gazing, fishing etc...
But all in all a fabulous trip !!!!
