Category: wildlife

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Beaches Foodie Ghoomophiro Blog Hotel Reviews Relax Staycation Treks Western Ghats wildlife

All about Devbagh Beach Resort, Karwar

Devbagh Beach Resort

Devbagh is a stop for an ardent beach lover. Sun, sand, surf, sea and endless open space, Devbagh is famous for its private beaches, where you can build your dream castles, collect seashells, chase crabs, locating fishermen in boats or just soak yourself in sun and let waves wash away your worries. 3 Kms away i.e just 29 minutes ferry ride from Karwar is situated one of the finest property of  Karnataka Tourism. Devbagh Beach Resort is located in the converging landscape located in Karwar, which is 100 Kms away from Dabolim airport and located at Karnataka–Goa border. Devbagh is at its beautiful best from October to May.

Accommodation: Resort opens a world of pristine natural beauty.  It has got lovely log-hut cottages with a balcony. Rooms are spacious with all modern facilities. The Gol Ghar, is the group dining hall, serves a delectable buffet spread of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisine. The seafood is highly recommended. Fishes served here are usually fresh. Dinner is served on the beaches wherein every evening bon-fire is set up with snacks. Spa here is amazing. Oils and other ingredients used are purely herbal.

Activities: Devbagh has something or the other for everyone. 24 hrs are less for you to explore the place completely. If you are an adventurous person, try parasailing, snorkeling (which is being done under the supervision of trained professionals, who ensures complete safety of its guests), banana boat ride, scooter-ride and other water sports. One can also go for speed boat cruises in Arabian sea to spot Dolphins. If you are a nature lover, get up in morning and take a stroll in backwaters and can spot rare birds in mangrove thatches. It is a paradise for bird watchers as conditions are conducive for migratory birds. If you like studying human nature, then a stroll in an adjacent fishing village is a good experience; wherein you can witness how their day starts, to how it ends. It gives a complete picture of a day in fishermen’s life. If a relaxing vacation is on your mind, then soaking in the sun or lazing on a hammock is a good option. One can also cruise up to the confluence of Arabian sea and river Kali. A trek in the jungles is highly recommended and capturing sunrise and sunset is photographer’s delight at the resort. The Place is indeed photogenic.  A day tour to the city is also organized by the resort on request, wherein you can roam around the Karwar. All activities are conducted under strict supervision and interaction with the staff adds lots of value.  The staff here is very courteous. Manager of the lodge makes it a point to spend time with each family staying and take care of their day to day needs. Personal attention is given to all guests. If you are looking for a getaway beyond Goa with all similar amenities, Devbagh beach resort tops the priority chart. You can reach out to www.dandeli.com for your bookings. They made it really simple for me when it comes to the arrangement.


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Adventure Central India Ghoomophiro Blog Hotel Reviews National Parks Relax Staycation Travel Trends wildlife

Forsyth Lodge- Experiential Lodge to get lost in Satpura Reserve, Madhya Pradesh

Forsyth Lodge, is a 2 hrs drive from Bhopal airport. It is just 10 min away from Madhai gate of Satpura tiger reserve, Madhya Pradesh.

Accommodation: There are 12 luxury cottages overlooking 44acres of land. Each cottage is well spacious, well maintained with best of fixtures. Rooms are comforting; with few of them have machan terraces. As you enter the room, you are welcomed by a beautiful message that talks about wilderness. Interiors are very artistic and remind you “welcome to jungle”. Their walls are made from packed straw, mud and cow dung (as is the local building style) and painted with wild animals and flowers, giving them a whimsical touch. Cottages have private balconies, wherein you can sip your morning coffee, read your favorite book overlooking the great jungle. Air conditioning, Fan, Mosquito net, Extra beds Terrace Bathrobes, Toiletries , Hairdryer etc are available. The highlight of the cottages are their Eco-friendliness. Every small thing kept there is well thought. Everything here is recycled, even the fixtures in washroom are such that, water can be recycled. Basic amenities like swimming pool, spa is available.


Meals: Meals (included in the room rate) are served in various locations around the lodge. Under trees, by the pool, on sofa’d torchlit terraces or in dining rooms. There are Western and Indian offerings at each meal with detailed menu laid out.
Breakfast was equally delicious and plentiful: fruit and fresh-pressed pomegranate juice, followed by eggs cooked to order, grilled tomato, bacon, mushroom ragout and multigrain toast. Out on an early safari? Then it’s a packed breakfast in the middle of the tiger reserve for you.
Afternoon tea, with its fresh-baked cookies and cakes, is nice, but it’s dinner when Forsyth pulls out all the stops: cocktails and nibbles around a roaring bonfire, followed by dinner under the stars, either on a terrace in the main lodge or out in the bush with oil lamps hung from the trees (the bar was set up on a bullock cart!). You start with a soup and then move on to succulent meat curries and fragrant vegetarian dishes served with Indian bread.
#theForsythExperience – Yes, this is what one would call #theForsythExperience, when you are greeted by wonderful hosts Rishi and his team, who work reluctantly to ensure the best experience for each guest, by their constant efforts. It seems these guys are on a mission to bring you close to wildlife. There are multiple activities, which team involves you in. The itinerary planned is power packed, and the day starts with the wake-up call at 6 AM, to go for a walk inside the Satpura Tiger Reserve. These jungle walks are accompanied by great naturalists David Raju and Surya, who let you discover the vast array of species inside the jungle. The highlight of this walk is spotted dears and breakfast in the midst of the jungle. Other excursions being organized by lodge includes Canoeing, wherein you can watch birds involved in soaking in sunlight, as you paddle the canoe nearest to them and watch the sunrise in beautiful Deneva river. One can also enjoy Jeep safari and enjoy the drive with sloth bears, spotted deer, gaurs, bisons and other wild animals in their natural surroundings. I was lucky to get hold of the mother bear with her two cubs in action. The place is a paradise for the bird watcher. Evenings are made beautiful with bonfires and bullock cart dinner experience, where you can enjoy your dinner under the sky in amazingly romantic ambiance. This dinner is usually followed by star gazing, where you are taken to the stories of greeks and Romans. 2 days are little short to complete the experience as there is a lot more to explore with eminent naturalists. Btw, not to miss is the handsome dog there, who is just adorable. It is indeed a recommended place, if you are looking for a getaway away from the city with limited access to the network, and want to get lost in the wilderness. It is the place, from where you would surely not like to come back. It is indeed bewitching and at times gives you the feeling that whole property belongs to you.


P.S-> During Monsoons, Lodge is closed for renovations.
Thank you Forsyth Lodge for the amazing experience. You can reach out to them at Facebook,Instagram,twitter.

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Adventure National Parks Rejoice wildlife

Relax in Aravali hills while sighting Indian tigers- Ranthambhore

About the Place: Ranthambhore is one of the largest national parks in northern India, covering an area of 392 km². It is situated in the Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan.

Must See places:

Forests: The Park terrain alternates between dry deciduous forests and open grassy meadow. The flora of the park includes 539 species of flowering plants.
Safari Rides: Rides are carried out at 6:30 and 14:30. Each ride lasts for about three hours. There are two options of vehicles for the safari: 20 seater open top cantor or 6 seaters open top gypsy. Each ride costs around Rs700-800 per person. The core park area has been divided into several zones and the safari vehicles go to one of those zones. There are many resorts to stay in on the way from Sawai Madhopur to the national park.

Ranthambore Fort: The majestic fort, built in the 10th century, towers over the entire park area. It stands 700 feet above the surrounding plain. Inside the fort, there are three red Karauli stone temples devoted to Ganesh, Shiva and Ramlalaji. There is a Digamber Jain temple of Lord Sumatinath (5th Jain Tirthankar) and Lord Sambhavanath. The temples were constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries.

Padam Talao: This is the largest of the many lakes located in the park. A red sandstone Jogi Mahal can be found at the edge of the lake. A gigantic banyan tree, considered to be India’s second largest, is also near the lake Good

 Time to Travel Ranthambore wildlife sanctuary is known for its tigers and is one of the best places in India to see these animals in their natural jungle habitat. Tigers can be easily spotted even in the daytime. The best times for tiger sightings at Ranthambore National Park are in November and May.

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Adventure Relax Travel Trends Tribal wildlife

6 To-Do’s at Dandeli

Dandeli, is a small river side town in North West Karnataka is very popular with tourists from Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore. The modern town on the river is surrounded by deciduous forests and a renowned wildlife habitat where one can spot rare animals and birds, roam in deep valleys and hilly terrain. It is around 4 Hr. drive from Goa Dabolim airport and the road trip from Goa to Dandeli is very scenic. Though place is famous for white water rafting and tree-houses, but apart from the same, there are few must to do’s at the place.
Kayaking on the Kali River
If you are white water lover and want to be high on water sports, then kayaking on the Kali river can offer lot to you. Options available are from class 4 rapids for professionals to calmer beds for beginners.

Rafting on the rapids of the Kali River 

River Rafting are a great team activity and the class 4 rapids on the Kali offer the perfect group getaway. There are half day or full day options and the river has water for most time of the year as the dam above the river is opened every morning to generate electricity.

Bird watching at old magazine house resort 

The place is always surrounded by variety of birds and is heaven for bird watchers. At any season, you can find their naturalists spotting more than 150 different birds a day. Place is famous for hornbills but if you are true birder, this place is must for you in the list. It is surrounded by birds endemic to Western Ghats. If lucky, one can spot rare birds too.

Visit some of the unique tribes of Dandeli
One must always feel the locals and engage themselves with their lifestyle. Spending time with them gives the tourists true flavor of the place. Dandeli offers four different tribal experiences. There is famous Lambani tribe, who comes are nomad in nature. Then, there is the very famous Siddi tribe, who are people of African origin and who were brought to India as slaves. Then, there are the Gowli tribes who manage cattle and earn their living by selling milk and milk products. There is Medar tribe who works in the forest and is bamboo craft artisans.

Watch the sunset from Ganeshgudi Hill
Ganeshgudi hill can be reached after hiking for 40 minutes from Old magazine house. Usually they have their groups going for hiking around 4 PM in evening. From the top of hill, one can witness the conglomeration of 4 beautiful rivers and the view as sun sets down is beautiful. During hiking, if lucky, one can spot wild sloth bear and other small birds and natural flora and fauna. Sitting and waiting for sun to set at the hilltop is photographer’s paradise.

Taking a coracle boat ride on the Kali
If you are not a water sport fan, but still want to experience Kali River, one can take a ride in coracle boat. Options available are for half an hour to one hour. During ride, one can spot crocodiles basking in sun and hornbills. The ride in itself is very scenic with trees around.
Whenever you are going Goa, do make sure to add 3 more days to visit this beautiful but silent place called Dandeli, which will let you lost in the wilderness.

Why not plan a vacation to this beautiful gateway Dandeli. Thank you for the wonderful stay team Dandeli. They can be contacted at +919483940400

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Adventure Beaches Hotel Reviews Rejuvenate Travel Trends Tribal Western Ghats wildlife

Must Do’s at Karwar

Karwar is an idyllic island getaway situated 20kms south of the Goa–Karnataka border. It is often known as Queen of Konkan for its scenic beauty. The place is all the more famous, due to the confluence of the Arabian Sea and River Kali, and as per FengShui, such places are assumed to be peaceful. Famous poet Rabindranath Tagore wrote many of his famous poetries near Devbagh beach. 24 Hrs are not enough to get all from this place, but let me pen down things, which you should not miss, while you are here. The best time to be here is between Oct to May.
Stay at Devbagh Beach Resort
It is one of the beautiful properties by jungle lodges, where-in you can experience beaches and get lost in the wilderness at the same time. The place is complete in itself and gives you a soulful experience. I will definitely recommend at least one night stay in the cottages amidst jungle facing sea.

Stroll at Fishermen’s village

Adjacent to Devbagh Resort is the Fishermen’s village, you can take a morning stroll in the village and going through their daily lifestyle, knowing their culture so closely, watching the fishing sessions and quick conversations with them in itself is an enriching experience.

Sea-food at Ocean Deck
If you are sea-food lover, this is indeed the place for you. For all foodies, this is another recommendation from my side. Situated barely at a distance of 100 Kms from Dabolim airport, the place is heaven for sea foodies. Sitting in the midst of back-waters and enjoying your food is a unique experience. What makes this place more unique is its owner, who is very hospitable. You can read more about the ocean deck. For dessert, try out the local Gadbad ice-cream – a combination of local ice cream with nuts and fruits.

Go for Water Sports & Dolphin Spotting
Devbagh being the secluded beach offers an array of water sports. One should go for snorkeling and scuba to experience the beautiful underwater flora and fauna. Devbagh beach resort provides trained professional instructors to make this smooth for you. Apart from this  regular sports like Kayaking, Banana boat ride, parasailing, water-scooter, Speed boat ride, watching dolphins, fishing are a few of the options you can indulge yourself in.


Soak yourself in sand and sun.
Karwar is a land of beaches where you can soak yourself in the sun and can relax watching the waves clearing the sand from your feet and taking all your worries. You can build sandcastles, combine the shore for seashells, and play endless beach volleyball games on the beaches of Devbagh, and Karwar Beach. Karwar beach is popularly known as Tagore beach and is surrounded by beautiful coconut groves. Devbagh beach can be reached via ferries and is popular amongst scuba divers as it has rich underwater flora & fauna along the coastline.


Sadashivgad Fort
Sadashivgad Fort is situated in the Sadashivgad Village of Karwar. Located on a 200 ft high hillock, the fort is surrounded by deep and dense forest areas, and lies along the bank of river Kali.


Bird Sighting at Mangrove Backwaters
If you are a bird lover, then you can take a morning stroll at the mangrove thickest and can sight rare birds. White-bellied Sea Eagle, white-breasted Kingfisher, hornbill, spotted owl are the few amongst many. During winters, flocks of migratory birds can be seen around.

Other Attractions
Other places include the museum, KotShiveshwar, Durga Devi temple, Nagnath temple, The islands of Kumaragarh, Oyster-rock, Anjudeep and Sanyasi that lie off the Karwar coast and can mesmerize you with their scenic beauty.
I would like to thank Dandeli Tourism for giving me an altogether soulful experience in the lap of nature. It is worth a try. Folks!! Pack your bags and get on vacations to Devbagh. www.facebook.com/traveldandeli.

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