[joyee]

My thirteenth birthday was barely a week away and by some miracle I wasn't doing cartwheels in excitement like I usually (try to) do. My dad, noticing my boredom, decided to give me my birthday present before time by announcing a trip to a nature reserve in Karnataka! My face made a flip from the depths of idleness to glee as we got packing immediately. My father and I left the next day in our little Alto K10 for a one-day trip to JLR's Blackbuck resort, not very far down the familiar read to Bidar Fort on the northern tip of Karnataka.

Let me take a moment here to discuss this trait of mine which I only know babies to have, but riding in a car, be it in the busiest city or a highway, either night or day, I always feel sleepy. It could be just half an hour's drive and you may find me dozing away in the backseat. Perhaps the sound of the car has an effect on me similar to Missy's teacup in the thriller Get Out. Who knows? All I know is that I spent most of the four-hour drive to the resort sleeping!

The Blackbuck Resort seemed to be built in an African savannah, with the thorny bushes and rocky red soil. After off-roading a bit into te middle of nowhere, we reached the JLR lodge. After parking and checking into the lodge, we treated our tastebuds to some delicious coffee. Let me tell you a bit about our room. At this resort located by a scenic lake, there were individual cottages connected by a long path. Ours was at the far end of it, with a magnificent view of the lake. It had a balcony and a lot of it was built with wood, and made that lovely sound when you walk over the floor boards. It had a spacious bedroom, with lots of windows and some furniture which made it feel like from the olden days. Somehow it felt like a hunter's cabin in the woods. I felt completely refreshed after a shower. And to top it all, I found a well stocked tea cozy with enough material to serve up a full blown tea party! I ask you, what's better than eating a sachet of milk powder in the midday breeze? (I love eating milk powder)









Soon it was time for lunch and for that, we went to the Gol Ghar, the resort's dining hall. It was similar to our room - wooden beams, and an airy feel. We were the only ones there that day. The staff served us a big platter decked with jeera rice, dal fry, bowls of chicken curry, and a vegetable curry. The food tasted home cooked and wholesome, with every dish tasting wonderful. Be careful if you happen to eat here - they can be deceitful. They served something so flavorful and called it jeera rice. It was downright biryani, I tell you!


The feast

And don't get me started with the gulab jamuns. They weren't gulab jamuns either - just hot little spheres of syrupy happiness in a bowl. Four golden brown masterpieces floating in pure joy. Normally, I don't like gulab jamuns - I find them too sticky and uncomfortable. But that bowl has a right to its own little paragraph for the delight it gave me.

Our plates squeaky clean and our stomachs suitably swelled, we went out in the afternoon sun for a digestive walk. As I have mentioned previously, this place is near the 15th century Bidar fort. So while walking around or exploring the grounds of the lodge, you will see small signs of medieval style brickwork - at the edges of the pavement, little nooks and crannies, a little bridge on the far end of the place - which might have been built to remind us of the magnificent fort. Or maybe just because they look nice. I have no way of knowing. But with that and the cute little cottages, this place had a retro, out of the way charm. I have a feeling that the resort doesn't get too many guests, but I have to admit that the upkeep was remarkable. It is nice to know that not everything which isn't opulent, glamorous or expensive can be enjoyable. Sometimes the joy lies in the small things.




They use solar energy to power each cottage

Not too far from our cottage was a little jetty to the lake. A couple of small pedal boats and coracles were gently swaying in the little shore. The lake was quite big, and in the searing midday sun it glittered like crumpled wrapping paper. Next morning, we were going to go for a boat ride in that lake.

But this evening, we were going on a safari. After almost blacking out for an afternoon nap, I woke up a new girl. As the saying goes - naps are the enemy of a cup of coffee because it does its job ten times better and is good for the body too (I made that up). At the parking lot awaiting us was Mr. Hussain, who was our guide for the safari. We hopped onto the jeep and sped out (more like grumbled out - jeeps are so loud!) into the Blackbuck Sanctuary.



The Blackbuck is a magnificent member of the antelope family, native to India and Nepal. It stands up to one meter tall and its corkscrew horns make it look even more impressive. In the 20th century, the blackbuck population was rapidly dwindling, thanks to poaching and unrestricted hunting. But conservation efforts and making it a protected animal have almost doubled its numbers from before. The blackbuck, which is comparatively light in weight (can reach up to 57 kilograms) is a very fast runner and can reach up to 80 kilometers per hour, and they are extremely shy. On our safari, the closest we got to one was about hundred meters. Perhaps they are introverted. Who knows? But they sure are beautiful. They have little goatees of white hair on their chins, and the males had long, spiraling horns which I wouldn't want to get in the way of. Their eyes were lined with black, and their coats were a rich husk color. In the red rays of leaving sun, the whole landscape lit up with reds and yellows and greens, with a herd of Blackbuck in its midst.




One of our forefathers






Don’t want to get in the way of those horns!


Looks angry


A magnificent animal

The blackbuck's habitat lies in savannah like, scrubby vegetation. Little valleys rolled away into the blanket of a horizon which the sun pulled over its head. Short grass, thorny bushes and small trees were in plenty, and along with the terracotta soil, we were transported into Sub Saharan Africa, at least that is how I imagined it to be. It felt like a rugged dreamland. Other than the blackbucks, we saw no other creatures apart from langurs, a couple of Drongos and other small birds. It wasn't a very thrilling safari, but I don't think that it needed to be. The sanctuary is a quiet, beautiful place in nature which will do its best without being an attraction for loud tourists who will only shatter the calm beauty it has. Same goes for anywhere else, as a matter of fact.






I'm not on twitter!




A natural watering hole and selfie point


Tiny yet you can't miss it


Watch your step!

We drove back to the lodge and bid goodbye to Mr. Hussain, who was a fun companion. And at the Gol Ghar, we were welcomed with steaming hot aloo pakoras and hot cups of coffee. They rolled down a white screen and played a wildlife documentary on a projector. I loved the atmosphere of the dining hall with one side open to the lake in the distance. It was dark when we were drinking our evening coffee, but I could feel the calming presence of nature at an arm's length.


Engrossed

We lazed around inside our room until dinnertime, before returning to the Gol Ghar where they served us a yummy meal of piping hot rotis, dahi bhindi (a dish made with okra and curd), chicken, paneer masala, and a heartwarming beetroot halva. It was lovely.

While eating, I was telling my dad a ghost story. And guess what! Right at the scariest moment, in the dimly lit Gol Ghar, we heard sounds of yelling and screaming of both man and beast. The war cries, accompanied with banging metal sounds, had me a little disturbed. Just when I was starting to get a little imaginative about the sounds, my dad asked the cook about it. He said with a wry smile that close by were fields of crops which wild boars really liked. To stop the animals from eating up their harvest, the farmers came up with the idea of putting up a noisy recording which was played on loop throughout the night. The din drove the boars away. We burst out laughing since it nearly drove me away!



After another walk to aid our digestive tracts, we went to a clearing where two of the staff had set up a telescope. This was to be the highlight of the trip, at least for me as I have never used one before! I peered into the little end and there, right before my eye, was one of the most magical things I have seen - the craters on the surface of the moon. The telescope was very powerful, as I could see each little depression clearly. They had to keep adjusting it, since apparently the moon could match Usain Bolt in moving out of focus. But it was lovely. The sun gave out heat and energy, while the moon glowed fairy light - calm and clarity.


The twenty year old telescope

We walked back to our room and I collapsed in bed. No part of today was tiring, but I was out like a light. Force of habit, I guess

Next morning, I took a bath and put on my cap for the rising sun. We made our way to the little jetty with a friend from the staff who was going to babysit us while we were out boating on the lake. We got onto a pedal boat. Surprisingly, the other guy just sat by and let us roam around on our own! How amazing is that! It was my first time boating and I pedaled my heart out while my captain gave me orders which I faithfully misunderstood. It was an exhilarating experience, being out in the middle of a big waterbody. We explored every corner of the lake. It was a beautiful day, with the trees on all sides nodding at us from a distance. After at least two hours, I masterfully guided the ship into the harbor where people greeted me with joy. I was a much-loved pirate back from sea to my lovely motherland. It was lovely, the peace and calm. I sure am coming back for more!




I'm good with imaginary fish, I can do without the real ones


Pedal the wheels off!



Back at the Gol Ghar, I helped my seafarer's appetite to warm poha, papaya, toast and pongal (sweet porridge). I must say that the food and the service that I experienced at the resort was nothing like anything I have seen before. The food especially was so tasty and the menu so thoughtfully prepared. My dad was complaining that he had put on some pounds in the matter of a single day!

Soon after breakfast, we bade farewell to the lovely people at the resort and I prepared to nap the three hour drive home. And with that, my dear friend, we ended our little journey to the land of the Blackbuck. I thoroughly enjoyed our stay here - the food was excellent like I said, and the service was just as good. And we got a top class cottage as the cherry on the cake. But more importantly, I got a glimpse into a little-known place in nature. I whole heartedly recommend a visit. For me, it was the perfect birthday present.

Wish you all the best! Thanks for reading!

[KarthikK]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[ABHI_1512]

Originally Posted by joyee

And don't get me started with the gulab jamuns. They weren't gulab jamuns either - just hot little spheres of syrupy happiness in a bowl. Four golden brown masterpieces floating in pure joy. Normally, I don't like gulab jamuns - I find them too sticky and uncomfortable. But that bowl has a right to its own little paragraph for the delight it gave me.

Dear Joyee, this paragraph I quoted above is pure bliss. I love gulabjamuns and I have never seen anyone describe them so succulently before. Are you sure you don’t like them ??

You have presented a very wonderful account of a short holiday meant as a birthday treat for you. The JLR properties are located in strategic places I have heard and someday I intend to make a dash for their properties for sure.

The Blackbucks are indeed very special, they are gorgeous creatures. I have had the good fortune of sighting them in their natural habitat at Aska Odisha. Keep travelling and keep giving us your stories, they are fascinating to read. Adding a picture of a Blackbuck here, that’s my bit to wish you a very happy birthday.

[joyee]

Originally Posted by ABHI_1512

Dear Joyee, this paragraph I quoted above is pure bliss. I love gulabjamuns and I have never seen anyone describe them so succulently before. Are you sure you don’t like them ??

You have presented a very wonderful account of a short holiday meant as a birthday treat for you. The JLR properties are located in strategic places I have heard and someday I intend to make a dash for their properties for sure.

The Blackbucks are indeed very special, they are gorgeous creatures. I have had the good fortune of sighting them in their natural habitat at Aska Odisha. Keep travelling and keep giving us your stories, they are fascinating to read. Adding a picture of a Blackbuck here, that’s my bit to wish you a very happy birthday.

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Thanks for your kind words Abhi kaku. Yes, I really don't like gulab jamuns but the ones at this place were truly heavenly! Normally I prefer ice cream instead.

Yes the Blackbucks are truly magnificent and unlike the wild donkeys we saw in Kutch, these are very careful to not let you close at all. The sanctuary was breathtaking on its own as not too many tourists visit this place.

[Buzzard_storme]

Very well written and I can see traits of a narrator weaving a story hidden in it. Keep writing!

[scorched_earth]

Joyee,
This is fantastic! I liked your Gujarat blog too! In fact I have bookmarked it for future reference. I like your imagery and choice of words in describing situations.
I had been to this place a decade back and it's much nearer to HYD than BLR, true it has the savannah feel, in fact some places look just like Botswana.
By the way, looks like you are like my daughter (much older to you though) who does not like Gulaab Jamuns or Pantua to be precise. I am a pantua-phile ; in fact, it's so difficult to get Pantua these days in Kolkata, everyone sells Gulaab Jamuns. Once a moira told me that chhana is more expensive than kowa so that's why shops have stopped making pantua.

God bless you child and belated birthday blessings to you!