WET WET WILDERNEST!!!

Travel Date: 11th & 12th July, 2009

No of travelers: 5

Type of Trip: Wildlife

Mode of Transport: Car

Approx Expense: 20000/- for 5

Best suitable for: Friends

Route for Day 1: Pune - Satara - Kolhapur – Amboli – Sawantwadi – Chorla Ghat (460km)

We took our favorite NH4 till Kolhapur. There were waterfalls to give us company all along the amboli ghat till Sawantwadi. We were acquainted with the road till here, but needed directions further. After getting suggestions from locals to go in all directions we took the Panjim road and then turned left after 12 km for Dodamarg. Though the road from here was single lane, there was hardly any traffic and we could maintain a good speed. We crossed Dodamarg, Aai, Parye and Keri. Both Parye & Keri are in Goa – beautiful, small typical Goan villages. Soon after passing Keri, we realized that we have started uphill the Chorla ghat. The ghat is a suberb tar road and has thick forest on both the side. The Chorla valley is the catchment area of Anjunem Dam. After driving for about 30 mins, suddenly came the board – Wildernest Resort. All the way we were looking for some cottages or structures to identify the place, but it’s truly hidden. We parked our car in the parking and the resort Sumo took us into the jungle.

Finally At the Resort: This was the reception area of the resort...which gave us hint of how beautiful it would get further....thick forest on one side and deep green valley on the other....welcoming us were the waterfalls streaming down from anywhere and everywhere :)

Further they escorted us to our forest view rooms...which I dont have words to describe...but u can view the pictures and decide yourself.

Huge Glass windows on 3 sides of the room…gave us an amazing view of the forest. Although the rooms were very wet all the time due to extreme humidity…it was an different experience altogether. Utana and Shikakai powder in copper bowls, copper buckets for bathing were add ons.

As it was already 2.00pm by the time we reached…we rushed to the restaurant…which offered different delicacies like goan fish curries…maharashtrain thechas…south Indian neer dosas…and many more. Amazing cuisine…must say! By this time we all were dead tired…so the lunch was followed by small nap..

One of the main attractions of this place was the Infinity pool that they have on the mountain cliff. Drizzles in the pool with Chilled beer in hand…could there be any better combination than this?

Wilderness at Wildernest: Sleep away to glory if you reach there during the monsoons...the best wildlife sighting you will have will be in your dreams. On a more serious note, keep a track of the weather guys. If you are into herpetology (reptiles etc), choose the monsoons, you will see an abundance of the slithery slimy creatures. With ever green forest surrounding the resort, winters would be ideal for some beautiful avian species from the western ghats.