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A taste of
simple life
Tourism
By Deepti
Gupta
LET us look carefully at two
scenes from the point of view of a tourist coming to
India.
Scene No. 1:
A sprawling garden stretching over acres. Fountains and
ponds scattered here and there. Flower beds spreading
fragrance and colour at every step. And just when the
tired tourist finds peace hawkers from tea stalls, cold
drink stalls and pakoda shops ring out like the
cawing of so many ugly crows. The spell broken, looking
around brings to life stinking dustbins, infested drains,
carry bags littered all over, Coke bottles sprinkled at
random and ice-cream cups adding to the filth. The spot:
Vrindaavan Gardens, off Mysore, the tourists must
see in South India.
Scene No. 2: Green trees
stretching up to the horizon. Leaves crunching underfoot.
The river water twinkling in the sunlight. Small
creatures running here and there in total harmony with
the environment. The mind unwinds, bit by bit. The lungs
take in the clean pure air. The peace and quiet seeps
into the system, soothing every nerve ending. But for the
occasional peacock cry or monkey chirp, nothing shatters
the spell. The spot, the Kabini River Lodge, off Mysore,
the Karnataka Governments brainchild.
Anyone who has visited a
popular tourist spot in India comes back quite disgusted
and let-down seeing the mutilation of natural beauty by
man. Karnataka Tourism has come up with a solution to the
problem: Ecotourism. Striving hard to maintain the fine
balance between man and nature, this department has come
up with the unique idea of giving tourists an experience
to remember while teaching them a greater love and
respect for nature. Under the banner Jungle Lodges and
Resorts, five eco-tourism destinations in Karnataka
provide comforts amidst natural landscapes of hills,
brooks, forests and beaches. Each resort is an oasis of
peace with an enchanting atmosphere. By protecting the
environment in many small ways, an example is set for
many a tourist to follow.
At each resort, these
are first class living quarters and ethnic tented
cottages. Made of eco-friendly material, they provide
simple luxury and privacy. There are a set of rules that
are common to all destinations. Rules that help preserve
the environment and strive to instruct through example.
Smoking and noise are strictly prohibited. Loud music is
discouraged. Visitors are encouraged to travel with a
bare minimum of luggage and dress for comfort, not style.
The use of jungle colours like khaki, green and brown is
appreciated. Electricity cannot be wasted. Even the water
is heated through eco-friendly, indigenous means.
Littering is strictly prohibited.
A day at a resort would
begin at 4.30 in the morning with morning tea on your
verandah facing the jungle. At five sharp, the safari
jeeps go into the jungle for a two-hour trip. In every
jeep there are two wildlife rangers and six tourists. The
rangers look for animals and point them out to the
tourists. Photography is allowed, provided it is done
within the jeep and is not performed aggressively. After
the wildlife safari, a trip on the river is a must. For
this purpose, no motor boats or speed boats are present.
The simple round native boat made of bamboo is used. In
the cool dawn awash with the rays of the rising sun, made
musical with bird-song, the slow circular rolling motion
of the boat soothes tired nerves and harried minds. After
this a ride on an elephant into the forest is on the
agenda. The lush green jungle, the sounds of the wild and
the majestic elephant trip make it an experience never to
be forgotten. Back to Gol-Ghar for a delicious
breakfast, full of local delicacies.
Before lunch, the
visitor can relax, take a siesta, go for a short walk,
watch wildlife films, chat with the local rangers or go
fishing in the river. The options are many, if one
doesnt hanker after crowds noise and clubs. After
lunch, it is time to visit the water-holes of the jungle
in the hope of spotting animals coming for a drink. A
rough ride in an open jeep, binoculars and camera on the
ready, the clean, fresh air gushing into ones
lungs, all this is enough to win over the most jaded of
souls!
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