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 tourist’s 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 Government’s 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 doesn’t 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 one’s lungs, all this is enough to win over the most jaded of souls!