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TAJ - CC AFRICA Lodges in Bandhavgarh and Pench
TAJ - CC AFRICA
Lodges in Bandhavgarh and Pench are really
fabulous, particularly the accommodations at
PENCH. There are two other properties at Kanha
and Panna which are slated for opening early
next year. Breaking new ground in India, the
lodges are creation of the CC Africa and Taj
Hotels Resorts and Palaces joint venture.
Offering India's first and only wildlife
circuit, this partnership provides guests with
the ultimate in wildlife experience based on a
proven sustainable ecotourism model.
TAJ-CC Africa venture has indeed given a new
dimension to the wildlife tourism by putting up
these lodges in the periphery of the Central
Indian Jungles. Another aspect definitely worth
mentioning are their Safaris. They have
specially designed 4 wheel drive vehicles which
can carry 6 passengers at a time. Their
Naturalists are specially trained as per CC
Africa Standards. These are naturalists who
drive the vehicles themselves and give a very
different perspective of Wildlife to the
travelers. The lodges and standard of safaris is
geared at wildlife tourism's TOP END clients,
who can afford the prices charged.
To book or request tailor-made itinerary with
Bandavhgarh, Kanha and Panna National Parks,
click here!
For sample
itinerary with
Bandavhgarh, Kanha and Panna National Parks,
click here!
Special Buddhist Circuit Train Offers
8
days / 7 nights Package
BUDDHIST CIRCUIT SPECIAL TRAIN, an initiative of
IRCTC and offering a seven – night and eight day
package tour, starting from Delhi covering the
Buddhist circuit, has been launched recently.
The Buddhist Circuit Special Train was flagged
off by minister for railways Lalu Prasad Yadav
on October 6 at 1600 hrs from Delhi Safdarjung
Railway Station in the august presence of Ambika
Soni, Union minister for tourism & culture and
other VIPs and distinguished guests. The train
has completed its maiden run successfully.
This train is the Rajdhani Express type train
which has been designed to cater to the large
demand from domestic as well as international
visitors for the Buddhist circuit. The tour
itinerary of eight days and seven nights covers
important destinations linked to the life of
Buddha such as Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Nalanda,
Kushinagar, Lumbini and Sravasti. On return, the
pilgrims are taken to Agra for sightseeing at
Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri. The train is by
itself a specially - designed spiritual product
that gives the tourists an experience to cherish
for a lifetime. The package fare is inclusive of
train travel, road travel, all meals, deluxe
hotel facilities, sightseeing monument entry
fees, security insurance and guide services.
Extensive marketing has been done for the train-
both in India and overseas and the product has
got keen interest from national and
international media and travel operators. With
the success of this train the railways foresees
launching similar trains for other pilgrimages
as well.
Bodhgaya was the place of enlightenment. Nalanda,
was a great place for learning from 5” to 12”
century AD and still has ruins of the major
constructions where 30,000 students studied.
Rajgir has one of the oldest ropeway systems in
the country, and the view from the top, with a
majestic temple underneath, is a sight to
remember. Sarnath, 10 km from Varanasi, is the
place of the first sermon by Lord Buddha and
thus a must- visit place. Lumbini in Nepal is
the place of his birth and the site is still
well preserved. Of course, Kushinagar, where
Lord Buddha attained Nirvana, is much- revered
place, where an imposing lying Buddha statue
gives different impressions from different
angles.
Renovated Sawai Madhopur Lodge, Rajasthan
Located amidst 12
acres of lush gardens, this 70-year-old hunting
lodge exudes a rustic, earthy charm and an air
of history. The lodge is a 20-minute drive from
the tiger-famous Ranthambore National Park.
Include Sawai Madhopur Lodge in your
Rajasthan itinerary, click here!
To book or request tailor-made itinerary with
Sawai Madhopur Lodge,
click here!
Heritage: What is Hinduism?
“ Esa dharmah
sanatanah “ - Hinduism is no sect or dogmatic
creed, no bundle of formulas, no set of social
rules. But a mighty, eternal and universal
truth. It has learned the secret of preparing
man’s soul for the divine consummation of
identity with the infinite exixitance of God….
(March 14, 1908)
But what is the Hindu religion? What is this
religion, which we call Sanatanah, eternal? It
is the Hindu religion only because the Hindu
nation has kept it, because in this Peninsula it
grew up in the seclusion of the sea and the
Himalayas. Because in this sacred and ancient
land it was given as a charge to the Aryan race
to
preserve through the ages. But it is not
circumscribed by the confines of a single
country; it does not belong peculiarly and for
ever to a bounded part of the world.
That which we call the Hindu religion is really
the eternal religion, because it is the
universal religion, which embraces all others.
If a religion is not universal, it cannot be
eternal. A narrow religion, a sectarian
religion, an exclusive religion can live only
for a limited time and a limited purpose. This
is one religion that can triumph over
materialism by including and anticipating the
discoveries of science and the speculations of
philosophy. (May 30, 1909) …… to be continued.
These are excerpts from a booklet “What is
Hinduism” by Sri Aurobindo published by the Sri
Aurobindo Society, Pondicherry.
Ramathra Fort
One never tires of
exploring Rajasthan. Forts, palaces, towns,
villages, dams, lakes, reserves, each painted
with the broad brush strokes of history offering
an array of travel options for the discerning
and adventurous. Every year several new places
and destinations open up to tourism in
Rajasthan, however only a few offer the intimate
experience that is the essence of personally
managed small hotels.
Ramathra Fort that begins its first year of
operation with six tents this October is a
winning combination of concept, location and
service. What’s more it is entirely an FIT place
with the owners - Ravi and Geetanjali hosting
guests in the winter months.
Location and Access : Eastern Rajasthan lies
adjacent to Madhya Pradesh with the Chambal
river running along most part of the border
etching a boundary between the two states. Two
of the main districts in this region - Karauli
and Sawai Madhopur are situated along the border
in the vicinity of river Chambal.
Chambal and other lesser rivers like Banas and
Dhund Morel that feed it influence the physical
characteristics of this part of Rajasthan. The
landscape here comprises of softly rounded
Aravalli mountains, endless stretches of scrubby
wilds, flat lands, rivers and lakes interspersed
by small farming villages.
Ramathra village is tiny enough to be missed by
most maps of Rajasthan, if you can locate
Sapotra, Ramathra is just 3 kms east from
Sapotra and 40 kms south-west from Karauli.
Situated at short distance from the village of
Ramathra, the fort perches on one of the
undulating aravalli hills offering expansive
views of the lake and country side from your
vantage point on the fort ramparts. Access to
the fort is through a partial jungle which takes
you right up to the main entrance.
Connectivity : Ramathra would feature well on
itineraries that use the road to connect Agra or
Bharatpur to Ranthambhor. Bharatpur to Ramathra
can be accessed on the Jan Shatabdi which brings
you into Gangapur City, 40 kms and an hours
drive from Ramathra. Alwar is easily connected
with Jaipur via Ramathra.
With three important trains connecting Gangapur
City to Nizamuddin, Ramathra can also be ideal
as a 3-4 days trip from Delhi.
Birding and Boating : The Kalisil lake, a 16
Sqkm perennial lake is a short drive from the
fort and even in October had a large variety of
birds. Boating on the lake especially in the
morning and evening are sublime. There is also
provision for kayaking in the placid lake
waters. One safari which could well be the
highlight of your visit to Ramathra Fort is the
cross country jeep ride to Ranthambhor across
the Banas river. The 80 kms road between
Ramathra to Sawai Madhopur is just 56 kms cross
country and a drive through this area on a
four-by-four comes highly recommended by Ravi.
Excursions : An important excursion is a day
visit to Karauli which is over an hour’s drive
from Ramathra. The city palace in Karauli and
the temple of Madanmohan are well preserved and
maintained under a trust. The Karauli bazaar
area, abuzz with activity especially at opening
time and early evening are a shutter bug’s
delight. Other excursions that can be taken at
leisure are visits to the Kaila Devi National
Park, drives to the “Dang” plateau and walks to
the cave temples and Gujjar hamlets.
Staying at Ramathra : Night times are inspiring
at Ramathra Fort and if you arrive there after
sunset you are greeted by a seductively lit
fort, welcomed with a drink and shown to your
luminous tents. Some part of the fort is still
in ruins and
affords a dramatic backdrop especially when it
is lit. A part of the fort has been rebuilt with
open arch ways to provide indoor dining, lounge
and bar area. The palace which rises above the
arched indoor dining area and lounge is where
Ravi and Gitanjali reside. The ramparts have
been cleaned up and are used for serving tea at
sunset and cocktails after.
Sitting on the ramparts of this 350 year old
fort, under the canopy of stars, you would want
the pure air and welcoming silence to go on for
ever. The moon resplendent in the clear night
sky lights up everything and dispenses the need
for electrical lighting. Even inside the tents
everything is a discerning silhouette.
Pitched intimately in a clearing just below the
ramparts, the six tents enclose a central lawn.
The ramparts and the lawns provide ample sitting
space to catch the winter sun, lounge with a
book; a tall drink by your side or gather close
to exchange notes with the hosts and other
resident guests.
The tents are spacious ( 27 X 13 ) and have a
sitting area separated from the beds by a muslin
screen. Interiors of the tent are predominantly
white and uncluttered giving a sense of light
and space. Migrating storks printed on the
insides of the tents refer to the ample bird
life in the area which falls is the same
flyway as Bharatpur. Netted windows ventilate
the tents while canvas curtains cleverly conceal
attached bathrooms. Built as permanent rooms and
equippedwith all modern conveniences, the
bathrooms are generous and well ventilated.
Ramathra Fort serves up scrumptious meals, their
dinner under the night sky, unobtrusively
serviced by their well trained staff is a treat
to remember. Ravi personally accompanies
excursions and shows you around the places he
has visited since childhood.
For more information check website :
www.ramathrafort.com
To include Ramathra Fort in your Rajasthan
itinerary, click here!
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