A snug cottage in the jungle

Susheela Nair

If you want to experience the feel and comfort of a luxury resort, the warmth of a home and be close to the greens and browns of nature, head to Fireflies Resort, located in a nondescript hamlet in Kabini of HD Kote taluk in Mysuru district. We hibernated for two days in the gentle pace of unhurried activity and recharged our weary bodies and frayed nerves in this sylvan retreat managed by the Shilton Hospitality group, based in Bengaluru. Located on the periphery of the Rajiv Gandhi National Park, Kabini is the area around the backwaters of the Kabini dam built across the Kapila river, a major tributary of the Kaveri.

Sitting on the deck, sipping my first cup of coffee in the morning, I enjoyed an eye-catching view of the varying shades of this green landscape, meticulously manicured lawn and the Kabini backwaters in the distance. If you are the sedentary type, you can recline in a corner of the verandah with your favourite book, soaking in the tranquil ambience of the place, and disengage yourself from the maddening world. If you enjoy ‘do nothing’ holidays, you can put up your feet and experience the bliss of doing just nothing. However, I chose to stroll around and explore the verdant property.

The first thing that struck me was the sprawling garden with its lush lawns,  colourful flower beds, carefully nurtured trees, shrubs and flowering plants like hibiscus. The clusters of plumbago everywhere is a visual delight. It is green beyond imagination and as colourful as a spring garden. Adding to the verdant ambience are lotus ponds with resident ducks. Winding pathways lead to cottages and tents sprinkled across the property. All of them have complete privacy along with soothing views of the lapping waters of the river. The landscape is beautifully laid out with indigenous flowering shrubs and plants. It is difficult to find any specimen of exotic flora in the resort.

“Everything is in harmony with nature in this resort. In keeping with its eco-friendly status, all efforts were made to retain the gifts of nature. The vibrant earthy tones and the natural materials used for construction blend perfectly with the surrounding landscape. Steps have also been taken to minimize formal landscaping,” says Amitha Madan, principal architect, Treelight Design.

The artistically designed tents and cottages are named after the trees facing them — like Manga (mango), Errukkum (milk weed), Kadamba (bur flower tree), and Akashmoni (acacia). No tree was cut down during construction. “The cottages and tents are done up with earthy architectural and design elements inspired by local Adivasis. They are equipped with all the amenities of modern-day life. The rooms are spacious with en suite bathrooms. Each cottage comprises a patio, and a room sans any false notes of opulence. The earthy tones of the cottages carry on inside. The mud-plastered, painted walls and the natural stone wash basin exude a rustic feel. Painted earthen pots double as side tables,” explains Madan.

The curved pathways are made of granite waste. Getting around the verdant property is itself a workout and can definitely whip up one’s appetite. The ideal way to experience the outdoors is to amble around leisurely. The view from every angle is spectacular.

Fixed meals are provided, using locally available fruits and vegetables grown in the kitchen garden of the resort. The meals, served in the al fresco multi-cuisine restaurant, are exemplary. I found the buffets and other culinary delights as wholesome as home-made food. An acre of the property is dedicated to an organic vegetable and spice garden which feeds the guests with seasonal vegetables and fresh herbs.

There are activities galore to keep you occupied — swimming, volleyball, campfires and indoor games. The best way to unwind in this glorious outdoors is to take a stroll through the property and follow trails. There is a multitude of nature-based activities for the guests — wildlife safaris, nature trails, coracle rides, sunset cruises, and so on. You can drift down the Kabini river on a coracle or a motor boat. If you are lucky, you’ll spot pachyderms quenching their thirst at the edge of the reservoir.

Shivering a little due to the biting cold, we set out at dawn for the much-awaited jungle safari into the Nagarhole National Park which is part of the famous Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve and as such is always teeming with wildlife. We were treated to the sight of langurs and giant Malabar squirrels swinging from branch to branch and a small herd of wild pachyderms ambling past majestically. Birds we saw aplenty. Peacocks and peahens strutted about while a Blue Jay (Indian Roller) which is Karnataka’s State Bird perched on a dry branch, posing for a photograph.

Among other animals, we were able to see boar and gaur. Several spotted deer, barking deer and sambar sprinted across our path. Kabini is known for a good number of tigers, leopards, sloth bears and elephants. Though it is possible to spot leopards and even tigers quite frequently in summer, the big cats eluded me. Visibility was poor due to the dense fog and we could not spot them amid the foliage if they were there.

In the evening, we returned after a water safari and sat around a crackling fire under the starry sky, exchanging animal stories and spinning yarns of our encounters in the wild. 

FACT FILE
Nearest airport and railhead – Mysuru (65 km)
Contact: [email protected]