A wild weekend getaway from Bangalore

Unplug your city-life and reconnect with your wild side: make Bandipur your getaway this weekend. Originally the private game reserve of the Mysore royal family, Bandipur National Park is now a protected wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka. With wildlife ranging from deer to the occasional big cat, it is a major tourist draw and a quick and quiet call to the workings of mother nature.

Though there is the choice between government guest houses , dorms and other private guest houses, Tusker Trail is where you should be making your reservation. Set amidst lush greenery and bordering the forest on the eastern side, this resort makes you feel relaxed the moment you step into it.

Quaint cottages connect with each other and with the dining area and reception through narrow winding pathways. Even at full capacity, the whole resort is pervaded with a sense of soothing serenity. You can lounge on your private verandah, take a dip in the outdoor pool or tuck into some hot, homely food served at the dining area.

A weekend package at the resort is inclusive of the room, all three meals, an elephant ride, nature walks and, the pinnacle of it all, the evening and the early morning safari. The resort’s private jeeps take you through the game reserve for your brush with the wild. You are guaranteed to see wild boar, deer and a peacock or two.

If you are lucky and your driver has taken you down the right trail, a herd of wild elephants will turn to acknowledge your presence as you drive up to a watering hole. And for the seriously blessed, the occasional sighting of a big cat makes the day. Though tiger sightings are very rare, you might still manage to catch a fleeting glimpse of a cheetah or a panther.

In case you don’t, you can always come back to the resort to a hot breakfast and a long walk all by yourself or else to a quiet morning well spent watching your kids frolicking with the domesticated elephants on the property.

A sheer bliss indeed!