Neeta Lal
ZANA
FOREST RESORT, RANTHAMBORE
By
NEETA LAL
Bitten
by the staycation bug, me and my family are constantly prowling the internet
for properties located not too far from Delhi that also offer immersive travel
experiences.
Our latest
online search threw up the moniker of the freshly minted Zana Forest Resort in
Ranthambore. The trip advisor reviews were effusive, and the property itself
was also ticking all our boxes of an ideal getaway. Nestled in nature? Check.
Bespoke experiences? Check. Yoga/swimming/recreational activities? Check,
check.
Located
adjacent to the Ranthambore National Park and Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, Zana is
a mere four hours’ drive from Delhi/NCR on the newly crafted New Delhi-Mumbai
Expressway. A train ride takes a wee bit longer but we still opted for it as our
Shram Shakti Express first class cabin offered us a seamless and comfortable ride.
Stellar views of the bucolic countryside and Bollywoodian sarson ke khet
from our windows were a bonus. And voila, no sooner did we wrap up a few rounds
of antakshari and a boxful of cheese sandwiches , than it was time to disembark
at the Sawai Madhopur railway station.
A pick
up car was waiting to ferry us to the resort, located a mere 10 minutes away. As we entered the lushly landscaped six-acre
resort, our senses felt immersed in nature. Lush greens, flower-bearing plants
and fruit orchards created a symphony of hues and fragrance. The resort’s architecture,
a tasteful amalgamation of the traditional and modern, flaunted 20 cottages and
rooms merging into the sylvan surroundings.
Our
well-appointed cottage emitted a colonial vibe with a teak writing desk, wi-fi,
tea/coffee machine, mini fridge, and a lavish bathroom with all amenities. Fresh
homemade sweets and a basket laden with colourful fruits beckoned from a corner.
Our private garden was anointed with
rattan chairs. After freshening up, we headed straight to the all-day
multi-cuisine diner Mayfair for lunch. A piping hot chicken curry,
tadka-infused yellow dal, aloo-gobi, assorted breads, ice-cream and syrupy gulab
jamuns tickled our tastebuds.
To
knock off the calories, we ambled around the expansive property to view its offerings – an outdoor swimming pool, a kid’s
play area, an in-house gaming zone, event spaces and a gaming arcade. Oh yeah,
there’s also golf putting, a tennis court, a badminton court, velcro football,
billiards and a karaoke stage.
The
resort prides itself in curating bespoke experiences for its guests. So one day,
we tucked into sizzling grills at the
poolside as the chef made them to our
specifications. A barman rustled up fresh cocktails infusing them with local
herbs/condiments as we gazed at the stars glittering above
Another
night, we savoured an Italian dinner on a chabootra (raised stony platform) under
an illuminated banyan tree. A singer serenaded us as we savored pasta alfredo, oregano-smeared
focaccia and a wood-fired pepperoni pizza. A tiramisu brought the meal to an
end with a flourish. Post dinner, we floated lanterns into the sky watching
them disappear into the vast inky darkness.
Other
activities such as watching a movie under the stars; liquor and liqueur tasting
evenings and nature trails filled up the rest of our three-day sojourn. On the
second day, at the crack of dawn, we headed for a tiger safari at the
Ranthambore National Park where we spotted not one, but three striped cats (Sultana
with her cubs Riddhi and Siddhi) apart from a plethora of exotic flora and fauna.
Next
day, we went for a crocodile safari! Boarding a yacht from the Rivershore, we skimmed the Chambal and Parvati rivers with
our affable boatman Monu Gurjar to see the reptiles. We couldn’t believe our
luck when we saw not one, but four monstrous ones sunning themselves near the
shore, their wizened bodies glistening in the sun.
Unperturbed
by our arrival, and even by the frenzied clicking of our cameras, the animals lay
perfectly still with nary a movement. Monu informed us that we were lucky to
see so many in one visit as the temperamental beasts are usually found underwater
in the afternoons. “They also disappear when buffaloes come to the shore to
graze,” explained Monu as we reluctantly headed back to the shore after our
thrilling encounter.
On
the last day of our sojourn, we hiked up to the majestic Ranthambore Fort, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built by several Rajput dynasties over centuries, the
fort’s stony and dilapidated ramparts hint at past glory. The views from the
top though are to die for. We watched mesmerized as a cinematic expanse of
Sawai Madhopur opened out before us at the vertiginous height. On the way down,
we sought the blessings of the elephant god at the Trinetra Ganesha temple, a
fitting finale to a memorable trip!