Trails of calm, serenity and nature.

It was a warm and humid summer afternoon, I was uploading one more video on our youtube channel, when I heard a soft brush of a letter falling into my door. It was a pamphlet from Nature Trails. I didn’t bother to open it then and just left it on the desk near the door where we usually light up a candle.

Two days later, on Thursday morning I was changing the candle when i happen to reach out to this pamphlet which I showed to my wife and we instantly decided to go to this place called Nature Trails SAJAN. The offer was quite tempting and it promised of lots of activities too. To top it, just the idea of staying in tree tops, we knew would fascinate our kids. Before the kids would be back from play we called up the Nature Trails office and booked a tree top for the very next day. That is for two nights.

Kids were super excited and refused to see the pictures on the website as they wanted to explore the place physically and not virtually, like my elder son put it.

Braving the summer heat we were off to our Nature Trail. The best part about this place is that it is just around 100 km from Mumbai (My Location Kandivli). You would reach there in less than two hours and thanks to the wonderful new road connecting Manor towards Sajan the drive seems a pleasure.

On the way from Manor to Pali

For people travelling from Mumbai, on the Mumbai Ahmedabad highway, take a right turn from Manor. Do not drive over the bridge or else you shall miss the turn. 

From Manor just enjoy the drive till you reach Pali naka from where you take a left and move on the road towards Vikramgad till you see a small board on your right for a turn towards your destination. That road narrows down and takes you to Nature Trails Sajan.

We had visited this place twice before but never had the chance to stay in the TREE TOPS, this time around we did....Bliss!!!

The Reception area greets you with nature abound.

The moment we entered this place abound in nature, we knew its well kept and cared for. The reception area itself greeted us with a beautifully, humbly designed garden. The office has a stock of books which if interested you can get your hands and eyes on. The manager took up the details and we were guided into our TREE TOP which we were waiting to see.

The two hammock opposite our TT4

WOW!

As we passed the dinning area and walked into this rustic, foliage abound spot a carpet of reddish brown mud welcomed us to walk and feel the nature. Kids were just so excited to see the TREE TOPS they ran into it. I and my wife jumped on to one of the each hammock just opposite to our nestle,   but not before we had had a refreshing glass of lime juice.

The TREE TROP

The ROOM interior

The EXTERI

The room is simple, with windows on all three sides opening up to nature all around. The air-condition did work as a blessing in the summer heat, but i am sure at other times like the monsoon or the winter this place wouldn't need one. Bamboo trees by the side, huge teak and Palas trees make for the perfect setting. I presume the structure swayed too, a little, when someone would climb up the stairs. The exteriors of the structure has sumptuous use of wood and adds to the already rustic mood of the place.

Looking at the perfect arrangement of the TREE TOPS and the trees around, i wondered if the nature blended into the structure or the structure blended into the nature. 

Lunch was a good spread of pickle, papad, salad, butter milk, pakoda, three vegetables, rice, dal and sweet and of course how can one forget the abundant supply of fruits.

Non-veg for lunch is something i presume has to be informed before hand at the office. At dinner, though not very elaborate, poultry was served as a part of the buffet. No one really cared as the farm fresh veggies and fruits more than sufficed the palate. And of course the mangoes that appeared to me straight from the stems were amazingly delicious, though green from outside they were sweet to the core, the supply never stopped and we didn't feel shy asking for more.

Swimming pool is a pre-requisite for any of our holidays and we always make sure that the place we visit has enough activities for the kids. Here you have both.

 Though we got a better cleaned pool the next day we made sure we write it in our feedback to maintain it a little more, especially the fountain coming out from atop which needed repairs, we were informed by an attendant. 

We made some friends around the place since almost all were couples with kids, it was fun doing the activities. Suryakant dressed perfectly for leading us into the activities made sure we and the kids take part in all of it. 

Kayaking and rappelling by the river side was amazing, in fact i would want to visit this place again just to be there at this kayaking river side and enjoy the view.

Suryakant & his boys

This place has enough activities to keep the kids and the parents occupied. Ice-cream making in the night, where Suryakant and his boys guided us into making the sancha wala ice cream and the kids and we elders were more than happy to churn it ourselves. The ice cream tasted delicious as if we were enjoying the fruits of our own hard work. 

Warli Painting Demo

Just HANGING around

Warli painting demonstration, valley crossing and you know it's value for money.

 There isn't any room service, but morning bed-tea is served outside on your table irrespective of whether you wake up and drink it or not. I drank it for sure, three cups, i just love tea. May be the chef could add some mint or tea leaves and maybe a little of basil leaves the tea drinking process would be an activity in itself, adding flavor to the place.

I woke up even before the tea reached, 6.00 a.m. and 6.14 a.m. the attendant walked up the stairs with a flask of tea with four empty cups. While going back he switched of the sit out light. This place is nicely lit even in the night. 

I was the only one awake in my room so as i enjoyed the chirping of the birds which sounded more of a melody, i saw Suryakant all up and about with child like eagerness to take us all for the trek. He waited patiently on one of the hammocks for the others as i informed him we wouldn't be joining him as the kids were tired and sleeping.

He almost looked disappointed. I assured him that next morning i would make sure they all wake up and join him for the trek.

By 6.50 p.m. since almost everyone from the TREE TOPS were marching behind Suryakant, i enjoyed the peace the calm and the serenity of this blissful heaven. Into my meditation and Reiki session i realized, we so much miss this calm and serenity in our city life. I enjoyed those short lived moments when my breath and heart beat competed with each other for attention, as i heard them clearly. 

Since it was summer vacation we had company. Predominantly there were couples like us with two or more kids and thanks to Mr. Divekars no alcohol policy the place is far from being intoxicated. 

Kids found their company and spent most of their time in playing table tennis, carrom and cricket. The morning of the day we were suppose to leave we went for the morning trek, had fun valley crossing and plunged into the cleaned swimming pool. 

It was the best time when we parents were all together into the pool with our kiddos and it almost filled up the entire pool. We played with the kids like kids and had some real good time till again it was time for our spread of breakfast, which included nice helpings of omeletes, bread butter jam, fruit, misal pav (I just love it), upma, tea and coffee. WOW! 

Mr. Hari Divekar n Me

I was keen to meet Chinmay this time around. I had met him years back when he himself was supervising all our camping activities, but he wasn't around. I had the privilege of meeting  Mr.Hari Divekar, the man himself  who was kind enough to share his little story of how in the year 1983 he had this humble idea of having Nature Trails spread over 100 acres in different parts of Maharashtra. I admired his humility as he spoke softly and at the end of the conversation gifted him a copy of my book 'The Most Successful Formula 2 b Unsuccessful', as i knew this immensely successful man would definitely resonate with it. He had to leave since he had to visit his other site at Dhabosha which is yet another camping site. 

The man and his team at Nature Trails have done a great task of having brought to us  sweet, natural, fun-filled, activity laden, happy, humble holidays. 

The trails of the calm, serenity and nature of the place 
still linger with me, as i meditate in my restricting four walled concrete abode. 
Following those, i wish i shall be back when the drops of rain kiss this dwelling and i would smell the soil and experience yet another face of nature. 

Facts: Distance from Kandivli approx. 97 km

Travel Time: Depends on many factors but approx. 2 hours

Best time to visit: When ever you decide to break the routine and reach a place in lap of nature close to city.

Monsoon surely would be best.

©Nozzer Pardiwala

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