We all know that #needtogetaway is a great trend. So call it wanderlust or just the need to reset your mind clock; pack your bags for Red Earth, Kabini. Started by Ravi and Rachel, and now with Aditya, their son looking after operations, it is a super place to recharge the batteries. Plus, it’s an eco-friendly space too. What we love about this place is the balance of rustic and modern. Homely and informal, guests casually mill about the property chatting and swapping stories. There is also a mud-walled cottage on offer, with the luxury of an open-air jacuzzi and four-poster beds with a view of the backwaters and a lake.
But being the exploratory kind, even the cottages couldn’t hold us hostage and so safaris and bird watching were next on the cards. And if Aditya has anything to do with it, then a couple of leopards will give you and your DSLR much to marvel at. They are super strict, and rightly so, about how visitors behave in the national parks, so make sure you’re not running wild (leave that to the animals, maybe!). If for some tragic reason you can’t see any animals, Aditya will more than make up for that with scores of stunning photos. Sweet talk him a bit and he’ll even regale you with jungle tales.
Come dusk, the folks at the resort will get a barbecue going, and over European and Indian grills, great banter and connections will emerge. But try to hit the sack early as treks in the morning are the way to go here. With the trails passing through dense forest and grasslands, you’ll have a bit of an adventure skipping through streams and bumping into wild elephants. Do make sure that in trying to star gaze in your Jacuzzi, you don’t ignore the swimming pool. They also host cooking, martial arts and yoga sessions by the pool, so make sure you ask what is happening in-house.
