What could possibly link a serene farm neighboring Jim Corbett National Park, a mango orchard of 50 acres near a wildlife sanctuary where elephants roam freely, and a corner of wilderness at the edge of an Andhra Pradesh thorn forest? All of them are places to find wonderful forest stays at the borders of the wild. In the middle of the Indian forests, there are homestays with hosts letting the tourists in who are looking for silence, solitude, and a little bit of nature. Each house has its own rustic character along with modern facilities and, therefore, these are ideal getaways for nature enthusiasts. They exist in the middle of lush countryside and are hotspots for many species of animals and plants. The choice is between a safari in Bandipur or Kanha to lounge under sal trees’ beautiful crowns.
Spotted owlet, Maharashtra : Forest stay
Just two kilometers from Moharli Gate of the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve is Hans Dalal’s Spotted Owlet Farm House, a bush home with the rather unusual name given to an owl that resides there.The property is in the core zone and surrounded by 2,000 trees which are home to 87 species of birds. There are three cottages namely Ranthambore, Tadoba, and Bandhavgarh along with a two-bedroom stone villa that passes on the cooling effect of the property in summer to the ground. The two-acre plot of land comprises a master kitchen, a smokeless campfire pit, a fireplace with seating area, two hammocks for relaxation under the trees, a dip pool, indoor and outdoor dining, a washing machine, and a dryer. Switching on and off is done by electric heaters and air conditioners in every room. Host Dalal is a professional sound engineer who loves nature and is an environmentalist, he is also the lead of the NGO “PROWL,” which stands for placing tigers in their natural habitat as the best option for saving them, plus he lives in a mud house made of cow dung, straw, and mud on the farm and does agricultural water collection on his farm. He allows pets to stay with their owners at the farm and, in fact, he loves interacting with the guests. He welcomes pets on the farm and actually loves interacting with guests.
Dhole’s Den; a forest stay near Bandipur National Park
Option from spacious rooms and larger Garden Mansions in this homestay near Bandipur National Park.The property also has a large balcony ideal for having drinks while watching the sunset, and it connects the living room and the master bedroom. Also, there is the Mountain Paradise house which is placed on the edge of the property and has panoramic views of the forest.. The property’s rainwater pond can also be seen from this point.
Ayra Farms, Forest stay in Maharashtra
Toronto chef Noopur Chaughule traveled to visit her parents Rajan and Sadhana in India five months pregnant before COVID-19 hit the nation. She was stuck on the property after a series of lockdowns. Chaughule then saw her daughter grow up on the farm when she gave birth. There are two cabins now for rent at the family homestay. The first one is occupied by the hosts, it’s 7,500 square feet and divided into two floors. The second cottage, just across the street, is 3,000 square feet and has two rooms that you can rent. With more cottages, a yoga facility, and a workshop area for upcycling, woodwork, and pottery, the hosts plan to open up the property and make it a kind of eco community. Children will love the Isuzu truck of the hosts, which is available for them with a driver for late-night rides through the woods. The spotting list for wildlife has crocodiles, bison, jackals, wild dogs, gray langurs, snakes, and if you are fortunate, leopards among them. If not, the day also allows you to take your kid along with binoculars to the house’s top floor or to the upper floor or roof for watching peacocks, sunbirds, eagles, hornbills, kingfishers, woodpeckers, and black-hooded orioles.
Svanir Wilderness; Forest stay near Chandaka Elephant Sanctuary
Svanir Wilderness Ecostay is an isolated homestay that is enveloped by 700 trees and is situated in Dalua village, at the perimeter of the Chandaka Elephant Sanctuary. The resort has six air-conditioned cottages with independent sit-outs. To live closer to nature on this property on the outskirts of Odisha, host couple Soumya and Indrani Mukherji quit their jobs at multinationals in Delhi. The couple lives on the farm along with their parents and child. Indrani, who enjoys feeding her visitors, prepares all the meals at the homestay. Play board games, take a stroll around the land at a slow pace, do birding, or even get some art equipment if you want to paint or draw. You can trek to the Jhumka dam close up or go in a jeep safari or drive your own vehicle through the Chandaka Elephant Sanctuary.
Medini ; Forest stay in Assam
The farm at Medini Homestay in Bokakhat, Assam, looks tranquil and peaceful on the surface. But there is a network of dedicated locals and rich biodiversity of rice fields, leaf birds, butterflies, insects, and eri silkworms busy here, inspecting the fields, running tender handlooms, and tending to a boiling pot of dal in the kitchen.
Velanga orchard; Forest stay in Andhra Pradesh
The serene Velanga Orchard is a mango orchard of 50 acres having a homestay in Bodabandla village, Andhra Pradesh, on the border of a shrub reserve forest.
The ancient wood apple tree at the entrance of the property gave the property its name; “velanga” is Tamil for wood apple. Hosts Nikita Dawar and Karthik Ramaraj cultivate rice, teak, millets, and seasonal vegetables in addition to mangoes. The nature of the homestay consists of four independent cottages and three sharing with twin beds. Savor bonfires in the evenings, long walks on and around the grounds, reading a book in a tree, and absorbing the farm experience. Dip into the nearby lake or morning hikes early on a hill that is otherwise left for Velanga visitors.
Also check:- Undiscovered Trekking Trails in India
Wrap-up
Such forest stays provide advantages to nature living beyond mere relaxation. These forest resorts provide a professionally designed jungle experience apart from drinking in the natural scenery. It’s always been special, whether you were growing up and witnessing India’s varied national parks or learning about them in school. We are very lucky now that we have high-tech eco-architecture like forest stay
