SOME OF INDIA’S UPSCALE safari properties are among the global leaders in the glamping and nature tourism segments. But a consensus has emerged among owners that their scope of responsibility goes beyond the walls of their individual properties. “As plush as a lodge might be, it cannot exist if the surrounding area is not up to the mark or is showing signs of deterioration,” says Shoba Mohan, founder of RARE India (rareindia.com), a curated consortium of boutique hotels.
REVERSING THE TREND
Admittedly, there have been cases of tokenism where PR activities and hollow CSR initiatives have been loosely translated into conservation efforts, but there are a few significant players in the market for whom conservation runs in the blood. The team at Jehan Numa Wilderness (jehannuma.com), for instance, has worked for the reintroduction of the critically endangered barasingha (swamp deer) from Kanha National Park (kanha-national-park.com) to Satpura National Park (satpura-nationalpark.com). This project was funded by Madhya Pradesh Tiger Foundation Society (mptiger.mponline.gov.in), and included initiatives such as providing clean drinking water to forest guards and ensuring food supply during the recent lockdown.
On the same lines, Taj Safaris (taj hotels.com) conducted a gaur relocation programme under the aegis of the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department. After a fiveyear-long effort, the extinction of gaurs, the largest herbivore species in the country, was reversed in Bandhavgarh National Park (bandhavgarh-national-park.com). As many as 44 animals were relocated from Kanha to Bandhavgarh in 2010-11, and their current numbers are promising.
This story is from the September 2020 edition of Travel+Leisure India.
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This story is from the September 2020 edition of Travel+Leisure India.
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GOOD SPIRITS
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THE BIG SWING
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Safari Bond
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Toddler Towns
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And Quiet Flows the Ganges
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"Moksha Himalaya Spa Resort Is The Perfect Place To Disconnect From The City"
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Just For Laughs
A Mumbai-based businessman, Atul Khatri switched the gears of his career at 44 to become a stand-up comedian. Since then, he has performed at many international shows, sending the audience into a laughing fit with his middle-class life anecdotes and jokes surrounding fatherhood. The comedian speaks to Simrran Gill about his sets, dealing with trolls, and the best compliment he has received.
World Through Their Eyes
A television host, model, and actor, Mini Mathur is also a passionate advocate of family bonding over travel. In 2018, she produced and presented Mini Me, a 10-part series that chronicled her travels with her seven-year-old daughter across six countries in Europe. In a conversation with Bayar Jain, the multi-hyphenate reveals the fun and challenges of exploring the globe with her kids, Sairah and Vivaan.
Paws and Go
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