Back to Nature

In a nostalgic return to Jungle Hut in Masinagudi, Dr Marianne Furtado de Nazareth reflects on how the eco-conscious resort has evolved while staying rooted in sustainability.

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From solar power and bamboo fencing to gentle reminders about conserving water and avoiding plastic, the resort exemplifies eco-friendly living. This thoughtfully written piece highlights the urgent need for environmentally responsible tourism and serves as a reminder that mindful choices, both by businesses and individuals, can make a meaningful difference in preserving our planet.

Maybe 30 years ago we took our really young sons and went to a resort quaintly called Jungle Hut in the foothills of the Nilgiris hills called Masinagudi. It then was just two little huts and we ate our meals with the owners, an army officer, in their personal dining room. We never forgot the experience even though over the years as a journalist, I covered dozens of posh resorts around Bangalore. All super luxurious, with numerous private swimming pools and all definitely following the use-and-throw mantra, so prevalent today.

It was a spur-of-the-moment decision to visit Jungle Hut again, a decision we will never regret making. Only this time it was difficult getting a booking and it seems to have become an all-time favourite with Bangaloreans. The decision was also supported positively by the fact that there is today the Bangalore, Mysore Expressway, so our trip had been reduced to a 5-hour drive on National Highway 247. The only downside - drivers tend to speed, not watching out for the miniscule warning speed signs and in minutes you are flagged down by a traffic cop and fined heavily.