If you are looking for a break from the concrete jungle and the chaos of hectic schedules and deadlines, there is no better place than the Jagatpur Lodge by Annapurna. Ideally located on the banks of a rivulet of the Rapti River and on the edge of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chitwan National Park, Jagatpur Lodge in its perfect natural surrounding transports you to a world of jungle camps and wildlife safaris.
We drove past bright yellow mustard fields and local hamlets to reach the lodge and through their banana plantation to finally reach the gate where the team awaited to give us a traditional welcome with Tika, Khada, fresh damp towels and a welcome drink. Passing through the banana trees is considered auspicious and we were already feeling the positive vibes. We headed to our rooms to freshen up and then to the well-designed dining hall for a late lunch. The sumptuous Nepali meal was relished by our group as maybe we were tired and hungry. However, the fresh, quiet setting of the place, the organic ingredients and culinary expertise of the chef in residence certainly played a big part in ensuring satisfaction.
We then moved to the deck which is the perfect place to relax and observe the open grassland ahead and the wildlife that is easy to spot in the distance. The lodge is peacefully located on more than eight acres of jungle grassland. Clustered in the middle of the property and surrounded by open lawns and gardens are 5 blocks with 4 rooms in each building. These are the deluxe rooms with a balcony or sit out on the ground floor that overlooks the garden that is adorned with tall trees and bushes.
The rooms are tastefully furnished to offer the highest levels of comfort while blending amazingly into the surroundings. Spacious rooms with very comfortable beds, walls decorated with murals that provide a local touch, air-conditioning, modern bathrooms and luxurious amenities along with HD televisions and Wi-Fi connectivity ensure that guests are pampered.
However, where the lodge faces no competition is the truly spectacular tents that are a first in this region. Taking the jungle safari experience to an ultimate high the 7 luxurious tents imported from South Africa are amazing with en-suite bathrooms. These tents offer a five-star hotel experience while retaining the adventure and wilderness quotient. With these tents, Jagatpur Lodge ensures a truly luxurious and unique experience for the most seasoned incentive traveller.
Perfectly positioned on the edge of the rivulet and overlooking the jungle on a platform with stilts, each tent has its own private viewing deck. The location is perfect for sighting wildlife as they come down for a drink or to graze in a vast expanse of grasslands.Our group of seasoned tour operators and travel professionals were all left in awe and pleased at what they could now offer to luxury-seeking tourists in the heart of the jungle.
While Nepal has always been an adventure destination and jungle safari an appealing option, innovating and enhancing products like these luxury tents will go a long way in ensuring tourist have an experience at par with the best the world has to offer. The jungle activities are carried out by knowledgeable professional guides and teams that will ensure you get to experience as much of the jungle as possible.
But it is not just the product that inspired us. It was the dedication to detail and the wonderful surprises along the way that got our admiration. This trip offered us many unique first time experiences, even though all of us from the travel trade has been to Chitwan countless times. Later that evening entering the jungle with flashlights to show the way and to come upon this clearing lit up with lanterns and fires where we would enjoy a bush dinner was certainly a first. To be seated at impeccable white dining tables in the middle of the jungle and enjoy drinks and a barbeque with attendants to serve is to experience royalty and what dining must have been like for these hunting parties in the years gone by. We also got to enjoy the finest Tharu Cuisine, prepared by local Tharu women in the ambience of a local hut. That was another first for me and it certainly highlighted the fact that when warm, traditional hospitality meets the highest international levels of service there is bound to be excellence.
If I had to sum up the whole trip I would call it an unmatched experience that exceeded expectations.
Karuna Gauchan is a photographer/videographer at nepaltraveller.com. She enjoys trekking and exploring nature.
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