A Wild World's Secret Oasis

A luxurious boutique lodge located at the edge of the Gir National Park, spins an enchanting tale celebrating the wild 

- Shreya Cheema

FOR A CITY PERSON, ANY CHANCE TO VENTURE into the wild is an invitation into the unknown. A world with its own rules and rhythms-where the frailties of everyday existence fall apart.

I realised this as soon as the car veered off the smooth metalled roads and suddenly pulled itself onto the uneven path, running through the dense teak forest fringing the Gir National Park.

I rolled down my windows, desperate to take in as much as I could, even though it had only been a few minutes since I entered the unknown and despite having another night in its embrace.

Suddenly, the silence of the three-hour journey was broken by a piercing call-a fitting welcome to my luxurious sanctuary at Aramness, just a few miles away from Asiatic lions' only home. Veiled by night, Aramness's deep-red facade was yet to reveal itself; however, the two massive lion brass figurines, placed proudly at each end of the tall and wide restored antique door opening up to the haveli, instantly conveyed Aramness's oath to honour Gir and Gujarat, with elan.

While "aram" translates to comfort or rest in Hindi, the second half, "ness," is a local term used by the Maldharis (a tribal community native to Gir) to refer to a cluster of houses. And ness it is, with 18 double-storey kothis-three among them include two rooms, parted by an expansive living room-spread over 12 acres, modelled after the villages of Gujarat.

The Many Treasures

I was guided by my private butler-present round-the-clock for any assistance-to my room. And behind another antique door lay my elegant and spacious abode.

Even though all I had dreamt about in the last hour of the car ride was a cosy hotel bed, the huge hand-carved wooden framed mirror hung on the walls of the pathway and inspired by a peacock's fanned feathers caught my attention with its aged beauty.