Gir is the only place where you can see asiatic lions in the wild. Now you can do it in the lap of luxury.
The four-hour drive from Rajkot to Sasan Gir is predictably dominated by talk of lions and the possibility of sightings. As we cross the Nawabi city of Junagarh, the road turns into a single lane and the speed limit comes down to 20 kmph. It’s a short stretch through a reserve forest which opens out at Sasan—a small town which serves as the main gateway to the Gir National Park and the majestic lions that reside within. Pondering on the likelihood of seeing one in the wild, I enter Woods at Sasan (WAS), the flagship property of the 1000 Island group. It is situated on the fringes of the park, amid the quiet setting of an eight-acre mango orchard with over 280 mango trees, interspersed with many more seasonal fruit trees. In an area replete with possibilities, this eco-friendly boutique resort promises a one-of-a-kind experience. I am here to test that claim.
I am greeted by the front-office manager Lovesh Villayat with a refreshing drink of aam panna. The reception itself is open and informal with the main artwork here based on three materials—wood, stone and cotton. Stylish beadwork panels line the entrance wall, inspired by the torans of Saurashtra, the region we are in. “Every piece of furniture in the property has been designed in-house and made on the property itself, mostly using reclaimed wood,” says Lovesh. The wood is sourced from Alang in Gujarat, one of the largest ship-breaking yards in the world.
The minimalist design of the property, imbued with Gujarati art and craft traditions and moulded to a modern finish, lines every nook and cranny of the property. Handcrafted and curated by an in-house team of artists, architects and designers, just about every fitting and fixture at this resort is bespoke.
Denne historien er fra January 2018-utgaven av Outlook Traveller.
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Denne historien er fra January 2018-utgaven av Outlook Traveller.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Chutneys For Every Season
GROWING UP IN JHARKHAND, I've always been enchanted by the state's culinary landscape. Here, the local cuisine never fails to surprise with its depth and variety.
BADGE OF HONOUR
IN THE DYNAMIC LANDSCAPE of tourism, where greenwashing often taints sustainability, certifications can help distinguish between genuine efforts and marketing gimmicks. Green certification systems encourage businesses to enhance their environmental credentials.
WHEELS OF TIME
IN 1947, TRAINS CARRYING REFUGEES ACROSS THE BORDER WERE SYMBOLIC OF THE TUMULT OF THE PARTITION.
RAILS OF THE Raj
FROM ITS CONCEPTION TO ITS ROLE IN THE NATION'S HISTORY, THE BRITISH INDIAN RAILWAYS IS A PHENOMENON MARKED AS MUCH BY MARVEL AS AVARICE
THE RHYTHM OF BOLLYWOOD
FROM THE RAILROAD THRILLER MISS FRONTIER MAIL 1936) TO SHAH RUKH KHAN DANCING ON A TRAIN IN DIL SE' 1998), TRAINS HAVE GIVEN UNFORGETTABLE SONG SEQUENCES TO MANY HINDI FILMS
MEMORY'S OASIS
REMEMBRANCES OF GROWING UP IN SEALDAH RAILWAY OFFICERS COLONY IN KOLKATA
A FAREWELL × TO FLAVOURS
FROM CUTLETS AND RAILWAY MUTTON CURRY IN DINING CARS TO THE UNREMARKABLE FARE AVAILABLE TODAY, THE JOURNEY OF FOOD ON THE INDIAN RAILWAY IS FASCINATING
HERITAGE ON THE TRACKS
THE ICONIC DARJEELING HIMALAYAN RAILWAY, FONDLY CALLED THE TOY TRAIN,' HAS HELD ITS UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE STATUS SINCE 1999
HIDDEN LIVES
SPANNING 65,000 KILOMETRES THROUGH DENSELY POPULATED INDIA, THE RAILWAYS ARE A BACKDROP TO COUNTLESS STORIES. 'THE UNRESERVED' BY FILMMAKER SAMARTH MAHAJAN CAPTURES A FEW
JOURNEYS WITHIN AND WITHOUT
FOR IMTIAZ ALI, TRAIN JOURNEYS ARE TRANSFORMATIVE, OFFERING GLIMPSES OF INDIA'S DIVERSE SOCIETY AND ITS MANY CULTURES AND RELIGIONS