Sometimes 24 hours is all you need to recharge!
It was Wednesday. A long weekend was coming up and we just wanted a break. The thought of going to the airport and standing in long lines was not appealing (neither were the prices). So, we started researching quick weekend trips from Hyderabad, India. Most of the suggestions included driving for about 6 to 7 hours. We did not want to do that. In desperation, we drew a circle around Hyderabad to see what popped up within a three-hour driving distance. As we navigated around the circle, the town of Bidar showed up.
We last visited Bidar about 10 years ago. It is a lovely city with some amazing landmarks. The Bidar Fort, tombs, Madrasa, chowbara gave us a glimpse of its history. At the famous Gurudwara Sri Nanak Jhira Sahib we enjoyed our first langar. There is also the very famous Jharni Narasimha Temple for those that are interested in temple runs. However, during this short trip, we chose not to re-visit them, although, if we spent an additional ½ day, we could have covered them all.
Blackbuck resort is about 30 to 45 minutes past Bidar. The distance is not the issue. The road condition is. Once you exit the main highway, the road conditions slow you down. Along the way there are many small temples to visit if you are interested. The resort itself feels like you are in the middle of nowhere. We reached there around lunch time. The check-in was smooth and once we reached the cottage, the view blew our mind away. We were lucky. Our view of the lake from the cottage was simply spectacular.
Once we settled in, we headed to the dining area for lunch. It was a nice spread, perfect for vegetarians. There was a chicken dish available as well. After lunch, we headed back to the cottage for a quick nap. Reporting time for the safari was 3:30pm.
We reached the designated spot by 3:30pm. They have 2 safari jeeps that escort you. It appears half the guests go on the morning safari and the other half go in the afternoon. We got a chance to go in the afternoon one. The starting point for the safari is about 15 kms away. The drive there was smooth and uneventful. Once we reached the starting point, we started to see blackbucks. During the 45 minutes’ drive within the forest, we saw many blackbucks. We also managed to see a fight between two male bucks. Having been to several forests in the past, it was the sweeping green meadows (grasslands) just after the rains that captured my attention the most. Absolutely stunning!
We got back to the resort around 6:30 pm. We were given the opportunity to complete the boating but we decided to wait till the next morning. After snacks we had an opportunity to chill for a bit. The nice surprise was that they have a cool telescope that they bring out once it is dark. Through the telescope we were able to get a glimpse of the planet Saturn (with its rings) and of course the surface of the moon. The guide mentioned that during certain times in the year, other planets are also visible. Afterwards, we headed to the common area to enjoy a pleasant camp fire.
Soon it was dinner time. After another wholesome meal (this time the non-vegetarian dishes included fish), we headed back to our cottage and called it a night. Reporting time the next morning was 6:30am.
The next morning, after a quick cup of coffee, we headed out for a guided walk. We walked in the outer edges of Honnikeri forest and spotted many species of birds. We managed to see a few peacocks as well… including one in flight. It was a lovely walk. We returned an hour later and headed to the lake for boating. We tried both kayaking and the paddle boat. There is a coracle ride also available for those that are interested in that.
After washing up we headed for breakfast. The variety of food was amazing. They make sure you have a hearty breakfast before you head out… check out time is 10:30am. After breakfast we decided to go on another short walk by ourselves. We returned to the resort around 10am and headed out soon after. We reached Hyderabad by lunch time.
All in all, it was an amazing 24 hours to recharge. We loved the fact that there were enough curated activities to keep you busy and enough free time to chill. The only complaint any of us had was that we did not receive a proper phone signal while inside the cottage. But, for a few hours, it didn’t matter at all. The sweeping grasslands with the gorgeous blackbucks are what we will remember forever!
Wandering Tales Travel Dreams 