atravelynn

Looking over the past responses, there's that OVENBIRD again. You are everywhere I want to be! Isn't that the VISA credit card commercial?

lcuy

Can't help you much on the park tips, as I've only been to Ranthambore. 4 jeep rides and never found a tiger.

I have been to the Ahuja Residency in Delhi though, My daughter lived here for several weeks, and I while I didn't stay there, i visited her several times. there are two locations; one in the Golf Links and one across from Khan Market. Khan is a better location for shopping and to catch a cab or autorickshaw. The golf link is prettier and I believe there was a pool.

Good locations and nice by Indian standards. Clean, uncluttered. Beds are typical Indian..meaning kind of hard. overhead fans, AC, bathrooms are clean, but very basic. It felt like staying in someone's home as they had private or twin rooms with bath, but the living room, kitchen, and other living room were shared.

Good value for the price.

dogster

hey atravelynn: why not add links for those choices? That way we all get to play. Your post becomes a resource then, too. Let's hope the esteemed JP is around [altho it's his high season now, I bet he's super busy]

atravelynn

Who is JP or do you mean VP?

I'll add some links, dogster.

Ahuja--thanks lcuy. Didn't know there were 2 Ahuja locations. The selling point on that place is that it would be easy to start my morning 1-day tour of Delhi from that location. I won't be either golfing or swimming.


You did help on park tips with your Ranthambore comment.

dogster

lol - the esteemed VP Singh of course. An attack of pre-senility. This is turning out to be a very interesting post, bit by bit. Did you ever read spassvogel's trip report from a few months ago? A search will bring it up.

Marija

Lynn--Have you considered hiring an elephant and mahout? When we were in Bandhavgarh two years ago we saw a photographer who had hired an elephant for several days. On elephant back you can off road and avoid the crowds. I think the cost was comparable to a private vehicle in Africa, but I'm not sure. Obviously it's not for the casual visitor but I know how serious you are about your wildlife viewing.

lcuy

The two Ahuja locations are very close, and would be good starting point to do a tour.

atravelynn

What a good idea Marija! I am seriously considering my own vehicle, but had never thought about a private elephant and mahout.

Now how do I go about securing the 450 school children?

I read SV's (not VP's or JP's !!??) report in detail, including the negatives. I've also read Marija's report and remember the guy falling off the vehicle.

Delhi: Ahuja Residency –
http://www.ahujaresidency.com/gh_defencecolony.html

Kanha: Royal Tiger Resort – http://www.royaltiger.com

Bandhavgarh: Nature Heritage Resort – http://www.natureheritageresort.com

Corbett: Camp Forktail Creek – www.campforktailcreek.com

Corbett: Dhikala Forest Lodge - http://www.dhikalaforestlodge.in/

I cannot find much on Malani Forest Rest House. You take a cook in with you, though. No electricity, I believe.

atravelynn

Dogster,

It appears you have been ill. Hope you are better.

Marija

Lynn--
You may (or may not) recall that the school children appeared after a special anointing from above...

dogster

Wow! Your own private elephant! If that's possible wouldn't it be great. The only problem would be if the tigah-h-h-h is a coupla kilometers away. You'd have to make sure your elephant could run. I can see you now, on the back of a thundering elephant, trumpeting wildly - [the elephant, not you...]

Yup, an attack of Roast Chicken, a squirt of pesticide, a guzzle of ju-ju cough medicine and Dog was down, out and crazy. All's fine now. I'm in Mumbai.

Thanks very much for those links.

vp_singh

Thanks for appreciating, Ladies & Gentlemen…I have been far afield, these last a few days!
With respect to the Malani FRH, this place would be great only if you were allowed to sit up over the waterhole in a tree machaan that locates deep inside the forest. However, as that is not possible, the idea of staying in Malani forest block is not convincing. The forest cover is very good but the forests beyond the rest house is considered core area & out of bounds for the tourists. (The researchers on WL & rangers of the forest dept. are allowed). Your only hope of catching a glimpse of the tiger restricts on the one road that goes from Bijrani to Malani. Not recommended.
Please bear in mind that the farther you move away from the core areas, the slimmer your chances of making contact with a tiger. Some of the properties in the buffer zone may be excellent from the point of view of a birder or a fisherman, fine luxury & good food but for a serious big game enthusiast, the areas around Dhikala, beginning from Sarpdulli FRH to the water reservoir west of Dhikala, offer greater opportunity.
The same is true of Gairal FRH. The location is picturesque but forests very dense, here as well, restricting view. You may have excellent views of some rare spectacles, for example, the Sambhar, a big animal, going up the steep hillside as sure footed as a mountain goat or the Mahseer Fish, unbelievably big in size, inhabiting those pools etc.
An elephant ride is fine in the morning, when the tiger moves into denser cover, inaccessible from the jeep. But she also covers less ground. A combination of jeep & elephant safari is ideal.
Some websites are ambiguous. There was a talk of direct ‘online’ bookings for Corbett last year but that proposal will take some time to take off. As of date, no direct online booking is possible. It has to be procured from the CNP office at Ramnagar, while the old FRH at Dhikala is booked from Dehradun – again a privilege of the ubiquitous beaurocrat!!!
And
Dogster, what’s up in Mumbai? I am told the ‘Golden Dragon’ & ‘Wasabi’ at the Taj are reopened!

dogster

VP: I'm at the Hotel Apollo and eating at the wondrous Olympia Cafe and the Majestic Dining Hall. lol. I think you know what that means - for those who don't, estimated cost for a vast meal - about 100 rupees [$2] - about the cost of a sneer at the Taj. So I'm not sure. I will enquire during my evening pilgimage along the waterfront.

dogster

Links:
www.hotelapollo.co.in
http://www.citipals.com/l_14214_olym...e-g-p-o-mumbai
funnily enough - the only link for the Majestic Dining Hall I can find in google.in is mine - you'll have to scroll down:
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...llo-mumbai.cfm

linhelen

Hi...My strong recommendation for Bandhavgarh is Jungle Mantra (junglemantra.com). I was there a few years ago and they were wonderful. Interesting place, interesting location.I saw tigers and other interesting plants and animals on the excursions and everyone was helpful and knowledgable. Elephant-back viewing available.

atravelynn

Thanks for the additional info VP and Linhelen. Can you explain the "cost of a sneer" Dogster.

atravelynn

Yes, thank goodness he has recovered from the pesticides, etc.

lcuy

If you tip 100Rs at the Taj, you'll get only a sneer..?

vp_singh

Dogster: Try the Mocambo restaurant in the fort area. This joint was recommended to me by a very elegant Parsi lady, born & brought up in Mumbai. The recommendation was for lunch & 'Dhanska??' a chicken or mutton dish...!
Bon appetit!

dogster

No, I won't explain 'the cost of a sneer...'

It's a beautiful sentence with multiple meanings and should be admired, not explained - like Dogster himself. lol lol lol.