Showing posts with label Camping in Wilderness near Mumbai. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Camping in Wilderness near Mumbai. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Camping by the River Bhatsa

Camping / Fishing / Kayaking / Hiking

2 hours drive from Mumbai (Mumbai – Nasik Highway 75 KM).

Load the bait, cast your line and wait. You are in your own solitude. Earlier you were lazing in hammocks, or strolling along the river and now you're reflecting, removed from the city madness!

Just then you feel a tug at the line, and we promise that you heart will jump a little.
Our vasind campground promises homely hospitality. Consider this destination to add trekking, fishing or kayaking to your camping holiday.

Location: Bhatsa River Side Camping
Experiences included in package: Moonlight Kayaking, Camping with Barbecue Dinner and Breakfast.

Cost Rs.2750/- per person.

(Includes - Moonlight Kayaking 1 hour, Overnight Camping Experience, Barbecue Dinner and Breakfast).

for more details about campsite and standard packages on other days scroll down.





River Side Campsite at  vasind is a homely escape just outside the bumbling Mumbai cityscape, at vasind. The destination is flanked by the Mahuli mountains and the lovely Bhatsa river ambles by camp.

You live in tents, cook barbecues, and enjoy camp-life! But if you need the action, trek the Mahuli hills, go for a kayak safari or off-road in our jeep (Check Easy Adventures)
Our hosts are expert anglers and the destination is a fishing enthusiast's delight
Yoga in the lawn, hammocks amongst chickoo trees are appended with clean toilets and showers giving camp the familiar BRT.

Our campground currently has just two sites for upto four people each, each site outfitted with picnic tables and lanterns to light your space.

Our common areas have games and puzzles, and the thrill of playing "Jenga", "Taboo" or "Scrabble" in the outdoors is a must-experience. Plan some reading, sketching or other do it yourself activity ideas and enrich your experience.

Showers and WCs are common to campers. These are well maintained to suit urban standards.

Easy Adventures offers a range of activities around camp. Some of these activities are free for our campers and some chargeable but all of them are worth the indulgence. Give your self to the experience and you'll find something within!

Kayaking (subject to the weather in the monsoons)
A range of Kayaking activities are conducted from a 1 hour guided kayaking and training (Rs. 300pp) to a 4-5 hour Kayaking safari - flowing downstream with scenic breaks and a packed snack (Rs. 1200pp).

For those inclined on doing something different, moonlight kayaking (Rs. 500pp per hour).

Note: All adventure sports are subject to weather conditions.

Fishing
Indulge in rod and trap fishing in the day and lobster fishing at night on the house. Consider this our contribution to your fishing endeavor. Make the effort to get into the activity and our instructors will ensure an authentic experience!

To complete your fishing expedition, we will plate your catch for a nominal additional fee!





Hiking
The Mahuli mountains are a trekkers paradise. An outstanding imposing range towering over 2000 feet above the highway, these hills are a quick 20 minute drive from camp. You will be famished after the trek and just in time to cool off in the river and enjoy a sumptuous wholesome BBQ dinner.

We can arrange for someone to show you the way and carry a small first aid kit for a nominal fee.

In the water @camp You must, of course swim in the river or indulge in tube rides. Our camp hosts will take you to where its safe. Live the camp life.

*Easy Adventures is a professional adventure outfit conducting adventure activities for patrons including Offbeat patrons. Please follow instructions by Easy Adventures Guides. 

*Conduct yourself with the utmost care while indulging in any activity. Please ensure that you inform us while leaving camp (even for a drive) and that you are accompanied by our staff while going for a trek or into the water for any activity/other reason

Meals
There are at least three meals that you need to plan for your stay at Big Red Tent vasind. While a simple breakfast fare is offered, you will want to plan lunch, dinner and an evening snack.




If you don't want to do your own meals, This is what we offer:

Barbeques are offered on most evenings Veg barbeque We have jacket potatoes, sweet potatoes (on availability), corn (on availability), mushrooms (on availability), paneer and assorted vegetables. With dal, rice and chutney this makes for a sumptuous meal. Additionally for a Non-veg barbeque we have 300g of tandoori chicken per person

A Village cooked meal can be arranged for you if we have enough takers at Rs.300 per. head.
A simple breakfast is included with your camping charges. Available from 9:00am through 10:30 am.

Tea will be available on the house in the morning with breakfast and evening at 5:00pm
What you should do for a more fulfilling camping experience:

Your own barbecue meal. Recipes are here Veg BBQ Ideas & Non-Veg BBQ Ideas. We have bbq grills and ice boxes so you can store your BBQ for an evening barbecue
Cookout. Guests have made great meals at the campground. With a little effort this can be the highlight of your trip! Ask us for a stove (Rs.100 for a meal) if you want to cook. We will help you however we can!

Sandwich lunch. A light sandwich lunch with dry ingredients and cheeses is a great idea! You can carry this to a late afternoon snack with tea as well! Baked beans work very well too!
Carry snacks to munch through the day between meals You will tend to get hungry and fruit is always a refresher Snack Ideas

This winter our River Side Camping at Bhatsa promises to deliver the camping experience with just a little added amenity. You can enjoy a close connect with the outdoors with us the winter with campfires, barbecues and an ambience that you have come to love!!

As an introduction to camp life we provide tents, a sleeping kit, access to our common areas and games, a site rental, a simple breakfast and an experience to cherish all packaged into one price.

TARIFF AND BOOKINGS


Overnight Camping Charges Adults Rs.1600 (per person) for a night and; Rs.1200/- each for children under 8 yrs

Day Trip Camping Charges Adults & Kids Rs.1250 (per person) for a day

Meals: Rs.400 (per person) for a barbecue dinner and Rs.350 per person for a home-style lunch
Meals are charged at Rs.200* per meal for kids under 8.


Note; December 31st, 2015 night (New Year Special - Tariff Rs.4500/-; Eleborate Menu and Preparation  for New Year Camp). - Drop us email at natureknights@gmail.com for New Year Camp Brochure..

Day Trip Camping: A day of camping has a check-in time of 9:00am and a checkout time of 4:00pm. You can request for some evening snacks and BBQ dinner at an additional cost and we will be very happy to oblige you. We include breakfast and lunch in our pricing.

Overnight Camping: A night of camping has a check-in time of 3pm and a checkout time of 11:00am. You can request a late checkout and we will be very happy to oblige if we have room. We also include breakfast on the 2nd Day in our pricing

Details for Internet Banking Transfers (RTGS / NEFT / IFSC):


Account Name: OFFBEAT MANDALA
Account No.: 50200006370273
Bank Name: HDFC Bank Limited
RTGS/NEFT/IFSC: HDFC0000019
Branch: THE AMALDAS CO-OP HSG. SOC. LTD., 
JUHU-VERSOVA LINK ROAD,

WARK-K, (WEST), ANDHERI (WEST), MUMBAI – 400053, MAHARASHTRA

Activities: Kayaking and other activities may be availed on the spot. at a look at the Easy Adventures page for details

Food - What we offer:
A simple breakfast is included with your camping charges. Available 9:00am through 10:30 am.

Tea and coffee will be available on the house in the morning with breakfast and evening at 5:00pm

A sumptuous home cooked meal can be arranged for you.
Barbeques are offered on most evenings.Non-veg barbeque has 300g of chicken & Veg barbeque has paneer and assorted vegetables. With dal, chutney and roti this makes for a sumptuous meal. Further we have potatoes, sweet potatoes or corn as per availability to grill at the campfire.

For further options and recommendations look at our food section

Please call / SMS +91 9619182010 / asif@natureknights.net for booking and queries (customised Corporate Offsite / Students Outings / Group Outings). We require prior booking and payment to help us plan to service you.
------------------------

Rules

TENT ETIQUETTE
1. No Shoes in the Tent
2. No cooking or Smoking in the Tent
3. Please pitch a tent only with a ground sheet below it
4. Pitch the Tent at a safe distance from the campfire

CAMPGROUND RULES
1. Please respect silent hours (11:00pm to 7:00am)
2. Please drive at max 5km/hr in the campground premises.
3. Our timings are: Check-in between 8am and 8pm & Check-out by 10:30am the next day for a night of camping. We enjoy your company at the campground and we don't have very strict check-out timing rules. All the same, if we need to allot the site to guests coming post checkout time we will request you to vacate.
4. Please respect others privacy and do not tress pass on other people's sites
5. Playing music at the campground is not permissible.
6. No unauthorised electrical appliances at the campground. Please check with the manager before using your devices.
7. Pets are not allowed at the campground.
8. Meal Timings are 8-9:30am, 12:30-2pm & 8-9:30pm
9. Please leave the Tents pitched and the sleeping bags in the tents for our checkout procedure. Please ensure that you return all rental items before leaving the campground and leave your campsite neat & tidy.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What exactly do i get when i rent a campsite?
You get a space furnished with a picnic table. You will also get a tent based on the number of people and sleeping kits for each person. Further this gives you access to all our amenities and common areas as well as service in the outdoors!

What if i have my own tent and no sleeping bags?
You are most welcome to bring your own equipment. We want to encourage experienced campers!. You will get a per person discount of Rs.100 for your tent and Rs.100 for your sleeping bags.

What is the weather like? Do we need to carry any special kind of clothing?
Be prepared for the outdoors. The evenings can get chilly in winter. A single sweater should do the trick. The afternoons can get warm through the year, so carry some light clothing too! Refer to our PREP KIT pdf for details on what to carry.

Are there a lot of bugs, snakes and creepy crawlies around?
You will encounter sounds and creatures of nature. They respect our presence. Watch your step in the dark and use mosquito repellent and you should be fine. Your tent is sealed to not allow any insects in. Ensure that you close the door, and you will have a pleasant night's stay

Are there electrical plug points available?
No, you could request the hosts for a place to charge your cellphones.

Is there cell phone signal?
There is very little cellphone signal only at a certain place at the campground. You cannot depend on this. We have a phone on site that you can use for short calls/emergencies. Please leave the number: 02194-205074 with your friends/family so that they may reach you. Making too many outgoing calls engages the phone which should be left available for incoming calls.

What about drinking water?Can we buy some basic supplies at the campground in case we've forgotten something?
Drinking water and Mineral water will be available at the campground.

Do you accept credit/debit cards?
We accept credit / debit cards bookings only if done minimum 4 days in advance. No credit cards / debit cards accepted at campsite.

Do you have sites so a group / corporate / education institution can camp together? Do you offer any discounts for booking the entire campground?
Contact us about group camping for 20 adults or more. We will work something out!

Do you allow dogs?/pets? What's Petiquette?

We do not allow pets at present. We will experiment with pet days. Do leave your contact details with us.

Camping near Bird Sanctuary

Bird's Next Karnala

Sitting in the lap of the Karnala bird sanctuary and just over an hour outside Mumbai, you can't go wrong with BRT Karnala for your camp out. With lush lawn and palm trees the ambiance is contagious, and you will naturally just take off on a jaunt towards one of the pathways leading out of camp.



Karnala Sanctuary Camping Ground..



Coming to camp at Karnala, there's so much to explore yet ample time to laze. The challenge then is to slow down!

Its not often that we experiment with our vacations, but here we encourage it. From living in tents, building a campfire, grilling your dinner or a sleepy afternoon in a hammock, once you have enjoyed camping, you will want to introduce others to the idea. It is what "Happy Campers" do!


A day at the campground is simple, but a walk or yoga in the morning, pitching your tent on time just before sundown and firing up your barbecue grill and campfires just after the sun sets is the discipline of camping. Imagine the crackling of burning wood followed by an even yellow glow across the campground in the evening. This is the pride of camping.

We have just a few sites at this campground well lit and spread out with all the amenities that you would expect. At our campground, we promise an ambiance and we provide an experience.

Our common areas have some games to take you late into the night! But there's nothing like spending a couple of hours in a hammock with that book that you never got down to reading..

Showers and WCs are common to campers. These are maintained clean with ample changing space.


Picture of Karnala Fort; short drive away from campsite.. 
Karnala fort is a day trek

Coming camping to Panvel is an easy decision for all us weary city dwellers. Nestled just a few minutes drive from the Karnala Bird Sanctuary, you should plan to take a trip down there, not so much for the bird sounds but for the solitude that the few trails offer. 

Hiking and trails In the monsoons and winters, a hike to the Karnala Bird Sanctuary is a must for the adventurer in you. It takes under 2 to 3 hours to get to the fort, through a relatively simple self-guided trail. 


We are located in the midst of our own little secret of nature and the hosts will take you for a guided night hike around the space. If you are into it, a pre-planned 1 hour walk to a nearby fishing village followed by a boat ride and/or a dip in the lake can be arranged! 

Monsoon Magic The monsoons bring alive a waterfall through a trail leading from the campground which an absolute must-visit! The trails turn green and are simply irresistible. 

For the kids Garden sprinklers bring out the smells of earth during the hot afternoons while sky watching sessions in the winter nights are a real treat!


Kids can also plan an educational visit to the Yusuf Meherally Center to see some cottage industries.

FOOD

There are at least three meals that you need to plan for your stay at our camping ground at Karnala. While a simple breakfast fare is offered, you will want to plan lunch, dinner and an evening snack.

If you don't want to do your own meals, This is what we offer:

Barbeques are offered on most evenings Veg barbeque We have jacket potatoes, sweet potatoes (on availability), corn (on availability), mushrooms (on availability), paneer and assorted vegetables. With dal, rice and chutney this makes for a sumptuous meal. Additionally for a Non-veg barbeque we have 300g of tandoori chicken per person

A Village cooked meal can be arranged for you if we have enough takers at Rs.300 per. head.

A simple breakfast is included with your camping charges. Available from 9:00am through 10:30 am.

Tea will be available on the house in the morning with breakfast and evening at 5:00pm

What you should do for a more fulfilling camping experience:

Your own barbecue meal. Recipes are here Veg BBQ Ideas & Non-Veg BBQ Ideas. We have bbq grills and ice boxes so you can store your BBQ for an evening barbecue Cookout. Guests have made great meals at the campground. With a little effort this can be the highlight of your trip! Ask us for a stove (Rs.100 for a meal) if you want to cook. We will help you however we can!

Sandwich lunch. A light sandwich lunch with dry ingredients and cheeses is a great idea! You can carry this to a late afternoon snack with tea as well! Baked beans work very well too!

Carry snacks to munch through the day between meals You will tend to get hungry and fruit is always a refresher Snack Ideas

Drive out for a meal Iconic eateries of the yesteryear's including Sunny da Dhaba and Ramakant vada-pav are within reach and if you thought pizza was the last thing you could get around here, think again, dominoes has an outlet in lonavala some 20 km from the camp!(this is just an anecdote, it is quite inconvenient to get pizza from lonavala. We'd rather you try our pizza recipe mentioned in our recipe ideas)



This winter we promises to deliver the camping experience with just a little added amenity. You can enjoy a close connect with the outdoors with us the winter with campfires, barbecues and an ambiance that you have come to love!!

As an introduction to camp life we provide tents, a sleeping kit, access to our common areas and games, a site rental, a simple breakfast and an experience to cherish all packaged into one price.


TARIFF

Camping Charges Adults Rs.1600 (per person) per night. Rs.1000 each for children under 8 yrs.


Meals:Rs.400 (per person) For a barbecue dinner and Rs.300 per person for a home-style lunch

Meals are charged at Rs.200* per meal for kids under 8.

Overnight Camping: A night of camping has a check-in time of 3pm and a checkout time of 11:00am. You can request a late checkout and we will be very happy to oblige if we have room. We also include breakfast on the 2nd Day in our pricing.

Food - What we offer:
A simple breakfast is included with your camping charges. Available 9:00am through 10:30 am.

Tea and coffee will be available on the house in the morning with breakfast and evening at 5:00pm

A sumptuous home cooked meal can be arranged for you.

Barbeques are offered on most evenings.Non-veg barbeque has 300g of chicken & Veg barbeque has paneer and assorted vegetables. With dal, chutney and roti this makes for a sumptuous meal. Further we have potatoes, sweet potatoes or corn as per availability to grill at the campfire.

For further options and recommendations look at our food section

*We provide discounts of Rs. 100 per person for your own tent and 100 per head for your own sleeping bag! Please call / SMS +91 9619182010 (email asif@natureknights.net ) for booking and queries. We require prior booking and payment to help us plan to service you.


CAMPGROUND RULES

1. Please respect silent hours (11:00pm to 7:00am)
2. Please drive at max 5km/hr in and around the campground premises.
3. Our timings are: Check-in between 3pm and 8pm & Check-out by 10:30am the next day for a night of camping. We enjoy your company at the campground and we don't have very strict check-out timing rules. All the same, if we need to allot the site to guests coming post checkout time we will request you to vacate.
4. Please respect others privacy and do not tress-pass on other people's sites
5. Playing music at the campground is not permissible.
6. No unauthorized electrical appliances at the campground. Please check with the manager before using your devices.
7. Pets are not allowed at the campground.
8. Meal Timings are 8-9:30am, 12:30-2pm & 8-9:30pm
9. Please leave the Tents pitched and the sleeping bags in the tents for our checkout procedure. Please ensure that you return all rental items before leaving the campground and leave your campsite neat and tidy.
10. Our team is always available to help between 3pm to 11pm and 8:00 am to 10:30 am. But please do not expect room service like resort; most of it will be assisted self service.
11. Trek/ Bullock rides or any other easy adventure activities are available at extra cost.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What exactly do i get when i rent a campsite?
You get a space furnished with a picnic table. You will also get a tent based on the number of people and sleeping kits for each person. Further this gives you access to all our amenities and common areas as well as service in the outdoors!

What if i have my own tent and no sleeping bags?
You are most welcome to bring your own equipment. We want to encourage experienced campers!. You will get a per person discount of Rs.100 for your tent and Rs.100 for your sleeping bags.

What is the weather like? Do we need to carry any special kind of clothing?
Be prepared for the outdoors. The evenings can get chilly in winter. A single sweater should do the trick. The afternoons can get warm through the year, so carry some light clothing too! Refer to our PREP KIT pdf for details on what to carry.

Are there a lot of bugs, snakes and creepy crawlies around?
You will encounter sounds and creatures of nature. They respect our presence. Watch your step in the dark and use mosquito repellent and you should be fine. Your tent is sealed to not allow any insects in. Ensure that you close the door, and you will have a pleasant night's stay

Are there electrical plug points available?
No, you could request the hosts for a place to charge your cellphones.

Is there cell phone signal?
Yes. But please have your phones on low volume to respect your neighbors.

What about drinking water?Can we buy some basic supplies at the campground in case we've forgotten something?
Drinking water and Mineral water will be available at the campground.

Do you accept credit/debit cards?
We accept credit / debit cards bookings only if done minimum 5 days in advance.

Do you have sites so a group can camp together? Do you offer any discounts for booking the entire campground?
Contact us about group camping for 20 adults or more. We will work something out!

Do you allow dogs?/pets? What's Petiquette?
We do not allow pets at present. We will experiment with pet days. Do leave your contact details with us.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Rajmachi

Camping in Rajmachi

Experiences

An experience of Camping in Wilderness and Countryside, Exploring Rustic Countryside and Remote Rural village life in Maharashtra, Exploring twin Ancient forts of Rajmachi, Climbing Hills, Swimming in Small Lake (only allowed with life jackets),  Village Life..





Welcome dip in pound at Rajmachi


Location Lonavala Region

Duration 2 Days and 1 Night

Stay Tents or Home Stay / Village Dormitory

Trek Category Easy to Moderate

Best Season October to March



Camp Fee: 

Minimum 6 to 8 persons @3300/- per head (1 Off-road Vehicle; 1 Guide; 1 Tent with upto 8 beds)


Minimum 10 to 15 persons @3150/- per head.; (2 Off-road Vehicle; 1 Guide; 2 Tent with upto 8 beds per tent)


Minimum 17 persons to 21 persons @3000/- per head.;  (3 Offroad Vehicle; 2 Guides; 3 Tent with upto 8 beds per tent)

No AC Bus (Mumbai or Pune to Lonavala for 2 days)

16 Seated - Rs.16,000/- + Road Tolls
27 Seated - Rs. 20,000/- + Road Tolls


Camp Fee Includes
Trek Guide as per options above.
Tents with attached Washroom 
2 Lunch, 1 Dinner, 2 Evening Tea, 1 Breakfast
Treks to local forts
Offbeat Mandala Expertise and Management Charges

Optional Inclusions (for extra cost as mentioned above)
Bus Mumbai to Lonavala (2 Days)


Wild Chefs


Proposed Plan

Day 1
Ex. Pune / Mumbai - 6am.
08:30 am Reporting time at Lonavala 
09:00 hrs to 10:00 hrs - Off Road ride Lonavala to Rajmachi Village or Phanasgaon (during monsoon).
or Trek..
13:30 hrs - Rest at village home and lunch
15:00 hrs - Pitching Campsite
16:30 hrs - Dip in the Pond or Explore Manoranjan Fort
18:30 hrs - Campfire if weather permits.
19:30 hrs - Dinner at campsite or village home
Hit the sack at your convenience



Day 2

Trek and exploring fort 2 
Breakfast
Exploring Nature or Village.
Early Lunch at village
Off road ride from village to Lonavala or return trek. (Return trek 4 hours)
16:30 hrs Start Lonavala for Mumbai
20:30 hrs reach Mumbai


Campsite in Wilderness during trek to Rajmachi

What to Carry? 
Water Bottles for Trek
Munching Snack and Fruits/Dry Fruits
Flash Lights
1 Set of Change Clothes and 1 Extra T-Shirt (Full Sleeves)
Shorts/Swimming Trunks for Swim
Personal Medical Kit
Sleeping Bag or Two thin Bedsheet or One Mat and One Bedsheet
Air Pillow
Towel, Soap, Toothpaste, Toothbrush, Pocket Mirror, Small Plate, Spoon, and One Small Steel / Plastic Coffee Mug.
Own Waste Paper Bag
All items properly packed in Backpack



Things to do: Trek, Fort to be explored, Camping, Pond for a swim, Good place for Bird watching and Butterflies during winter.


About the place:

Rajmachi (Udhewadi) is a small village in the rugged mountains of Sahyadri (Western Ghats) in India. The fortification at Rajmachi consists of two forts, namely Shrivardhan (3200 feet above sea level) and Manaranjan (2700 feet above sea level). Rajmachi Fort is a popular trekking destination. It is a very famous fort located near two famous hills of Maharashtra, Lonavala and Khanadala. Its located around 18 km from Lonavala.

There is one small platue in between them. A temple of 'Bhairoba' is very beautiful. Shrivardhan is 'Bale killa' of Rajmachi, these forest were built to keep watch on Konkan area. The other - Manaranjan consists of strong walls, 3 doors and many water tanks. One can see Ulhas river, Dukes Nose (Nagphani), Karnala ,Matheran, Mahuli and Bhimashankar etc. The old caves of 'Kondhavi' on Rajmachi fort are worth to see. The way to fort is long but truly with a good view. One can enjoy a nice forest, Tungarli lake and many waterfalls as well.


Rajmachi can be accessed either from Lonavala or Karjat (Base Village Kondivita). The approach from Lonavala is longer but easier; from Karjat side it a little steep. Best way to do a Rajmachi trek is start from Lonavala (Near Tungarli Dam) very early in the morning. An easy trek would take you till base village around Lunch time, stay over at the base village near the twin peaks 'Shrivardhan' and 'Manranjan', few simple village dormitory/ lodges available for stay would be happy to provide you with simple village food for a fee or camping in wilderness.

Evening take a Dip in a Pond located at walk able distance from Village, the trail to pond leads to a cool patch of greenery.

(Note: while taking a dip in pond or lake at remote locations take extremely precaution; do not venture out beyond shallow water without your personal life jackets and do not go out for a swim alone).


After early Lunch you can start your trek towards Karjat. You can get Rickshaws/ ST Bus from some distance at Kondivita Village.
Village Kitchen at Rajmachi