Gorukana

We are resolved into the supreme air,
we are made one with what we touch and see,
with our heart’s blood each crimson sun is fair;
with our young lives each spring impassioned tree
flames into green, the wildest beasts that range
the moor our kinsmen are, all life is one, and all is change.

— Oscar Wilde

I could not have put into words more appropriately than this what I felt when we reached Gorukana on the winter morning after saying goodbye to FOSS.IN/2010.  **Gorukana (pronounced goru-kana; meaning a web) is a community based tourism initiative which involves running a wildlife resort unlike any other. Nestled in the beautiful web of trees in the forest of BR Hills, south of Bangalore, karnataka; this picturesque forest refuge was conceived by Kalyan Varma and is very lovingly tended to by Shilpa Sequeira. Gorukana is run and managed by the local tribesmen, Soligas and the money raised through this initiative goes back to their own community.

Duplex cottages with a lovely and very private view of the forest and pond took away all our stress as soon as we stepped inside. While Aasim climbed up and settled for rest of the morning and noon, I and Tarique decided to explore the property and sat pondering by the pond side and basked in the abundance of mother nature. We spotted several species of birds and regretted that we have very little time to explore the place.  A simple but very tasty lunch was waiting for us when we reached the dining area. Kalyan made plans for the evening and soon we were off to see more of BR Hills range that links the eastern and western ghats. The drive through green forest was peaceful. While we spotted a Barking Deer and other forest inhabitants during our drive, another couple who had opted to go on a nature trail on foot were lucky in spotting an elephant with a very very small calf.

Evening saw us dancing around the bonfire with the Soligas and listening to their lore. Tired but happy we retired after an early dinner.

We were up the next day before sunrise to visit the forest interiors. We photographed a barking deer pair and were searching for the elephants when we spotted a flying squirrel, a nocturnal creature rarely sighted and even more rare in the BR Hills. Elated we returned back as the jungle safari time was almost over (it’s a pity you are allowed only for 2 hrs safari ride in South India)

We felt we should take one final trek of the place, and that’s when we excitedly spotted a party of Scarlet Minivets chirping around and a few Gold-fronted Chloropsis. Even the Black Eagle descended on to the pond to bid us good bye and with a promise to return to the place we departed for Bangalore.

Some triva, but important to those to whom it matters :

• The dining and reception area of Gorukana has hi-speed wireless internet. 🙂
• Due to apathy and biased government officials Gorukana still does not have permission for taking their own vehicles for safari rides, so one is at the mercy of the only other resort in the area; “Jungle Lodges”. However, I must add that long forest trek with Soligas more than makes up for the limited 2 hour morning and 2 hour evening safari ride by gypsy.

**Committed to the development and welfare of the tribe that inhabits the forest of BR Hills, Gorukana is an initiative by Kalyan Varma and his friends under the guidance of Dr. Sudarshan to help finance VGKK, an NGO which works for sustainable development of the Soligas in the region. 100% of the Profits from Gorukana directly go towards supporting the Soligas in education (a 450 pupil school and hostel facility), medical facilites (a 20 bed hosptial) and a vocational training institute.