Adventure safari in Jawai: A glamping hotspot

By Payel Majumdar

Under a 100 km from Udaipur, where I had gone for a trip, I wanted to branch out and see different things, this time on. The destination that I finally zeroed in on was Jawai, an upcoming luxury destination famous for spotting leopards in the wild. While tiger safaris are hot-selling tourist attractions all across the country, leopards are even more reclusive and a safari is hard to come by.

However, Jawai’s location makes it ideal to spot them in the wild. A former abandoned mining area, it is equally possible to spot them roaming around former mining spots as it is to spot them in the wild. The leopards have been found in this region for over a hundred years, and over time have formed a unique relationship with the people living in surrounding areas. We saw it with our own eyes, in the picturesque setting of the Jawai rocks, while the leopard nestled with her cubs in the shelter of a cave, the shepherd was herding his goats on top.

It isn’t that the leopards of Jawai have become domesticated – cases of them eating the livestock to survive is pretty common. We even spotted a fresh kill – in the midst of the same forest—away from the cave in the hilltop ahead. However, the villagers have accepted these terms of existence with the leopards, which doesn’t harm them, and in turn, they let the leopards exist in peace.

But, we digress. Our destination that night was WelcomHeritage Cheetagarh Resort and Spa, a newly opened space in the midst of the vast expanses of Jawai. We entered the resort through a rather adventurous route – it required a bit of off-roading – and we passed an oasis, volcanic rock formations with migratory birds nestling around them. The property has an old world caravanserai with modern amenities vibe, if you will. The entrance lined with mud brick walls and pretty pink bougainvillea which broke the monotone with their vibrant hues.

Once we had checked in and settled into our tents, it was time for a room tour. Our tents were part concrete, part fabric, but were supplied with every luxury one could want from a hotel – including chandeliers hanging atop us! Each room in the property has been decorated slightly differently, to retain their uniqueness.

The one in which we had checked in had a porch area shared between two bedrooms, both part of the same tent-villa. Both the rooms were fitted out with their own living room, separate bathrooms, among other facilities. If the tent life is not for you, the property has also built some lake-facing chalets, some with attached pools.

Every room has its own unique art to suit the mood. The main dining area has a relaxed vibe. Designed like a jungle lodge, it works both as the restaurant and the reception. We had reached post lunch, but treated ourselves to hearty chicken tikkas, dal and naans. The quaint ice cream and gulab jamun combination at the end was the icing on the cake.

Lunch done, it was time to head out for the safari! The safari was nothing like the regular safari, and we sensed it as we climbed onto our open jeep. As the jeep rushed through the roads at 45 kmph, our hair took flight with the wind, and so did our spirits! It began raining softly, and before our spirits could dampen, expecting the safari to stop or atleast halt, our guide told us to hold tight, as the rain increased chances of our sighting the leopard, and we whizzed past trees towards the jungle entrance.

Parts of the Jawai enclosure were privately owned by the property, and that’s where we were rushing towards. Finally, entering the enclosure, we drove up and down the rocky hillocks, gravity defying rocks in an attempt to gain height and spot the apex predator. While we had just recovered from the sudden adventure, lo and behold, the apex predator was sitting majestically with her cubs in a cave on the hill right in front of us!

We were thrilled by the sudden spotting, so much so, that the fear of the ride back to ground was a thought we weren’t dealing with at the moment. What was even more spectacular to spot – there was a member of the local Rabari community right above his head, with a herd of goats blissfully roaming around atop.

The mother leopard however wasn’t interested in hunting, she had just had a fresh kill that was stored at the bottom of the hill. Once we had seen our fill, we moved back to the safety of our resort. Dinner was buffet, and many items were reminiscent of the traditional food of the Rabari community, from raab, a nutritious drink made from local maize, to junglee maas, and kair sangri, a vegetable item made from foraged items.

When the weather is clearer, they also have an open air restaurant by the name of Jawai Under The Sky. Famed for its wood fired pizza served at the granite rock with a panoramic view of the lake and enthralling sunset, the Location offers the perfect
spot to kick back and relax with a drink after a thrilling day of adventure.

The hotel’s got a diverse range of suites that can be availed, from chalets with gardens or pools, to the lake view villa. Activities that can be explored are birding trips, night safaris, a visit to the local farm, a trip to the Jawai bandh, tribal excursion, walking trails, a visit to an organic farm, and many other activities. WelcomHeritage Cheetahgarh Resort & Spa offers an ideal choice for those looking at a relaxing yet enthralling break from the mundane chaos of urban life, romantic getaways, intimate family and friends reunions, solo and all-women holidays or for those interested in exploring Bera’s fascinating wilderness and culture whilst immersed in ultimate luxury.