Saranda

We reached Howrah well ahead of time for scheduled departure by 12021 Jan Shatabdi Express. So we had to kill time mostly by dozing off at the station. The journey from Howrah to Barbil was way too long of being around 7 long hours. However thanks to Avik, for suggesting a game, which helped us kill the boredom. However we mostly slept through the first half of the journey though. The scenery changes specially after the train crosses Dangoaposi or Noamundi. As you’d gradually start noticing things being more reddish due to the iron ore mines.

We reached Barbil at around 1:30 PM, a bit late than scheduled arrival. Our driver Mr. Dhanna Satnami was already waiting for us. After a brief introduction, we started proceeding towards our hotel, Saranda Safari Resort. It took us around 30 minutes to drive to the hotel including a brief stop en-route for buying Mineral Water and snacks for our poison!!

Upon noticing us, Mr. Latif came forward and welcomed us warmly. We were shown the cottages. Although our first impression was very good, however gradually we felt a deep lack in maintenance of the property. Such a good place, at such a good location, can attract a lot of tourist, if maintained well. However, there was no issues on cleanliness. Rooms, washrooms and the whole property was very clean, but I cannot say well maintained. Although the issues won’t get noticed at a glance in the beginning, however one would gradually feel things being not right as you spend time. Anyway, for travellers like us, cleanliness is the one and only thing that we look for, rest all are for standard or luxury travellers!!

Soon we were served lunch. Definitely it was not finger licking, however it was well enough to eat and survive. We didn’t expect much at such a location. Although we were about to take a walk to Leopard Cave nearby, however Me and Suparna being really tired due to continuous back to back journey, we went ahead for a afternoon nap, whereas rest of the team spent most of their time playing badminton. Yes the premises is equipped with Badminton Court and other necessary equipments for you to enjoy the game. Later in the evening, rest of the team went ahead towards the Leopard Cave with a local guide, whereas we slept!! Later we realised that we didn’t really missed much, as reaching the Leopard Cave is really not possible, however one can take a walk to the river bank nearby, where the view is breathtaking, as claimed by them.

Later in the evening, we were served Tea and Snacks. In the mean time, Dhanna Bhaiya arrived as per our plan for the Night Safari. Well you cannot really expect to spot any elephant or any other wildlife as such, however it’d give you a real thrill of doing a night safari through such dense forest. And as you proceed, the forest goes more denser. And finally from a point, where there’s no route, you’d have to return. The whole journey took us around 2:30 hours from our resort.

We asked the staffs to provide our dinners at our rooms itself, as we were really not in mood to have early dinner. And as usual, we enjoyed amongst ourselves having our poison and playing Dumb Sharad’s till late night before having our dinner and dozing off to bed.