Nature trail at NV Eco Farms

Nature trip at NV Eco farms

On Christmas day my father gifted us a surprise that he will take all of us for a nature trip the next day on Saturday 26th December. It was a joint family trip n my uncle with his family would also join us on this trip. I and my sister Nidhi could not sleep properly earlier night on account of excitement of our Nature trip. Both of us were awake by 06:30 am which is a very unusual thing for us to do specially on holiday.

We were all packed and raring to go by 07:30 am or so. We had decided to have the breakfast out on the way together with my Uncles family. We asked them to join us at Old Goa petrol Pump and proceeded in two different cars. We were going to a nature resort called "NV eco Farms" at Dhabal which comes under Dharbhandora Panchayat. Since the drive to this place would take more than one hour we decided to halt on the way for a breakfast as everyone was started feeling hungry. My Uncle knew a good place for a quick breakfast by name "Shantiniketan" at Mardol junction.  The place was small but well kept. The waiter was ready at the table to take our order before we could settle in. My uncle told us to place the order as per individual’s choice. I ordered Buns, some ordered mix bhaji n bread, and rest of us had ordered wada. The place served us a "Kashay" a drink prepared with Milk by adding all medicinal herbs, lemon grass, Tulshi leaves etc. It was unique and speciality of this place. We started our journey back after a nice breakfast.

After Breakfast, our drive restarted from Mardol towards Ponda road. We crossed the Bethora Industrial estate on our way. Post the Industrial estate the road was very scenic lushed with lot of greenery on either side, lot of jungle trees forming canopy all along the drive. On the way we stopped at one or two places to check with the locals to ensure we were driving on the right track towards our destination. We finally came out of the woods at Codli Mines where we could see the first sign board of NV eco Farm. Now we were getting more n more excited to be at the NV farms. On the way we could spot a peacock just a distance of less than 10 mts from the road. We halted and switched off our car engines so that we could admire the peacock undisturbed. It was an amazing site.

We moved on to enter the NV eco farms. We parked ourselves in parking space and got out of cars to stretch ourselves after a nice drive of approx 45 min. The Huge banyan tree on the left side was ready to welcome us. We were received by a very warm elderly lady who manages the kitchen activities and welcomed us a with a cup of tea. In minutes she arranged hot chana and potato bhaji with bread for all of us with option of black tea as well as normal milk tea. The aroma of hot bhaji and warmth of this lady lead us into the bhaji and bread with another tea cup.

As we were sipping into hot tea, Sonali another staff at NV eco farms approached us wanting to know how we would like to spend our day. The place had lot of adventure activities like rock climbing, rappling, etc. Plus we could go on a spice n plantation trail guided by their expert who would help m guide us on the information about the plants etc. We could also swim in natural pond they have created inside the farm.

We decided to first venture into the natural pond as all of us crazy about spending time inside water. The pond is clean and nicely maintained with water from the fresh water spring emerging quite far ahead origins of which we could not trace. The water was freezing cold and it took us time before we could actually get down inside water. They have made artificial waterfall inside the pond. It’s an experience to be under this waterfall. The length of pond is quiet long so that we could swim up and down the stream quite nicely. After approx 2 hours playing inside the pond, we were feeling little tired and hungry too.

We headed straight to the restaurant where the lunch was being served. There were already 2-3 other groups who were already enjoying their lunch. The buffet lunch was served in traditional earthen ware and was nicely laid out. The menu included Rice, Prawns curry, Chicken Xacuti with Bread, King fish Rawa fried, Kokum Kadi, Pickle etc. The food was really tasty and we all enjoyed the food. It had the feel and taste of home cooked food. I had two helpings our rice and fish as I was really hungry. There was equally good veg menu for lunch as I overheard very positive comments from my adjoining table who were enjoying complete veg food.

We just lazed around in their lawns outside the restaurant for half an hour or so. We all took some photos with my uncle and our cousins. I along with my cousins wanted to do the adventure activities and we purchased the required tickets for the same from the counter. There was wall climbing to zip line to tyre crossing and much more. Everyone except my father and my uncle & aunty all of us ventured out and experienced the thrill n excitement on all the adventure. I was scared before I actually started but as it went along I gained confidence and could complete all the adventure activities. I really felt confident and motivated that I could do all the activities. 

We were tired, exhausted but feeling really great about the day well enjoyed. We were tempted to take a dip once again in the pond and it was really superb. The water was really chilling as it was getting darker & cooler due to thick greenery on top of the pond. It helped all of us to get recharged and feeling fresh once again. After about 20 minutes enjoyment inside the pond, we decided to come out and pack our bags to head back to our homes. We thanked the owners who were there all the time to guide us and their very warm staff for their care n hospitality.

We signed off from NV Eco farms extremely happy with a promise that we will come here again during the rains to explore the trekking and spice trail which we could not do this time due to lack of time.. . As our cars drove into the unwinding roads with jungle on either side, I did not realise I went to sleep with superb memories of the great day out enjoyed at NV Eco farms.

Meghalaya: abode of clouds

Meghalaya: abode of clouds

I embarked on my visit to Meghalaya and took a flight to Guwahati from Bombay via Kolkata. I landed at Guwahati early morning the heavy black clouds welcomed me. On the way to  Shillong by road,  we passed by a huge lake called Umiam or Barapani Lake. The story goes by that one-day princess standing on the hill mistakenly dropped her ring into the valley and her father, the king dug up the whole valley thus forming the lake. After watching a beautiful sunrise at the lake, I stopped over for lunch on roadside restaurant. I reached Shillong by evening soaking into the pristine beauty on either side of the hilly terrain of our fantastic drive through the winding roads. After getting fresh, I ventured out for a stroll in the adjoining street and devoured the hot crispy Jalebis by the roadside. It seems the shop owner has made to the Guinness book of world record in making the largest Jalebi!!

After doing some street shopping, I woke up next morning to visit the botanical garden at Shillong, it is full of beautiful flowers of all colours and kinds. But surprisingly none of them had any kind of fragrance! Also we visited the Wards lake and enjoyed the sight of pretty red lotuses and ducks in the lake. Then I visited the museum, which was amazing; it had all the details and information about Meghalayan tribes. After lunch the time came to visit Cheerapunji, the wettest place I have ever visited. It had many waterfalls but I managed to visit a few of them. The water was crystal clear and ice cold and the heavy rains added to the cold weather. I got a chance to visit the school set up by Shri Ramkrishna Paramhansa Mission, which provided education to all the needy children of Shillong.

On the way back I also visited the Nohkalikai waterfall. It too has an interesting story. Once a widow with her son lived with her second husband, the husband used to hate his stepson and so he killed him and threw him down the valley. Shaken by the sorrow of loss of her child the women too jumped down the valley at the waterfall, thus the waterfall got its name from the deceased lady.  In spite of its uncomfortable nomenclature the waterfall is a pleasure to the eyes.  Then I had the chance to see India’s only natural golf course too!

I also visited the interesting hidden caves which according to many people are formed due to reaction of calcium oxide and rain water. It truly was fun to climb through the caves almost like the pirates of Carribean. Food here is greatly influenced by Chinese yet is memorable. The locals were quite sweet and gave us a warm welcome at all the places I visited. Shopping here is remarkably cheap. There is an underground building where as you go down the floors, price of the goods decreases.

As a whole my short trip to Shillong was lovely. When I was on my way back to Guwahati airport, part of city was flooded due to continuous rains lashing for the last few days. My heart was feeling sudden pang of guilt as my nice holiday was about to end. Yet I really did fell in love with wet air of Meghalaya.