Spotlight

On a nature trail

Nestled near the river Koyna and surrounded by green mountains, the Tapola River Camp is an overwhelming experience. By Mexy Xavier

Chinmay Divekar, Director, Nature Trails Resorts

A cool breeze welcomed us as we stepped out of the bus and gazed at the picturesque surroundings at Tapola. Nestled near the river Koyna and surrounded by lush green mountains, the Tapola River Camp is one of the five properties owned by Mumbai-based Nature Trails Resorts, part of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation's (MTDC) 'Mahabhraman' - a public-private initiative to promote tourism in the state.

The temperature here is quite low and a big relief from the hot summers experienced in Mumbai Located 275 kilometres away from the city, the camp runs from Dassera till the onset of monsoons. The two and half acres of land which is on a 10-year lease is given for farming for the rest of the year. Chinmay Divekar, director of Nature Trails Resorts, points out to the tent in the dining area and explains how it is actually a parachute he had picked up from Delhi at a throwaway price. Similarly, the tables and benches are cut-away pieces of logwood and rocks which are remnants of the temple building.

As Divekar mentions, "We want to encourage tourism that will benefit the villagers of Ahir." It has employed about 20 villagers who are involved in various activities like training, cooking and cleaning. Two of them are even going to Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), Dehradun for training.

The company has about 20 tents and caters to 100 people during peak season. It organises various activities like valley crossing, mountain biking, trekking and even kayaking in the crystal-clear waters of the Koyna River. Outdoor activities were followed by relaxation and dinner. For a city slicker, the experience of sitting under a star-studded sky around a campfire after a barbeque dinner is an unforgettable experience.

Nature Trails was among the first few to be invited by MTDC to join its Mahabhraman programme. Today, the tourism body welcomes everyone who wants to be a part of this initiative. The other organisers apart from Nature Trails include Agri Tourism, Ecomantra, Konkan Tour, Mumbai Magic, Nisarg Vihar, Paragliding Foundation and Tiger Trails. According to Divekar, Mahabhraman helps new travel companies to get all permissions and licenses with fewer hassles.

Divekar hopes to start windsurfing by next winter and convert this area into a premium water sports destination. His company has already invited the National Institute of Water Sports, Goa that will conduct a feasibility study for the same this June. Instructors from Singapore Canoe Federation Standards were therefore invited for training in kayaking and windsurfing. All in all, 17 people were trained of whom eight were local and got a two-star rating for kayaking.