Tipai Wildlife Luxuries
Tipai
Song of the Jungle
A sustainable, luxury wildlife resort in the hinterlands of Maharashtra beckons the wanderluster to visit and resign to its cocooned environs. With a restaurant run by Chef Amninder Sandhu, it’s a recipe for success
Text: Shilpi Madan
This, right here, is the luxury wildlife resort that made me fall for Tipeshwar. My visit to the cocooned Tipai Wildlife Luxuries brought to life my bucket-list adventure – sighting magnificent tigers and bisons, super-tuskers and swarms of langurs, riding an open-air four-by-four in the wilderness of the dry deciduous forest in Tipeshwar, in Maharashtra – while staying at a sustainable, luxury resort that inspires wanderlust with a single photo. What more could I, a nature lover, ask for!
With the flight to Nagpur bubbling with herds headed to Pench and Tadoba wildlife reserves, my mention of Tipai came as a shushed whisper, indicative of its quiet, secretive yet stunning 34-acre expanse along the outskirts of Tipeshwar forest – named after the local namesake deity. The entire property unfurls as an autograph to luxurious and sustainable living, bringing in a large team of warm, energetic and attentive men and women, coming from the neighbouring village. The deep knit between the land and its people is the anthem that runs through Tipai Wildlife Luxuries – in the nature-led architecture, ambling acres, food and upkeep through rainwater harvesting and solar panels.
My young naturalist, Ishani, led me on a hike across the undulating expanse in the early hours of the evening, as we crackled across thousands of moth-bitten teakwood leaves – they appeared to be in tears, metaphorically, but made for stunning photographs against the dipping sun. The rhythmic twittering of birds filled the air – with each splash of vibrant blue and pink catching the eye, and the prompt pull-out lens of the binoculars. The lazy, fiery run of the local palash flowers running across the landscape and the faint fragrance of wild basil stirring my nostrils were my biggest memories of the walk. Or so I thought till we clambered onto the slim road lining the huge expanse of the calm Gondwakadi Lake, named after the tribals native to the area. Tiny bells moved gently in the breeze, circling the necks of the cows and buffaloes munching peacefully by the lake as egrets perched boldly on their backs, with the colours of the setting sun pouring into the beatific waters, setting them ablaze with golden splendour. That’s when I spotted my first pied kingfisher, hovering decidedly above the water, and swooping down suddenly for its quick catch.
There were many firsts for me during this trip. My first safari kicked off at 5 in the morning, as we sped across in a jeep through the crisp morning air to the neighbouring Tipeshwar forest. Streaky eyes and windswept hair, we entered the premise of the jungle. The beginnings were marked by the surly, unmoving figures of the Neelgai and the bisons, staring at us silently from behind the trees. I could barely contain my excitement as we moved slowly past the herds of spotted deer, some racing off at the sound of our arrival, others standing still with their ears peeled. The call of the peacocks filled the morning air with a sense of expectation. We waited. So did the langurs brachiating from one naked tree to another. Then it happened.
The roar of the tiger filled the forest as our guide signalled us to maintain silence. The crunch of the leaves, the wild call-outs of the peacocks and the scared run of the boars marked the grand arrival of the beautiful beast as it moved towards our vehicle on the road. Slow, padded steps, staring at us in the eyes. Another unforgettable moment etched in my memory forever.
There were moments of calm at the resort, too, with dragonflies swirling around biopools laced with natural filtration mechanisms in shale nurturing the growth of good bacteria that chomps algae to watering holes for animals. The flutter of dry leaves against the terracotta roof (made by local potters), and rush of wind against the earth walls cupping the villas, the rugged environment made me fall in love with sheer solitude.
Getting lost in nature is easy at Tipai. You simply gaze in awe in each direction. There is a huge watering hole fringing the patio of the first villa (the famed Talabwali tigress visited the resort here), to swallow nest lamps, terracotta art, twigs, trunks and murals, framed leaves, and recycled furniture – composing a unique design rhythm. Luxury lies in local craftsmanship, and the leaves and flowers on fabrics, handwoven Indian wool dhurries, stony floors, organic cotton textiles, bird and flower-shaped light fixtures link the indoor to the outdoor in moments. The rammed earth construction and stone masonry brings in a natural palette of greys, dull reds, pebble greys and off-whites that soothes at many levels.
Award-winning Chef Amninder Sandhu shapes the gourmet gospels at Palaash. The smoky flavours of the local wood in the fire, the ochre run of Palaash through the décor and the attire of the attendants, and the presence of the local mahua flower in bewitching avatars in the menu, floor you. The curious pairings win you over. Think Slow-cooked Raan, Bhakri and Laal Thecha with Chardonnay; Ratalu Gulab and Crisp Kashiphal with a mahua-fermented liqueur-based cocktail; the amuse bouche in Gendaphool Sorbet, Bamboo-smoked Pork with a glass of Shiraz, and the Thandai-dipped Paan; and Mahua Kala Jamun with Pista Ice-Cream – every little detail bowls you over completely. Cheers to no-gas cooking by an all-women team from the village, tutored ably by Chef Sandhu, serving you, smiling, under the Tipai moonlight as the wind rustles through the trees.
My champi at the spa, Aaste – crowned appropriately – the following morning tends to my limbs, drawing away the residual stress from my urban routine in Bombay. I float in a state of nothingness, completely recalibrated, slowly and subtly. Moments you wish never ended…
Come to Tipai to celebrate the irregular beauty of natural forms. The call of the wild beckons you in every form. Just make sure you visit before everyone you know beats you to it.
Tipai Wildlife Luxuries
Tipai 42-43, Tehsil Kelapur Gondwakdi, Adilabad Highway Yavatmal 445302
Mob: 0 88798 19701