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Accompanied by
experienced local guides
and naturalists, the
Chambal Safari
helps visitors explore
the Chambal Valley at
their own pace; on
boats, jeeps, horses,
bicycles or on foot.
The
calm and gentle Chambal
of the winter is a
raging beast in the
monsoon months. The
monsoon waters recede to
expose the most dazzling
white sands. The
Chambal Safari Base
Camp is set up every
season on one of these
beautiful river beaches.
The Chambal Safari
motorboats are stationed
at the base camp, which
is the starting point
for the river safaris,
camel safaris and nature
walks. |
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THE
RIVER
SAFARI
The calm
and
gentle
waters
of the
Chambal
River
are best
explored
on boats
and the
River
Safari
provides
spectacular
opportunities
to view
the
wildlife.
The
Chambal
Safari
boatmen
are
exceptionally
skilled
at
cutting
the boat
engines,
and
manoeuvring
as close
to the
birds
and
animals
as
possible
without
disturbing
them.
Trained
naturalists
accompany
visitors
and
provide
expert
information
on the
Chambal
wildlife.
The
River
Safari
is a
most
relaxing,
enjoyable
and
special
experience. |
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NATURE WALKS
The Chambal
Safari
organises
special Nature
Walks along the
river banks,
around the
ravines and in
the fields
surrounding the
National Chambal
Sanctuary.
Morning and
afternoon and
late evening
rambles are also
organised in and
around the
Chambal Safari
Lodge grounds
and surrounding
farmland. |
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VILLAGE WALKS
The Villages
around the
Chambal
Safari
Lodge provide an
interesting
insight into
rural India. One
can still find a
potter at his
wheel making
earthen ware
kullars (cups),
a cobbler using
the simplest
implements to
fashion and
repair a most
interesting
variety of
leather items,
and shops
selling all
manner of goods
from jaggery
blocks to
hand-woven
quilts. The
Chambal Safari
organises short
Village Walks
allowing access
to all this and
more. |
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BICYCLE RIDES
The countryside
around the Lodge
is ideal for
cycling. Our
local bicycles
are straight out
of a period film
- the old
fashioned
variety with
upright handle
bars and
somewhat
uncomfortable
seats! The ride
and countryside
are however
nothing if not
interesting and
well worth the
effort.
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THE CAMEL
SAFARI
Camels remain an
important mode
of transport for
man and goods
alike. They are
also an ideal
means for
exploring the
ravines of the
NCS and
searching for
the wildlife
that have made
these ravines
their home. Be
transported back
in time as you
amble along long
forgotten trails
and pathways on
these haughty
beasts, with
their snootily
upturned noses
and disdainfully
curled lips. One
may take a Camel
Safari along the
river banks,
into the
ravines, through
villages and up
to Fort Ater.
(Find out more
about Fort Ater)
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HORSE SAFARI
The Chambal
Valley is famed
for the number
of horses that
are bred and
sold at the
numerous animal
fairs of the
area, most
notably the
annual animal
fair at
Bateshwar. The
local populace
takes pride in
its equestrian
traditions and
are ever eager
to display their
skill. The
Chambal Safari
arranges short
3-4 hour horse
riding tours
through the
Chambal ravines
and countryside. |
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JEEP SAFARI
The Chambal
Safari
arranges jeep
safaris through
remote hamlets
and habitations
hidden within
the folds of the
Chambal and
Yamuna ravines,
presenting a
fascinating
journey through
a world that is
strangely as
connected as it
appears removed
from modern
India. |
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The Bhareh
Jeep Safari
to the
confluence of the
Chambal and Yamuna
Rivers is 90 kms (2
hours) drive from the
Chambal
Safari
Lodge. |
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The spectacular
drive through a
wild, forbidding
and undulating
landscape cuts
across the
ravines of both
rivers going
deep into one of
the remotest
most untouched
corners of the
Indian
heartland. The
confluence is
dominated by the
ruins of the
majestic
fortress of
Bhareh, blasted
by The temple
platform rises
200 feet,
providing
breathtaking
views of the
confluence and
the surrounding
countryside. |
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The Blackbuck
Jeep Safari
heads southwest
from the
Chambal Safari
Lodge towards
the Chambal
Ravines for
excellent
sightings of
Blackbuck deer
and numerous dry
land birds
including the
Indian Courser.
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BATESHWAR
TEMPLES
The ancient
temple complex
at Bateshwar on
the river Yamuna,
10 km from the
Chambal Safari
Lodge, consists
of more than a
hundred temples
dedicated to the
Hindu God Shiva.
Referred to as Surajpur in
ancient texts,
Bateshwar
derives its
current name
from its
reigning deity
Lord Bateshwar
Mahadev (another
name for Shiva).
The ravines
surrounding the
temples and
river are home
to a number of
Naga sadhus
(snake
worshiping
ascetics) who
have carved out
little caves and
temples within
the mud walls. |
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In early November, the
open areas around the
temple complex play host
to an annual animal
fair, the origins of
which stretch into
antiquity. The fair
coincides with the most
auspicious period for
praying at Bateshwar and
is an important fixture
for saints, sadhus,
tradesmen and villagers.
Witness a colourful
pageant of rural India
that is as unchanging as
it is timeless. (Find
out more about Bateshwar) |
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VISIT TO FORT ATER
Fort Ater is
located on the
periphery of the
National Chambal
Sanctuary, 2 km
from the Chambal
Safari base
camp. Once a
valued
stronghold and
at the forefront
of numerous
battles between
the Rajputs, the
Mughals and the
Marathas, the
crumbling ruins
bring alive the
romantic glory
of a bygone age.
The ramparts of
the fort afford
some
breathtaking
views of the
Chambal valley.
One may visit
this magnificent
ruin riding a
Camel or on
foot. |
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VISIT TO SARUS CRANE CONSERVATION AREA
The Sarus Crane
Conservation
Reserve starts
around 30 kms
from the Chambal
Safari Lodge,
extending to
about 100 kms.
It is a
widespread
wetland area,
interspersed by
cultivated
fields, where
large numbers of
the Sarusus Cranes
breed. Although
not a protected
area, since 1999
the Supreme
Court of India,
recognising its
importance as a
habitat has
designated the
area a reserve
with
restrictions on
development. |
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