Great food, by all means, acts as an inseparable component when it comes to a vacation. Over and above its core skill of producing energy, it also gratifies the human soul.
Abundant resources
Food cooked with passion, and care following all the textbook advice or with years of experience gets even better if the ingredients are fresh from the garden or farmland. The immense difference was felt when we spent three days at the Joypur resort.
The resort has its own land which has been put to cultivation that produces an array of vegetables which is picked up before the meals are prepared.
Adjoining fields have also various kinds of animals and birds which also support the kitchen’s ever increasing want to serve the travelers.
During our agrarian knowledge tour, we learned the ways fields are treated and plantation carried out.
Oasis in the jungle
We walked around and in the process will take you along with us.
Deeper shades of green gave way to lighter ones as rows of cauliflower plants furrowed through the sea of green onions that swung in the morning breeze.
The earthy wet smell of the land hung like a blanket around us. Nature had painted with precision whatever we saw; the scudding white cloud raced against the blue sky, green and brown land were supreme in its rendering.
The man-made structures of the resort brightly colored by humans were simply no match for the natural rendition of colors.
Every single seed was meticulously sowed after the tractors sculpted the land.
A battery of farmers and day laborers used archaic tools to treat the soil.
As we trudged over the undulating field, we were faced with two more fields that flanked the un-metaled road of lateritic soil and dry mud.
On one side it was the deep green broccoli which existed in larger numbers, and on the other, green onions flourished.
Kitchen garden galore
They looked exquisite with their white tufted bulbs that moved from side to side as the wind made its way through them.
The ground was dry and huge hoses like fat boa constrictors ran along the ground between the plants pumping liters of water from a nearby well or reservoir.
The rhythmic beat of the diesel motor filled the air.
The land started to rise on the southern side and an escarpment formed a barrier between the field sections.
We jumped on to one of the dividers and was greeted with a bowl of purple cabbage plants. Skirting the uneven cultivation, we saw tender and juicy green tomatoes.
They went miles into the horizon.
We pole vaulted at places literally to see the plants.
Patches of rectangular land blocks which were kept empty for the new crop to start, looked bared and ugly compared to the lushness around.
low tomatoes swayed in the breeze
We continued our excursion over the lands; a long line of shaded plants caught our eye with its white puffy look.
They sat lower to the ground with its leaves touching the uneven surface. It was the cauliflower that grew in abundance.
We touched the whiter outer edge and they were cold and hard, dewdrops clung to them.
The feeling of freshness was supreme as I thought about the cauliflower which I am used to seeing in the refrigerator. White turning to deep brown, and black reminding of its decadent age.
In the city, you can hardly get to see this level of freshness.
We were happy to see peas plant. The flowers danced from its stock, reminding of its intended form of developing into sweet green peas.
The resort gardener did not leave any place free of plants. Brinjals or Eggplants were hanging with its fresh crop.
The sun rays made them glitter as they wobbled from the tentacles that held them.
Animal and bird farms
The diverse farm complemented the vegetation with its mighty resources of fauna that the resort can surely boast about.
Right at the entrance beyond the parking bay, rows of large cages stood.
The birds on display were rare and the children in our group had the chance of having a zoo-like experience along with the seniors who enthralled in its uniqueness.
An Emu
It was the Emu, we saw, stood about two meters over the ground. Extremely agile at its pace. Its long but powerful legs can catapult it at great speed.
The bird was scuttling across the cage at a frightening speed. The visitors gazed on at the second largest bird after an Ostrich.
The Quails
The large cages were followed by smaller ones and were stacked up one above the other.
A different shape was seen popping its head. We circled back to get a closer look.
A big population of Quail made a racket inside. Most of us saw this for the first time and remained largely excited.
The star attraction was the pompously sitting Turkey in its large and single cage. Being a large bird, its food requirement was more than the others, evident by the large bowls of mixed food grains that lay scattered.
Quite a bit of small and large containers existed inside.
Turkeys
Some sort of a contraption hung, perhaps some kind of a cased light, these heat emitting lights trigger the bird egg hatching cycles.
We were greeted with the quacks of a few ducks as we walked to an opening near the lake which had another bird population.
Yes, you guessed it right. A raft of ducks, feathers beating, they remained firmly floating on the lake surface and paid a visit to the human shores when in need for a bird exploration, we presumed.
They kept looking like sleuths for something and that condescending look on their faces of being great when our eyes met was a tad irritating.
A pony
The silence was shattered when a piercing neigh brought us back to our senses.
We saw a pony tied to the bamboo pole under the extending section of the cages.
The young horse was rather quiet when we crowded around it. I am sure, it did not like too many of us disturbing its gentle trance.
We had reached the end of the line as far as the resort exploration was concerned.
A self-sustaining outfit made to address virtually all the kitchen needs.
The resort itself had so much to offer. After this enlightening walk, our team headed for a round of tea as the sun was inching its way to the west.
We hurriedly started to walk outside the resort to know the unknown as much we could before the forest darkness engulfed the vast resort.
Inference
- This farm has a complete repository of virtually the entire infra for a vacation seeker group
- Turkeys, Quails, Emus, ducks and jungle fowl available for an assortment of dishes
- A brilliant array of vegetables, for vegans
| Places to see around the forest lodge | Forested trails, the highway, fields, and water bodies |
| Time to explore | Early morning in groups but not in the evening as it gets quite remote |
| Winter clothing | A light jacket over a pullover |
| Distance From Kolkata to Joypur Forest, Bankura | 131 Kms NW of Kolkata, Near Bishnupur, Bankura |
| Car used, Diesel burned | Maruti Swift Diesel 1.2 L, Total Distance = 362 Kms, 12.9 Liters Of Diesel |
| Pocket pinch | Quail KOSA ₹220/- Turkey KOSA ₹300/- Duck KOSA ₹300/- Karaknath Chicken KOSA ₹350/- Titir (Patridge) KOSA ₹350/- Emu KOSA ₹350/- |
| Part 1 – Joypur forest refuge, an unforgettable drive | https://wp.me/pbXnOA-CP |
| Part 2 – Ambling around the Joypur forest resort | https://wp.me/pbXnOA-Co |
| Part 3 – Abandoned British airfield at Joypur jungle | https://wp.me/pbXnOA-BP |
SPITFIRE GAUTAM 