ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु
मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
Sarve Santu Niraamayaah |
Sarve Bhadraanni Pashyantu
Maa Kashcid-Duhkha-Bhaag-Bhavet |
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
Translation:
Om, May All be Happy,
May All be Free from Illness.
May All See Auspiciousness everywhere,
May no one Suffer.
Om Peace, Peace, Peace.
When the year 2020 began anew, we had no idea whatsoever that a pandemic as devastating as the Corona virus would make the mighty kneel, and bring the globe to a grinding halt.
This pandemic is here to teach us many life lessons. To never take Mother Nature for granted, to restore our faith in humanity, to break away from our prejudices and hatred, to respect and not demolish what has been served to us on a platter, by the Earth that only knows how to give.
The azure day skies and the star studded night skies, the fresh, crispy air, the crystal clear rivers, the bustling wildlife; on Day 18 of an all-India lock-down, are all a testimonies to the fact that nature knows how to renew itself seamlessly; but only if given a chance to.
This virus has made us realise we are all connected and in this together. Therefore, let us come together in gratitude for the life changing experience Corona has lent us with. Let us appreciate the little pleasures of being outdoors when we weren’t in a lock-down. Let us be grateful to this virus for giving us a break from our busy, stressful lives, and allowing us time to pause, reflect and go into an inward journey. A journey which is here to propel change.
Our Lodges and Parks are Currently Shut
As part of the nation-wide lockdown our lodges at Pugdundee Safaris and all the parks are shut till 30th April, 2020. We are still unsure when they will open, as our priority remains your well-being and defeating Covid-19 completely.
This is also an ideal time for nature to take a break from the hustle-bustle of mankind. And for our forests to regenerate and heal. We will definitely keep you updated when we open our doors out to you again, and welcome you back to our lodges and parks.
Update on Waghoba Eco-Lodge – Tadoba
The construction of our Waghoba Eco-lodge at Tadoba, Maharashtra; was going on as per our schedule and was slated to open in October 2020.
But, it now seems we will be delayed by a few months. We will definitely keep you updated on the same.
Spring in Central India
Spring is in full bloom in our forests of Central India. No pandemic can come in the way of nature and these blooming beauties which have bedecked our forests and are adding radiant hues of glory.
Read our blog post on these Flowering wonders of Central India. The complete link is here
Our Lodges during Lockdown
A large part of our team is still at the lodges, engaged in a bunch of meaningful activities.
Our fight against the reduction of Lantana which spreads wildly in the forests and our premises, started last season and is ongoing even now in full force.
The evenings are active and replete with much energy and enthusiasm, as the team spends time playing sports like volley ball and cricket. These are followed by movie nights. Many of our team members are pursuing their hobbies and engaging in their passion for bird watching, reading, writing, etc.
They all feel blessed to be in the lap of nature, in large open spaces adjoining the worlds finest tiger reserves. And together they are working harder to protect and preserve this pristine land.
The Road Ahead
The road ahead may be challenging, yet not one that we won’t conquer. It is going to be long fight against the debilitating virus. Getting our treasured guests back to us will be a slow winding process.
We have decided to take majority of our team members ahead with us, with changes in pay outs for everyone. Our hope is to take every member of Team Pugdundee along with us in these trying times.
Majority of the team is drawn from villages around. And this decision is so much in synch with their needs, as lack of payouts to them could put conservation efforts at peril.
We are confident we will all rise like the phoenix from the ashes, and evolve as better human beings once this crisis is behind us. And as long as we all stick together and support each other as a global community, this too shall pass. We are in this together!
We bid adieu with this beautiful song by Bob Marley
“Don’t worry about a thing,
‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right”
| Written by: Natasha Sinha, Content Curator, Pugdundee Safaris |
| Contact us for bespoke safari experiences Email : [email protected] [email protected] Call : +91-11-4013 6332 |
