Photographed by Thea Mulchandani
While the palace and the temples were certainly highlights of my travels, the safari was the main attraction. Here’s everything I learnt on my very first safari experience in Madhya Pradesh:
1. The night before a safari is a great time for a massage
Safaris begin at the crack of dawn, when the air is still cool and animal movement is at its highest. While the excitement alone is enough to keep you awake, it does help if you’ve had a good night’s sleep beforehand. And nothing induces sleep quite like a massage.
At the Oberoi wellness centre, Asmi, I signed up for a treatment called ‘Dissolve My Aches’. Now, I’m not really into massages, but after a year spent hunched over a desk, I figured my muscles could use the R&R. About fifteen minutes into the treatment, I inferred that my masseuse had four hands—every inch of my back was somehow being kneaded simultaneously. She also used hot basalt stones on my skin, which felt like each muscle was being enveloped in a warm hug. I still wouldn’t call myself a spa enthusiast, but throw in a few more flaming rocks and a girl could be convinced otherwise.
2. The journey is just as beautiful as the destination
In many national parks across India, the entire purpose of a safari is to spot a tiger. It’s an admirable goal, but not when you’re looking for it with blinders on. It’s easy to find as much joy in observing the ecosystem around the tiger as there is in catching a glimpse of the apex predator. There were baby monkeys roughhousing in the dirt (adorable!), a peacock dancing with its variegated feathers forming a halo behind it (so vibrant!), and I could tell our guide wasn’t particularly impressed by my insistence on stopping to gape at every deer we passed (the prettiest animal I have ever seen!). If I’d had my way, I would have given the butterflies a second glance as well.
