10 Year Itch

Maneland Jungle Lodge

Maneland was listed in Lonely Planet as one of the recommended places to stay at. It sounded better than the state-govt-run Sinh Sadan Lodge and priced more reasonably than the other ‘resorts’ in the area. The price quoted to us included all meals although rooms without meals could also be negotiated. The hotel was a little difficult to find as it’s set away from the main road into the jungle and is reached via a narrow, dirt road.

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I’ve never been on a safari or stayed in a jungle area before, so this trip to Sasan Gir National Park is special to me. Sasan Gir is the home of Asiatic Lions, the only one in Asia, and I hoped to spot at least one – fingers and toes crossed!

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The Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (also known as Sasan-Gir) was established in 1965, with a total area of 1412 km².

Gir is the sole home of the Asiatic Lions (Panthera leo persica) and is considered to be one of the most important protected areas in Asia due to its supported species.

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Maneland Jungle Lodge, is situated at the edge of the Gir National Park & Sanctuary.

Towards the main entrance.

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O’Coquiera Music Garden Restaurant

A Lonely Planet pick, we had our first meal in Diu here. It was within walking distance of our hotel and seemed popular amongst the foreign tourists. It’s a family-run restaurant, set in the front yard of the family home. The yard is covered with a thatch-roofed mandap and lighted with colorful traditional, cloth lamps. The place has a great ambiance. The food’s excellent too – over 2 meals, we ate fried fish, prawns masala, fried calamari and pasta – they were all fantastic! But service is really slow. There’s just one smiling gentleman who takes all the orders, brings out the dishes, clears them and settles the bill. So it takes forever. There are just about 6 tables, but if they are all occupied, be prepared for a long, winding meal.

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Hotel Cidade de Diu

Cidade de Diu was mentioned in Lonely Planet as a new addition behind Hotel Samrat, both of which were owned by the same management and situated in the heart of Diu town. Cidade de Diu was also mentioned for its garish color choices . Since color scheme didn’t really matter to Madhu and me and since this hotel was situated right at the center of most of Diu’s sights and restaurants, we picked it as our place of stay.

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We woke up late today, had a long, leisurely breakfast and then set out to see Nagar Sheth Haveli, which is within the older parts of Diu town. We had to ask for directions as it was in the center of a maze of narrow, endless lanes. But we were able to spot it from afar as it stands tall – 3 stories high – and more colorful than the rest of the grey buildings that surround it. It was within a gated compound and the gate, though unlocked, was closed. We stood outside, hesitating to walk in, as nobody seemed to be around and there was no sign identifying the building. That’s when Bharat Kamalia approached us…

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Old Town has a few old mansions belonging to rich Portuguese and Indian merchants.

The colorful three-storey Nagar Sheth Haveli has porticoes, carved balconies, stone-made lions and intricate arches in European and Indian styles.

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We bumped into Bharat outside Nagar Sheth’s Haveli. He was more than happy to let us into his havelis. This was the highlight of our Diu trip. We had a great time browsing though his family heirlooms.

Bharat in his Living Room

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It’s easy to get around Diu on foot; the island is small enough for it. However, it’s not the most efficient method. Moreover auto-rickshaws are hard to come by. Everybody zips around in two-wheelers and the guide books had mentioned that they are easily available for daily hire. So we checked with our hotel guys and they arranged a Scooty ES for Rs.175 per day. And what fun it is!!

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