A Nature and Ecotourism Awareness Programme was organized by India Tourism in association with Dharthi NGO at Bannerghatta Nature Camp.

A thin layer of mist had swooped downwards from the heavens. Droplets of dew shining like pearls danced on the leaves, the fragrance of nature lingered tantalizingly in the air. A herd of deer looked quizzically at us as they grazed with nonchalance nearby. Nature seemed to be preening itself.

We were at the Bannerghatta Nature Camp, Jungle Lodges And Resorts to cover the Nature and Ecotourism Awareness Programme.

It was a perfect start for the day, a day reserved for a tryst with nature at the Bannerghatta Nature Camp, Jungle Lodges and Resorts, a pristine and picturesque place located right on the edge of the bustling outskirts of Bangalore, India. We were there to cover a unique Nature and Ecotourism Awareness Programme for the travel trade and teaching community.

The unique initiative was organized by India Tourism Bangalore which is a part of Incredible India under the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and Dharthi NGO.

Nature and Ecotourism Awareness Programme  

Nature and Ecotourism Awareness Programme at Bannerghatta Nature Camp

We have always championed the cause of sustainable tourism and eco-travel and have always believed in the adage. “sustainability starts with me“. So the Awareness Programme on Nature and Ecotourism by India Tourism in association with Dharthi NGO promised an interesting and enlightening day in the lap of nature.

Nature and Ecotourism Awareness Programme – Nature Walk

The Awareness Programme on Nature and Ecotourism for Travel Trade & Teaching Community was a unique programme.

It brought together diverse groups on a single platform to discuss topics that included, what is ecotourism and why is it important, the role of Ecotourism in Sustainable Development, promoting ecotourism and its challenges, and the involvement of the education sector in Eco-tourism.

It was but fitting that the programme was flagged off with a nature walk that lasted for about 2 hours. It was thrilling as well as a humbling experience for all the participants of the Awareness Programme on Nature and Ecotourism by India Tourism. Discovering the pristine serenity of the jungle so close to a burgeoning metropolis was a joy in itself.

The Nature Walk was organized within the campus of Bannerghatta nature camp resort.

It was a guided walk within the designated herbivore area of the camp. The naturalist who accompanied the groups were knowledgable and provided valuable and interesting information about the animals, and the flora and fauna of the area.

The participants set off into the wilderness, in two groups, eager to revel in the unfolding beauty of nature, listening to the sounds of the forest, and looking out for animals.

There were plenty of herbivorous animals waiting to greet the visitors. Huge herds of deer, Sambar, Nilgai and Indian bison, were everywhere.

Crocodiles were spotted lazing on rocks and swimming in the waters of the Suvarnamukhi stream that runs through the Bannerghatta National Park.

A two-level man-made watering hole that could be commissioned in case of an outbreak of a disease like the Foot and Mouth disease, was another highlight of the nature walk. It was explained that in case of emergency, water would be filled in the inner level of the watering hole while the outer level would be filled with water infused with a disinfectant like potassium permanganate.

This would ensure that the animals’ feet got sterilized while they drank water from the inner chamber.

It was a very informative walk that kept the participants hanging on every word of the naturalist, be it the explanation of the genesis of an anthill and how it metamorphoses into the habitat of snakes, or about the properties of the Rosewood tree. The participants returned recharged and rejuvenated, intoxicated by nature’s beauty to a filling and inviting breakfast.

Awareness Programme on Nature and Ecotourism – Classroom Session

After a rejuvenating nature walk and a sumptuous breakfast, the participants were ready for an interactive session on topics that included Nature and sustainable tourism, Ecotourism, the role of local communities and Responsible tourism.

Shaheed Khan and Freeda from Dharti NGO explained the various concepts associated with Ecotourism and highlighted its importance as well as challenges through various case studies. They also showed how Ecotourism is linked with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) adopted by the member countries under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Mr Mohamed Farouk elaborated about the role of India Tourism Bangalore in helping promote Ecotourism in Karnataka. He emphasized that the objective of the programme was to create awareness in the travel trade about Ecotourism destinations as well as to motivate them in identifying lesser-known and offbeat destinations.

He also spoke about the role he envisaged for the teaching community in promoting Ecotourism and inculcating a love for nature in their students.

It was a very interactive and productive session with members from the teaching community as well as the travel trade pitching in with their ideas on how to develop and take Ecotourism projects to the next level and make them truly sustainable.

Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Centre – Wildlife SOS | Sloth Bear Conservation Project | Rescue Centre – Bengaluru Bannerghatta Biological Park

A visit to the Rescue Centre – Bengaluru Bannerghatta Biological Park, was one that left the participants shocked at how bears have been traumatized and abused for the entertainment of Man. The Wildlife SOS is an NGO that has been working in rescuing and rehabilitating bears that have been held captive.

The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated – Mahatma Gandhi

The Bangalore centre has 77 rescued bears that live in the centre that sprawls over about 80 acres. The centre is the second-largest rescue centre for Sloth Bears in the world. A team of skilled veterinarians look after the health of the bears and ensure that they lead a good quality of life through the rest of their lives.

What is really commendable is the holistic approach of the organization. While on the one hand the rescued bears are well taken care of, the organization also works in rehabilitation of the people whose livelihood is lost and families affected.

Wildlife SOS works on the rehabilitation of the Kalandar Community who have been traditionally associated with training and using bears for commercial entertainment. The members of the community are encouraged and helped to take on alternative means of earning.

The Web Of Life | Nature and Ecotourism Awareness Programme

The interdependence of various elements of nature, like, air, water, Sun, Moon, Trees, etc., was highlighted by an outdoor activity, called, “The Web of Life”. The activity drove home the fact that it is Man who needs Nature and not vice-versa. Nature will continue to exist, even without the presence of Man. The fragile balance of Nature can be upset when even one of its elements becomes endangered.

Bannerghatta National Park Safari | Safari – Bengaluru Bannerghatta Biological Park | Bannerghatta National Park: Wildlife Safari

The Bengaluru Bannerghatta Biological Park Safari is a very popular activity. The participants were taken in the Bannerghatta safari bus for a sighting of the grand and wild animals who live in the Park. The Bannerghatta Biological Park is home to Lions, Tigers, Leopards, and also rare White Tigers. The participants enjoyed the sighting of these wild beauties from the safety of the Safari Bus.

The Valediction at Nature and Ecotourism Awareness Programme

The Awareness Program on Nature and Ecotourism at Bannerghatta Nature Camp concluded with the participants being awarded certificates of participation.

In the words of one of the participants, “It was a day well-spent”.

We too had experienced a slice of nature at the Bannerghatta Nature Camp and were surcharged with the joy that the pristine environment had induced. But it was time to head back to the concrete jungle from the tranquillity of the real jungle.

As we moved out of the Banneghata Nature Camp, we spied a pair of gleaming eyes looking at us from behind a bush. It was a fawn, exploring its surroundings.

Watch A Short Film About The Nature and Ecotourism Awareness Programme at Bannerghatta Nature Camp

Some Useful Information About Bannerghatta Nature Camp

• Bannerghatta Nature Camp is located about 56 kilometres from Bengaluru International Airport
• The Bannerghatta jungle resort/Nature Camp is about 25 kilometres from M.G.Road
• Bannerghatta Nature Camp booking can be done for a day-package as well as for overnight stays at the Bannerghatta Nature Camp by Jungle Lodges Bengaluru
• The packages include Safari and visits to Bannerghatta Butterfly Park apart from food and accommodation according to the chosen package

If you are planning to visit and experience nature, wildlife at Bannerghatta Nature Camp, you can book packages right here – Bannerghatta Nature Camp by Jungle Lodges Bengaluru.

Is your interest piqued by the serenity of nature so near the city of Bangalore? Do the images of Bannerghatta Nature Camp make you feel like experience the magic of nature at Bannerghatta Nature Camp yourself? Then do not wait!

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