Aramness is one of those beautiful, ecological resorts tucked away in the serenity of Gir forest. A go to place if you like nature, wilderness and big cats – all in the lap of luxury.

By Ranojoy Mukerji

You know what they say about many luxury gaming resorts – you see one, you see them all. That is until you get to Aramness – a resort like no other. Nestled in an interior part of the Gir forest, an area famous for Asiatic Lions, Aramness is a fabulous oasis in the midst of a jungle. Built in a sustainable fashion with a high usage of local materials and craftsmanship, this eco-friendly luxury resort points to the way that being environmentally friendly does not mean any compromise in luxury.

I had the opportunity to be invited to the lodge sometime back. Nestled as it is in the area of Sasan Gir, the park periphery, Aramness is built on a 12-acre area of land, but with only a little over 4 acres being covered with 18 ‘kothis’ – more on that later, and of course the main building which houses the reception, restaurant, a library, an upcoming cigar bar and of course many open spaces which are very well suited for alfresco dining. The whole design is by internationally renowned Fox Browne Creative, a South African form specialised in designing luxury jungle resorts. Aramness is a venture by Jimmy Patel, a real estate mogul in Ahmedabad, with a keen interest in wildlife conservation and he is also an accomplished photographer.

The entire staff under the watchful eyes of the General Manager, Parikshit Rathore, is very well trained in the art of service, without being intruding. True to its nature, Aramness has its own team of naturalists, all headed by Varun Taneja and a team of three other naturalists – all of whom benefit from training and philosophy provided by Alastair Kilpin, a renowned naturalist himself, again from South Africa.

Now let us come to the living quarters. While I have had the privilege to stay at some of the best in India and abroad, including some very famous chains, the accommodation at Aramness is beyond belief. Each of the 18 suites, referred to as ‘Kothis’ has a private pool – no, not a mere plunge pool to twiddle your toes in, but a proper pool. A lovely sitting area outside is very inviting for morning tea or evening cocktails. Inside, you get a very large suite, which is divided into a sitting area, a sleeping area and then there is the bathroom and dressing area. The highlight of the room has to be the central swing (it actually took my weight!) which is a pure delight. I love the fact that there are no beds – the bed is actually a platform made out of mosaic type platform with steps on either end and a comfortable bedding. The whole deco is in Gujarati style, keeping in step with its location but the bright colours and monochrome walls play with a lot of light and air to generate a magnificent canvas within the suite. There are two family suites as well, each done up tastefully with just the right furnishings. You feel as if you are home and not just another luxury resort. Incidentally, each ‘kothi’ has a spiral staircase taking you to the roof where two lovely day beds can keep you daydreaming forever.

If you are a foodie, then you will love the cuisine here at Aramness. Again, developed with local flavours in mind, the food here is out of this world. Whether you go in for a set ‘thali’ or order a-la-carte, the food is nutritious and tasty. Mostly local ingredients are sourced and the cooking is done by local women or men – as a result meals are healthy and flavourful, a rare combination these days. The whole culinary planning is through a company called ‘Kitchen Therapy’, run by Kamini Patel, who is herself trained in nutrition management and turns out healthy but tasty meals. The dedication of her towards her work is indeed praiseworthy.

There is no point in coming to Gir and not going to meet the Asiatic lion. On the day that we went, fortune smiled at us as we saw a huge pack of mothers and cubs frolicking around. We were lucky enough to click quite a few pictures and gained quite a lot of knowledge thanks to Adil Arif, one of the best naturalists of the region who very patiently informed us about the flora and fauna there as well as about conservation. He along with his two team members, Naman Doshi and Aamir Matli also went around with us in the periphery areas to explain the jungle to us. Later, all of us went for an excellent picnic just outside the resort.

Aramness is not a mere luxury resort. It is nirvana in the jungle, as you have all elements here – sustainable architecture and build, local ingredients for food and usage of materials, use of local resources – it proves that you can bake your cake and eat it too! It is also child-friendly and has something to do for all the little ones – from gardening to pottery to a whole lot of other activities. If you are fed up with visiting the same ‘luxury wildlife resorts’ all the time, try Aramness. It will be beyond your wildest dreams.