20-Feb-2024
By Outlook Traveller
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The term forest bathing (or shinrin-yoku) may have Japanese roots, but by no means is the experience strictly limited to Japan alone. Madhya Pradesh has several excellent forest trails which are well-suited for forest bathing - the ones in Satpura National Park being a case in point
Sprinting past trees, hills, streams and sand, Forsyth Trail Run in Satpura is 'wildly' refreshing
No one word, or two or three, can describe the landscape at the Satpura National Park. Although blessed abundantly with towering canopies, magical floors, flowing streams and all the features that make for an enticing forest, it is impossible to pin down its scenery to a single type. The fact that it magically transforms into a new landscape every few miles is what makes the Forsyth Trail Run in Satpura a uniquely soul-stirring experience. That, and the fact that it is the only activity of its kind to be hosted in a tiger reserve! A 36-km-long trail, it starts on a motorable road in Singanama village and ends uphill, at the Bison Lodge in Pachmarhi. Along the way, it makes you scale slopes in a rainforest, tread past sandy beach-like shores, sprint across fields, and dip your toes in cool brooks from time to time. Participants also get a glimpse of the traditional Gond and Baiga lifestyles as they go past the villages of Khokhra and Thadipathar on the banks of the Gopad and Mahan rivers. The nature worshippers have a regular haat or market and run eco-friendly homestays that have been supported by Biome and MP Tourism.
The Forsyth Trail Run starts off as a group activity high on adrenaline, but along the way and over the next eight hours, evolves into a reflective journey as one continues at one's own pace - fascinated by the transforming trail. If you're lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of a deer or a sambar sprinting alongside. Away from the chaos outside its fences, the forest offers a meditative track to run with your thoughts. Interrupted occasionally by the rustle of leaves, the prattling of brooks and the occasional call of a bird or beast.
The first to flag off what is going to be an annual event, this is an intense trail recommended for only seasoned runners. Going forward, however, the organisers, Moustache Escapes and Madhya Pradesh Tourism, will offer three different trails -10, 20 and 36-km long. This includes parts of the core forest cover as well as buffer zones.
Physically and mentally challenging yet infinitely rewarding, the Forsyth Trail Run is a rare opportunity to witness the glory of the wild on foot.
How to get there: Itarsi railway station is 70 kms from Satpura, Pachmarhi. The closest airport is Bhopal, 146 kms away.
Best time to visit: The Trail Run is held in the winter months.
Cost: `4,000 for two nights, including stay and breakfast
Contact: +91-8929100705
Website: https://moustachescapes.com (the exact dates for the run can be tracked here)
Source URL: https://www.outlookindia.com/traveller/mp/wellness/read/call-of-the-wild/
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