Shangri La Jungle Village

A lush drive through misty mountains, cascading waterfalls and dense undergrowth will take you to Anmod, at the edge of the Goa-Karnataka border. Here, backed by the imposing Western Ghats, the Shangri-La Jungle Village resort sits pretty in a green valley. The resort in its entirety covers 10,000 sq.metres of land, although only 2 acres of that have been developed commercially. The Shangri-La Jungle Village offers 40 simply done rustic rooms arranged around a common grassed courtyard. With a creek running through the property and some dramatic trees and natural outcroppings, as well its own waterfall the landscape will not fail to surprise you with its sheer contrasts. And while it is a thrill to stay in the back of beyond and enjoy the jungle ambience, what is seriously cool about the retreat is the array of adventure activities it offers. Dotted with deceptively strong wooden and rope bridges suspended over the creek and particularly thick forestation, just negotiating the spread of forest is a delight for adrenalin junkies. If balancing precariously on tender timber bridges over murky depths doesn't satiate your inner Tarzan or Jane, take on the more challenging activities on offer. Adventure Aplenty River crossing, rappelling, Burma Bridge, Flying Fox: These are definitely not for the faint-hearted. Imagine climbing a rickety timber ladder and then swinging off over a swirling stream while being suspended from a harness! Of course, nothing quite beats the feeling of ‘flying' or hanging in mid-air with nothing below you but water. The Flying Fox is a great one to try. And try not to miss the Burma Bridge either, where you challenge yourself to walk across a narrow ‘blink and you miss it' bridge. Elephant and horse rides: This will keep young ones entertained and the animal trainers are only too happy to share interesting stories about their wards. Picturesque paddling: Taking a paddleboat through the narrow creek cruising otherwise impenetrable forest is an experience to remember. It's an incredible place for photographs, especially with a waterproof camera! Make sure you're with a guide on this one! Zorbing: One of the only places in the state to have a zorbing ball, the resort offers an opportunity to let your inner wild child out. Zorbing is the recreation of rolling downhill in an orb, generally made of transparent plastic. Zorbing is generally performed on a gentle slope, but can also be done on a level surface,permitting more rider control. Get strapped into a harness inside a huge ball and get ready to be rolled up and down slopes and all around the jungle while safely inside. Quad Bikes: The resort offers a taste of adventure motorsports with these beauties. Anyone who loves wheels will love the joy of riding these rugged quads over rough and tough terrain. Archery, darts, board games, football: are available for the more sedate. Bullock cart rides can be arranged on request. Trekking and trips to the Dudhsagar Falls: This can also be arranged once you're at Shangri-La. The forest houses an impressive biodiversity. It is home to tigers, black panthers, bears, monkeys, wild boar as well an astounding variety of snakes, bird species and flora. One of the best features of Shangri-La is the vast jungle that surrounds it and exploring the wilderness is truly one of the top activities here. Follow forest trails to discover your own jungle story. Accommodation The Stone House, the Tiger House, the Tree House are just some of the evocative names the rooms bear. The 40 rooms are placed around a central common area and built in neat units of two rooms each. Rustic in appearance and bedecked with pebbles and thatch, the rooms are fairly simple on the inside. Basic wooden beds and a neat clean toilet are pretty much it but some of the rooms do have ACs and TVs as well. Although they are standard doubles, they can and have been used to fit in more with extra mattresses provided. The resort has been a popular venue for private parties, weddings and corporate events for up to 200 people! The layout of rooms around a common area makes it easy and convenient for large gatherings to enjoy their time at their own pace, while still feeling connected to the group as a whole. Relaxing Eat, party and enjoy the simple things of life in the lap of nature. While the packages offered include buffet meals, do make a special request for the Lamb Chops. Tender and succulent, these alone are almost worth the challenging drive up for any foodie worth their chops! Special dietary needs and meal requests can be taken care of on prior intimation to the resort.