|
ESCAPE
TO DAMDAMA LAKE
My
son was pestering me for a picnic or weekend outing for a long time, but first the Delhi Summer
and then the unprecedented Monsoons of this year did not let us venture out.
Finally on a Sunday in late July we decided to take the dip (literally as it was
still drizzling). Then came the decision of choosing a Delhi picnic spot for the
outing. We had already been to most Delhi picnic spots like Sultanpur, Tilyar, Sohna etc. and we wanted to go somewhere else. Also my wife had strictly
said no to preparing the customary ‘picnic lunch’ as she wanted a break too.
At this instance I remembered a place right in the middle of a lake and
promising a lot of outdoor activities and also complete with lunch and all. The
lake was Damdama in Haryana; around 50 km from Delhi and the resort is across
the lake. The idea appealed to every body and we were off in no time.
Soon
we crossed Dhaula Kuan to reach NH 8 and were speeding past Radisson and crossed
the Delhi border. After reaching the Rajeev Chowk in Gurgaon we took a left turn
for the Sohna road. We reached the place in about 90 mins. and called up the
resort on our mobile to tell them our expected time of arrival. On reaching
Damdama the man from the resort was ready with his boat as the resort
can only be reached by a boat . The cool breeze blowing across
the lake, the low Aravalis mountain range in the backdrop, a light drizzle and
the chirping of birds set us in a picnic mood. Though I am only a novice birder
I could still recognize the snowy white egrets, the black darters and the
parakeets. On reaching the resort (in 15 mins.) we were greeted by the resort
manager and offered a welcome drink. He told us about the resort and the
various activities which one could indulge in here. The resort itself made a
pretty picture with lots of trees and greenery with structures for adventure
activities enhancing the ambience of the place.
We
tried our hand at a lot of activities starting with the obstacle course that
consisted
of the spider’s web where one had to climb up a net made of strong ropes to a
height of around 10 feet and the n climb down the
other
side, competing against each other. The best part was climbing the artificial
wall, under the guidance of a instructor, with a safety belt tied around your
waist. My son tried his hand at crossing the Burma bridge but I just couldn’t
take to it’s swaying beat. I had spent all my energy by this time and was
relieved to hear that lunch was now available.
We had a hearty meal that was simple yet appealing to our taste buds. The
dining hall was set in a open courtyard with a net overhead and a thatched roof
in the middle. The cool breeze and light music further increased our appetite.
We were up
again
in an hour tried our hand at table tennis and some golf putting. A treasure hunt
was organized for all the visitors where we were given clues to search for a
cache that sent every body on a wild goose chase. After having tea with some
pakoras it was time to say good-bye. We wished that we could bottle the fresh
air and the crispness of the place and take it back with us to the concrete
jungle where the manic Monday would be waiting for us.
Prior bookings are required
for the day
picnic (minimum 15 people). Contact us at arounddelhi@gmail.com
or call us at 09811193634/09891458220 (10 AM-8PM)
For
other day picnic and Short Weekend Getaway options click here
Blog
on Picnic at Damdama
Blog
on Picnic near Damdama at Botanics
from,
Rakesh
Anand, Editor 'Getaway' (Around Delhi) August
2003
|
