As the Journey of "Nikunj_the Homestay" begins... .. ...

There is no time like first time because it comes only once.

The Guests

Welcoming and serving our first guests at Nikunj was really a wonderful & successful start.

For past one year we have been preparing and brainstorming on idea of starting a home stay. We met different people, visited many places, read about other's experiences & ongoing projects.

Finally while we were waiting to receive our first guests on the way, it seemed like “yes!! There goes the final bell and the supervisor is hurriedly distributing question papers”.

But just like, when we see the easiest question on the first page, smile on guests faces relaxed us that they had found the route well.

Then as they followed us to our “Nikunj” the home stay, our final journey began.

The plan of two days involved birding, local sightseeing and night trails. It also included visit to 'Royal Butterfly Garden’_ being developed by one of our friends.

The arrangements were done in homely manner.

Rangoli at entrance to welcome guests.

Swings: the attraction for kids

The Room #1

The Room #2

Guests were served local food items like 'laal math sabji’, ‘shevaya or shirolya’, 'kokam curry’, 'fanas papad’ etc.

Serving food in Indian Style on Banana Leaf

Guests found food being served on banana leaf, very interesting and they appreciated it a lot. It gave the ‘local touch’ to their experience.

Guests enjoying meal

The natural beauty and silence of the placepleased the guests most. And their cooperation during the stay and interest to know about local lifestyle here pleased us. Having our neighborhood involved with us, guests could interact with locals well.

Photographing during Birding

Serving our guests gave us the esteemed joy. Though their original plan was of two days, they extended it by one more day. This gave us our most worthy acknowledgement. The proud moment that 'yes! We can do it!’

While leaving when asked for their reviews, they said, they felt just like visiting some of their relative's’ place.

Such a homely environment made it a real home stay.

As they returned with lots of memories, we missed them and they missed us too.

The dream had come true. With the help of all our friends and well wishers, journey of "Nikunj" had taken the first step. The dream had become a memory now.

The experience along with teaching us a lot of things, gave us the confidence to work even harder.

Places of Interest around #Nikunj

#1 _Talkat_Vanbag

‘Van’ means Forest and ‘Bag’ means Garden. Talkat Van-Bag is ‘Forest Garden’ recently developed by Forest Department in the area of approx. 558.32 hectors which consists of various types of plants and trees such as coconut, Bettelnut, Mango, cashew, jackfruits as well as paper, Chickoo, Jalphal, Kokam, Dalchini, Rubber, Gauva, Nagchapha and many more. In some area department has planted betel nut & coconut trees, rest of the area are wild forest. This Garden also includes varieties of many medical plants.

Dodamarg region has lot of forest cover and hence this is one of the first protected forest areas being developed as ‘forest garden’ for promoting wildlife tourism.

The Garden has some watchtowers and platforms made for observation. It has 4-5 walking trails through the forest. One can get very rich experience of a jungle walk in this garden. The area has one artificial water pond or tank made by the department for providing water to animals during summer. It also has one natural water stream & a small dam over it.

The area has wonderful wildlife sighting records of the region. It is home for wildlife animals such as Giant Squirrel, Monkey, Barking Deer, porcupine, Indian Gaur, Leopard and many such wild animals of the region. Also the area has many endemic species of birds & reptiles of the Western Ghats.

During post monsoon season & October heat many varieties of Butterflies can be seen in the garden.

For the one who is real nature lover this place is must visit.

For the checklists please visit (http://nikunjhomestay.blogspot.in/2016/11/checklists-for-area-around-nikunj.html)

All about the Home stay

About Us

We find ourselves very fortunate having our own native place, which usually, these days is not the case with most of people living in cities.

Beauty of such place dragged us here to settle down & build new house of our own.

Amidst all these green mountains, we find peace of mind.

And now, going one step further, we are glad to share this beauty & peace with our guests, through our new Home Stay.

So if you are

A nature lover this is heaven for you

A Bird watcher, it’s a Bird Paradise

A Botanist, its treasure of tropical trees

An Entomologist, you will get countless varieties and numbers of insects

A Stargazer, no lights will disturb you and pollution is absolutely absent

A Photographer, many landscapes are waiting for your click

A Medicine Student, nature around has abundant variety of medicinal plants

A Writer, here Silence will Speak with you

We, the Joshi Family, your Hosts.

Members, Mr. and Mrs. Shruti Bhalchandra Joshi and daughter Ashwini.

we are: Nature lovers, Travellers, Trekkers, Birdwatchers.

Neighbour Hosts, Manerikar Family

They are one of the best ‘bagayatdars’ of the area. They commercially produce cashew nut, betel nut, coconut, black paper, turmeric etc. Apart from these they have local varieties of mango such as payari and goa mankur, banana trees, jackfruits, several local medicinal plants, green leaf vegetable plantations etc. They also have own ‘wormy compost (gandul khat)’ project near house. Also students of various agricultural institutes visit their farm for practical references. 

Facilities that we provide*:

• We have one self-contained room which can accommodate six people. In addition we can provide bedding to 5 people in open terrace (many of our guests prefer this arrangement, as it is even more pleasant than AC room accommodation, in summer and winter season)
• Note: In case of Group Visits (like College Student excursions, field trips or study tours etc) special arrangements can be made.
• Simple home-made vegetarian food (breakfast as well as meals)
• Pick up and drop from railway station or bus stand (with extra charges*)
• Arrangement of local vehicle for sight-seeing around Zolambe as well as visiting other places (charges* depend on the person providing vehicle)

*Charges will be communicated via email.

How to Reach:

• By Train: Nearest Railway stations are Sawantwadi Road, Pernem, Thivim
• By Bus: Nearest Bus Stand is Banda Bus Stand
• By Road:
• From Amboli - 40 Kms approx.
• From Banda - 12 Kms approx.
• From Sawantwadi (Via Banda) - 25 Kms approx.

Nearby Attractions (within 15 km area):

1. Talkat Van Bagh (Forest Area)
2. Khadpade Forest
3. Fukeri Hanumant Gad
4. Shirwal Dam

Tourist Destinations Nearby:

Goa, Amboli, Malvan.