E

TRIPS

FUN UNDER ONE TENT

Sitting under the stars [istening to an
acoustic band, followed by a bonfire,
sounds atmost gimmickY. But when
you spend a weekend at BandcamP,
and watch the performers effortlessty
go from Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Leonard
Cohen to their own comPositions,
you find your guard dropping. Organised

sleeping bags. The campsite itself

is shaded by trees and thoughtf utty taid
out, with ampte room around each tent.
The thoughtfulness is evident in other
ways too

- tike the communatshower

area, which is covered with smooth

stones. This lets the water seep through,

by White Coltar Hippie, a travetcomPany.

Bandcamp manages to get this and every

and keeps your feet from getting muddy.

Each visitor gets a welcome Pouch
that contains a mosquito repe[[ent
and a sma[[torch, among other things

other element of the experience right.

- minor

The campsite is located atop a hitlock

in Uttan, a quick drive from Mumbai.
This means that the air is fresh, and
the sea views unobstructed. The tents
are clean, and each accommodates two

February 2016

treats if you enjoy cottecting

toitetries from hoteI rooms.
Once you've settled in, You can
go ahead and explore the fishing vittage
that surrounds it. Watk down to the end
of Uttan Pati Road, Past St Andrew's

Church, and take the stePs down to

the jetty (20 minutes). From here, you see
the Vasai Creek widening and spitling
into the ocean, and the mangroved fringes
of Virar. The boat repair yard on the other
side of the vi[[age is atso worth a visit
(10 minutes). Cet up close to [arge fishing
boats in various stages of comptetion,
and marveI at their subtte craftsmanship
and the outtandish paintings that decorate
the hutts. You can even join the fishermen
when they go out to sea at first light
(free, but do tiP generouslY).
The camp also organises a sunset watk
in the evening (20 minutes). You'[[ first
be taken to the highest point on the hitt'
From there, You'[[ make Your way down,

to know your neighbours for the night,

cnto an ampte stice of rocky shore.

Cnce you bid farewell to the sun, make
your way back to the camp.
By sundown, the campsite takes
on a new persona. Soft, zero-watt
.anterns and the chatter of the campers
:ring the place to Iife. Use this time to get

or the affable staff and volunteers.

You're free to carry your own alcohotic
beverages, and pair them with the
chicken, Daneer and mushrooms that
come fresh off the gri[[. There's dinner
later too, which comprises tasty Indian
dishes homecooked by a localfamity.
Later in the evening, the two musicians,
armed with quick wit and guitars, take
the stage. They ptay off the crowd, letting
you be part of the fun. You can request
songs, or, if you're feeting adventurous,
join them, The singing can go on wetl
into the night. A bonfire is eventuatly [it,
by which you can keep yoursetf
and the marshmattows warm.

The next morning at sunrise, r/you can

wake up by then, attempt the nature watk
(10 minutes)that rambles through the
woods behind the campsite. Basking
in the filtered sunlight, with the chirps
of drongos and starlings a[[ around, makes
it worth the effort. You could atso go for
a swim at
next door
(T 300/ person; 1)am - 6pr),But chances
are you'[[ end up spending the rest
of the day ptaying Jenga, and making sma[[
talk with the staff and volunteers. Or
you'[Lend up lazing about in a hammock,
putting off your drive back to civilisation.
WORDS ROSHAN SAM
PHOTOGRAPHS SURPIYA KANTAK

q.:AgVTRlPS tsANDCAM P, UTTAN, MAHARASHTRA

inlfl)
\{lY

NDCAMP

estern

loos, separate for men and women,

and are as good as it can get
for a campsite. The communal
showers atso.have hot water.

UTTAN

SAFBTY
The campsite is wel[-[it, and the
organisers have a good raPPort
with the peoPle of the viltage.
Nonetheless, it would be advisabte

to stay within the camP Premlses

MUMBAI

after dark.

rs
\j.r

ple number

of pharmacies and ctinics. In case

of any emergency, the camPsite
has a doctor on ca[[ (Dr Vasant Mante:
0o-91-9870907888).

CHILD.FRIENDLINDSS
at Kurta (sakm) for outstation trains, or Dahisar
Station (18.skn)on the Western Line for local
trains from Mumbai. Atltrains to Bhayandar

SHEET
NC THERE

or Virar stoP at Dahisar.

GETTINC AROUND
Most of the highLights are weltwithin watking
distance from the camP. However, there are shared
rickshaws that run up and down the main roads
(? 15 to{ 20). We used Anfa Travels (Laeeq: 00-91-

Mumbai's ChhatraPati Shivaji

in advance

260748;

www.f acebook.com/wh itecotla rh i pp,

travet@whitecoItarhiPPie.com;
Bandcamp, behind U-tan Sea Resort,
Dongri, BhaYandar West; Fri & Sat:
t 2,500 adult, { 1,500 for kids
(four to 12 years), rates include dinner
and breakfast; weekdays: { 2,000 adult,
{ 1,200 chitd, music Performances
onty happen on Fridays and Saturdays

kfast
are atl organised at the camP. For dinner,

there's barbeque atong with homemade

dal, rotis, a veg and non-veg curry
and rice. Soft drinks are atso provided'
For breakfast, there are loaves of bread
and a choice of spreads, or wait for the
homemade treats, which range from
pohato puriand chickPea curry'
Snacks, tea and coffee are never
in short suPPty here. lf you wish to eat

lunch at the camP, inform the organisers

.
7o '',rHiel\-./
Ctitta

February 2016

(< 300). Else, You could

visit the restaurant next door

at the U-tan Sea Resort, which serves
Chinese, lndian and continenta[ options
(0 0 -91

8am

votteYba[tnet

and lots of oPen sPace, the camP

is great for chitdren of atl ages. lt atso
serves as an exce[[ent introduction
to camping ("g[amping" doesn't count)'
The staff organises kids' summer camPs
every year and this experience shows,
as they go out of their waY to keeP
chitdren entertained.

g821352189;from12,800/day for an AC sedan)'

Lokmanya Titak Termin us

WIIERE
W,mr,nrLc:nvr'*rlt:

With board games,

-22-284523

5; www.

10.30Pm; mains

-ta n.co m ;

from< 250)'

GOOD TO KNOW

There is no itinerarY as such,

so make sure You inform the staff
about the activities you're interested
in doing when You get there'
This wittgive them enough time

to arrange everYthing.
:F There are onty a few charging
ooints, so make sure Your Phone
is futty charged or carry a power PacK
Or, better stilt, just switch it off !

ny tocat
but, if You're
here
oPtions
shopping
rea[ty keen and have Your own car,
you coutd head to the [oca[ fish
markets on your waY home. Seafood
fresh from the nets - is available.
The prices varY dailY, so make sure
you get a good idea of the Prices

before you buY.

{ili
\=r

The terrain around the camPsite

is hitty and uneven, and You maY find

it stightty strenuous.
* You're free to carry Your own
alcoholic beverages. Be sure to carry
a liquor permit

(t5)

and receiPts'

enace

at the camPsite, so carry PYJamas

and anything [ong-steeved. Atso carry
some of your own mosquito repe[tent,
in case what's provided to you runs out'
Carry a smatt pittow, too, if you need one'

Friday nights are outdoor movie

nights with a short live band

performance and a late-night

movie screening
Saturday night is band night
with a longer music session.