(Clockwise from top left) Watching elephants from the Bharatpur watchtower is a real treat that every tourist should look forward to, a wild cat crouches on a hunt for prey, a log cabin lets tourists spend the nights amid the wilderness of the sanctuary and bamboo hut also provides an alternative. Solar energy is harnessed to supply adequate energy to the huts and forest rest houses. Telegraph pictures

Place: Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary Distance: 20 km from Bhubaneswar Communication: No public transport. Personal or rented vehicles are the options Where to stay: Forest rest house Tariff: Around Rs 500 for a double bed room Food: Place your order with cook Must see: Elephants from Bharatpur watchtower Other places of interest: Dense forests like Naarthali, Salabari, Pithakhia, Dahani Gadia, Behenta Sahi, Nuakua. Also, streams like Godabhanga Tangar

Bhubaneswar, July 4: For all those workaholic city dwellers, a quick weekend getaway to relax and rejuvenate is just a 20-km drive from the state capital.

Forests, animals, a nature trail and night-staying facilities — one can have all of that and much more at Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary, that too at a price that would not burn a hole in your pocket.

Located at a distance of 16 km from Biju Patnaik Airport and 20 km from Bhubaneswar railway station, Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary, founded in 1982 under Project Elephant, boasts of ancient monuments, water bodies, picturesque small dams and bamboo huts, log houses and watch towers to observe animals from a close distance.

There have been several additions to the existing facilities at the sanctuary. A log house built near the bamboo hut at Deras Point and night-staying facilities at three watchtowers — Ambilo, Kumarkhunti and Bharatpur — are part of a recent upgrade plan.

Two persons can stay at any forest rest house or watchtower at a cost of Rs 300 a room per night and an extra person is allowed to share it for a nominal charge of Rs 100. Stay in the bamboo hut or log hut will set you back by Rs 500 a room for two persons and an extra person is allowed at a payment of Rs 100.

According to the 2010 census, the sanctuary is home to 23 elephants, whereas the protected area boasts of a mind-boggling array of flora and fauna — 38 species of mammals, 16 species of lizards, flap-shell turtles, mugger (marsh crocodiles), 39 species of snakes and 174 species of birds, sources said.

The divisional forest officer (DFO), Akshaya Patnaik, said: “Watching elephants from Bharatpur watchtower is an experience of a lifetime. Other watchtowers are located at Pitagadia, Kumar Khunti, Ambilo and Kochila Berana.

The entry point to the sanctuary at Godibari has an information centre. It provides visitors detailed information on our animals and plants,’’ he said, before adding: “Bualigarh, Ambakhali temple, Chudangagarh, Mantu and Dholkath are archeological sites which hold interest to tourists about ancient and pre-Independence history.’’

“Many small reservoirs like Kuasara, Baunsa Berana, Jhumuka, Deras and permanent streams like Godabhanga Tangar dot the forest area. Patches of dense forests like Naarthali, Salabari, Pithakhia, Dahani Gadia, Behenta Sahi, Nuakua give ample scope to nature lovers to explore. Even a famous fire clay mine, Sunakhani, also comes falls within the sanctuary limits.”

The wildlife sanctuary has undertaken an initiative to plant 1 lakh saplings this month. The green plan, which has already been started in association with the eco development committees (EDCs), includes increasing the 25 hectares under bamboo plantation to 45 hectares and a mixed plantation of indigenous varieties native to the sanctuary areas across 50 hectares.

In this regard, the DFO said: “The new forest area created will try to bridge the disjointed areas between Bharatpur and Jagannath Prasad near Bhubaneswar, which was once a dense forest patch in pre-Independence days. The re-stocking of the forest patch is also important since it is the target area for eco-tourism development in future. In 2009, Rental Colony EDC was in focus for plantation activities and this year, the Bharatpur EDC will implement the same,’’ he said.

“There is also a proposal to include three types of bamboos in the plantation programme. The plan to include massive bamboo plantation is needed to form a shield around the sanctuary area so that the elephants cannot come out freely. Also as bamboo leaf forms a favourite fodder for them, they would not be tempted to come out in search of paddy in the periphery. It will also reduce man-animal conflicts,’’ he pointed out.

“The bamboo-fencing around the reserve forest area will also help in limiting the people from entering the forest area in search of firewood,’’ he said. “Apart from staying in the forest rest houses or the watchtowers, groups of tourists can also come to Deras Point, which is a famous picnic spot. Recently, a local EDC has taken the responsibility of providing all the needs of picnickers. Starting from food, grocery and utensils, picnickers can obtain everything after paying a certain amount of fees, including their actual cost to the EDC,’’ said an employee of the forest department posted at Deras.

Mrutyunjay Tripathy, a frequent visitor to the sanctuary, said: “One can learn many things by being closer to nature. Due to the proximity of the sanctuary from both Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, the cost of transportat ion is also very less. Stayin g in the forest rest houses along with one’s family members can be quite fascinati ng and at the same time alluring.The availability of solar energy helps provide adequate power supply. Nature trail programmes organised for tourists also give basic knowledge on the wildlife and plant species for schoolchildren.’’

Kulamani Behera, a senior bank official, said: “I had visited Chandaka only once, but my heart yearns to go back to the sanctuary. It offers a perfect blend of all that nature has to offer to us. And the proximity to the twin citi es makes it all the more convenient for us.”