Pench Diaries: Shaadi, Safari & the Search for Stripes

Prelude: Shaadi Invite or Jungle Trek?

You know you're getting older when a colleague's wedding out of town doesn't make you roll your eyes - it actually sounds exciting. Suddenly, it's not just a wedding anymore. It's a mini vacation, a break from office drama, and a legit reason to pack a bag and vanish for two days.

That’s exactly what happened on March 18th. What started as a regular shaadi plan quickly turned into a full-blown jungle adventure—with bonus rain, suspiciously overpriced binoculars, and so many meals at Haldiram’s that we might as well be brand ambassadors.

Tigers? Maybe.
Drama? Definitely.
Good stories? Oh yes.

Day 1: Shaadi, Samosas & Safari Resort Vibes

Morning – Haldiram’s: The Mandir of Nagpur Foodies

Our trip kicked off the way every proper Nagpur trip should—with a mandatory darshan at Haldiram’s. I mean seriously, if you haven’t had chhole bhature and Raj Kachori at 9 AM in Nagpur, are you even living right?

One bite in and our souls were already whispering “yeh toh divine hai bhai”.
Fully charged with samosas, jalebis, and 800 calories per plate, we were spiritually, emotionally, and stomach-ly ready to take on anything - wedding, jungle, tiger, rain... bring it on.

Midday - Shaadi Scenes, Hotel Feels & City Darshan

Here’s the best part: our stay and cab arrangements were already done. Shaadi ho ya na ho, bride ne guest experience full 5-star bana diya.

The bride (yes, the one getting married) had arranged accommodation for all of us, and also a cab—like a proper Nagpur tour package.

We used it to roam around the city a bit (basically to digest that breakfast) and to reach the wedding venue/reception spot without getting lost or fighting over Google Maps.

And then came the wedding function - the main event.
Decor? Stunning.
Food? Dangerous.
Vibes? Full desi Bollywood.
Relatives? Scanning us like: "Yeh log kaun hai?"

We clicked group selfies like paparazzi, smiled at strangers, and pretended to understand every ritual while secretly waiting for someone to announce lunch.

Evening - From Wedding Mandap to Madhya Pradesh Jungle Mode

By 5 PM, we somehow pulled ourselves away from the wedding snacks (honestly, the real emotional goodbye) and switched gears—from shaadi vibes to safari mode.

Our destination? Pench National Park, about 2 hours away.

Thankfully, we weren’t scrambling for cabs or arguing over who would sit where. We had already booked a Traveller in advance—like responsible adults who occasionally get their life together.

It was our official jungle ride, not just from Nagpur to Pench but also for the return trip the next day. No drama. Just 11 friends, bags, snacks, and one playlist on loop.

The journey was classic Indian road trip: bumps, loud jokes, playlist fights, and constant “Kitna aur hai bhai?” every 20 minutes.

Night - Olive Resort Arrival and Full Jungle Vibes

We reached... Olive Resort.
And wah bhai wah — what a hidden gem.

The resort looked like it was straight out of a nature-themed Instagram influencer’s reel. Lush greenery, peaceful atmosphere, and clean rooms that made us say "wah" before even unpacking.

They even had a club area with all the classics:
🎱 Pool table
🎯 Carrom
🏓 Table tennis
🎙️ Loud echoes of grown adults turning into competitive teenagers
("Score likh raha hai na? Main jeeta tha last time.")

There was also a huge lawn - perfect for stretching our legs, clicking unnecessary group photos, and having fake-deep conversations about life until someone broke it with “khaane mein kya hai?”

Dinner? Included in the package. Thank God. No one had the energy for a 7:30 PM debate of “Zomato karein ya Maggie banayein?”

We ate well, laughed more, and just as we thought we’d wind down...

Midnight Madness – Rain, Crickets &... Cricket?

Before sleep, we played a game of cricket in the resort at night - because nothing says "wilderness experience" like tennis balls and broken flower pots.

And just as we were mentally preparing for the 6 AM tiger safari, the heavens decided to throw a wild party.

It rained like it had a grudge against the forest.
Lightning, thunder, and a lot of dramatic weather - perfect for ruining tiger-spotting chances the next day. But hey, great ambiance for sleeping, right?

Day 2: Safari Day – Where the Only Roars Came From Our Stomachs

6 AM – The Quest for Stripes Begins

While the rest of the world was still snoring, two open Gypsys rolled into our resort, ready to take our sleepy faces deep into the jungle.

We were 9 people, so we split into two vehicles - more space to stretch out, take dramatic jungle selfies, and yell “TIGER!” every time a leaf moved slightly in the wind.

Turia Gate entry point. Quick ID check - smoother than any airport.
No one side-eyed our tired faces or bad Aadhar photos. Win.

Into the Wild – Where Silence is Golden and Hope is Loud

The jungle looked magical after the previous night’s rain—misty air, tall sal trees, muddy tracks, and that crisp “nature wali smell”.

Straight out of a documentary.
Except… if we made one, it would be titled:
🎬 “Animals We Thought Were Tigers: A Story of Constant Disappointment.”

Jungle rule:
👉 “Silence is not optional, it's mandatory.”

But of course, within five minutes:
One friend coughed like he had rehearsed it for drama school.
Another screamed “Bhai tiger!” at a log.

The guide turned around and gave us that “city people...” look.

Despite our volume issues, the jungle didn’t disappoint. While tigers ghosted us completely, we saw:

• 🦌 Spotted Deer (influencers of the jungle — always posing)

• 🦌 Sambar (grumpy deer who looked like they’d seen some things)

• 🐒 Langurs

• 🐗 Wild boars

• 🐦 Birds we couldn’t name

And let’s not forget the occasional "Was that a tiger growl or just my stomach?" moment.

Binocular Guy: Our Nat Geo Guide (Sort Of)

The one guy with the binoculars had officially transformed into our in-house Nat Geo expert.

"Guys, look at that bird! No no, above the tree. LEFT! No - your other left!"
Honestly, out of the 20 birds he claimed to spot, I saw maybe three—and even those were probably leaves.

But like any loyal safari squad member, I nodded and said “Haan haan dikha, wah kya colors hain!”

Let’s be real - we were all faking it. Secretly praying for a tiger to pop up and end the birdwatching.

Still, that binocular?
✅ 10/10 for confidence boost.
✅ Looked like we knew what we were doing.

Breakfast in the Wild: Veg, Non-Veg, and No-Tiger

At 8 AM, we stopped at a jungle breakfast spot. Sandwiches, omelet, tea - and many theories about how close we were to a tiger "just now".

Post-breakfast, the safari resumed.
Spoiler again: still no tiger.

At some point, the guide switched to full TED Talk mode:
“Yeh spotted deer hai… yeh sambar hai… agar sambar signal deta hai, toh matlab tiger aas paas hai…”
“Monkey inke acche dost hote hain…”

Bro was dropping jungle wisdom like Discovery Channel, but after a while, it felt like a wildlife lullaby.

“Sir, mujhe tiger dikhaiye… National Geography ki theory ghar jaake YouTube pe dekh lunga.”

Even the langur looked more alert than us by the end.

Morning Wrap-Up: No Tiger, No Cry

By 10 AM, we were back at the resort—no tiger in sight, but definitely richer in false hopes and near-death yawns.

But hey -

• The jungle vibes were amazing

• The air was nature ka facewash

• And someone yelled “TIGER!” at a squirrel

Totally worth it.

Back at the resort:
➡️ 2-hour power nap.
Because emotional damage from not spotting a tiger is real.

Return to Civilization: Lakes, Monks, and UNO Diplomacy

Before saying goodbye to Pench, we stopped at a small lake near our resort.
Peaceful. Serene. Existential.

Perfect for two things:

• Group photos with fake-deep captions

• Random thoughts like “Should I quit my job and become a full-time traveler?”

Next stop: Dragon Palace Temple in Nagpur.
Beautiful Buddhist vibes. Calm place.
Except our legs were done and our stomachs were growling.

Naturally, the journey ended where it began:
👉 Haldiram’s, again.
Because when in doubt, feed your soul with chhole bhature and call it spiritual growth.

8:30 PM – The Train Back and the UNO World Cup

Reached the station, bought oranges like we were preparing for an apocalypse.
Seats were spread out, but we managed to sit together because UNO requires unity.

UNO chaos. Friendly insults. Childhood flashbacks.
The train rocked us back to Mumbai while we laughed, teased, and cheated our way through card games.

Home Sweet Mumbai: Refreshed, Recharged, and Slightly Sore

We reached Mumbai the next morning, safe, sound, and still arguing about who cheated during UNO.

Final Safari Scorecard:

• 🐯 Tiger Photos: 0

• 📸 Group Selfies: Too Many

• 🎒 Memories: Unlimited

Final Thoughts

Did we spot a tiger? No.
Did we spot fun, laughter, and enough stories to last a year? Absolutely.

Life Lessons Learned:

• Carry a binocular. Just do it.

• Never underestimate Haldiram’s chhole power.

• The jungle might not show you a tiger, but it'll definitely expose who can’t shut up when needed.

Here’s to:
Spontaneous plans, wild safaris, silent forests, loud friends, and the kind of trip that makes you want to write a blog post on a random Thursday evening.