About Dera
01 About Us
In the wild heart of Aravalli lies the forest of Baghdarrah, famed for its huge population of crocodiles. Situated right inside the Baghdarrah forest reserve, a mere 30 minutes drive from the popular tourist destination of Udaipur in Rajasthan, is Dera Baghdarrah Nature Retreat Udaipur, a rustic wildlife camp with luxury, tented accommodations. Dera Baghdarrah Nature Retreat Udaipur offers an exclusive and rare experience of staying inside a forest reserve with the jungle playing host. The camp will take you back in the days of Raj with its colonial furniture and spacious canvass shikar tents. It’s just a drive away from all the popular tourist spots of Udaipur yet gives a true wildlife experience in the deciduous forests of Aravalli Range. The small natural lake provides abode to an abundant aquatic bird life – storks, cormorants, geese, teals, kingfishers, egrets and many more. While some of these are permanent residents of Dera, others migrate here in winters from as far as Siberia. Crocodiles roam free in the lake and wildlife buffs can sit and enjoy their hunting chores right from their verandas. The wild shares its space with Dera. An occasional leopard, striped hyenas, Ruddy’s mongoose, cheetal deer, nilgai and wild boars can be spotted through the day or at night.
02 The Tents
The 5 cozy tents are each build with natural canvass. They house a large toilet and shower area attached to a living room and flaunt a spacious veranda. Each tent location has been exclusively selected near the natural lake to give the best views of the jungle. Every lake-facing veranda is equipped with colonial campaign furniture and protected by fine cotton mosquito nets, where one can relax, read, enjoy the bird and wildlife or just gaze at the stars.
All tents run completely on solar energy. It is our commitment to preserve the natural beauty of the forest from urban electric lines by taking a step towards renewable sources of energy.
03 The Food
All ingredients come from the local village markets and farmlands. The chef and cooks are expert in Rajasthani dishes served in the traditional way in brass thalis and bowls. You can also savor their signature Indianized continental recipes.
Dine in the room, at the veranda or beneath the sky under the flickering light of a lantern.
04 Activities
Nature Trails
Enjoy nature trails with the naturalists or go on bird watching with locals who are well versed with the ways of the wild or choose to wander the untamed lands alone on bicycles on the biking trails.
Angling: Exclusive to Dera
Those interested in angling can enjoy Mahaseer fishing ‘catch and release’, which is a rare sport now and exclusive to Dera in all of Rajasthan. Hire our fishing tackle and easily spend an entire day without realizing how time has trickled by.
Bird Watching with Local Flavor
To promote the local economy and environmental awareness, we hire and train our birdwatchers from the surrounding villages. These villagers and tribals already have an extensive knowledge of the local wildlife and the rich biodiversity. Drawing from the knowledge passed on from generations, the local myths and legends and their personal experiences, they add a wholesome local flavor to this activity.
Zip Line and Tree Walk
For adventure enthusiast, our Zip line across the lake is an ideal activity or you may choose to stroll the jungle from above by our wooden treewalks across the valley.