Satkosia Sands - My first experience of camping under the stars with my kiddo

5 yr old Shreyansh at Satkosia Sands Resort, Badmul, Odisha. Pic @ Krushna's
When a friend mentioned about an adventure trip happening inside Satkosia reserve forest, the first thing that came to my mind was the picturesque gorge, the deepest on the mighty Mahanadi river. I had only seen it in pictures till then. As a travel bug, who loves to get lost in sea, sands and jungle (... my twitter bio says so), I was instantly game for it. The awesome pictures posted on the newly created website doubled my enthusiasm while the only concern was whether it will be safe for my five year old son ‘Omm’ to join the trip as the accommodation there was planned inside camping tents on the river bed itself.
Camp site for 'Camping Under the Stars' at Satkosia Sands Resort, Badmul, Odisha. Pic @ Krushna's
Once I made up my mind, the canvassing stage followed and I started the PR mission by showing some of the beautiful pictures of the location to the kid to understand his interest. This trick worked perfectly and the preparation begun for the trip, albeit I had to tell bedtime stories about Satkosia and answer whether it had tigers, lions and hippopotamus en all, the nights preceding the trip.
The Tour Kicks Off:
The kid awaits the bus at Panthanivas, Bhubaneswar
It was an early morning start from Pantha Nivas, Bhubaneswar where the comfortable Bus provided by Odisha Tourism was waiting for us to board and commence the journey. But, when the super excited kiddo wants to take all his play tools on the trip, you reach tad late to be the last boarders joining the trip.
The bus journey to Satkosia Sands Resort, Badmul, Odisha.
As we started from Bhubaneswar with 40 odd adventure enthusiasts towards our camping location of Badmul, on the Nayagarh side of Satkosia, it dawned on us that Omm is the only kid in the group as the other kid supposed to be there could not make it to the trip. It made us a little apprehensive for him in view of the fact that it was first such trip organised by the hosts also. However, the bus travel turned super exciting as many fellow travelers who had earlier experience of camping in forests narrated their adventurous moments while doling out few handy tips along-with do’s and don’ts of camping. Light snacks and fruit juice packs added to it.
The briefing session at Chhamundia Forest Range office, Badmul, Odisha. Pic @ Krushna's
The Adventure Begins:
The cycling trip from Chhamundia Range office to Satkosia Sands Resort, Badmul, Odisha. Pic @ Krushna's
The camp site for first 'Camping Under the Stars' Satkosia Sands Resort, Badmul, Odisha. Pic @ Krushna's
Just around Noon we reached the Chhamundia Forest Range office and were greeted by the dynamic DFO Anshu Pragyan Das and her team of officials. After a small briefing on the facilities and attractions, we were provided with brand new water bottles and nicely branded face caps having Satkosia Sands Resort embroidered on it. The forest staff then guided us towards a point where three dozen odd mountain trek bi-cycles (MTBs) were parked for us to pick from. Those who could not do the three-odd kilometer cycling to the Satkosia Sand resort were offered travel by Forest Dept. Jeep. As we reached the Satkosia sand resorts, a mouthwatering traditional lunch was being prepared by the native villagers with organic vegetables and fresh fish from the river, was ready to be served to us. Many of the fellow campers including the kiddo engaged themselves in playing badminton and volley ball before getting themselves cleaned for having the lunch. Post-lunch, it was time to take a brief walk towards the tents set up on the river-bed and settle inside the tents with the baggage. As we got down to the river-bed the sight of the 20 odd tents was mesmerizing from the top.
The kid inside the tent at the camping site on the Mahanadi riverbed
Each of the tent was nicely made up with two cots, bed sheets, pillows, two fold-able chairs and a solar lantern cum torch light, in order to make the stay comfortable for the campers. Two RO water purifiers were also arranged on the centre of the arc of tents for fetching drinking water. The forest department, Satkosia Sands Resort, Chhamundia WL Range officials and the trip curators Detour Odisha deserve a special mention for ensuring the super clean accommodation facility.
Around 3 PM, the plan was to go for a brief trek inside the jungle and thus came back the dilemma whether the kid would be able to make it as it will be difficult to carry him on arms all the way while trekking inside the hilly jungle terrain. With a bit back and forth movement and discussions, both of us, the parents decided to take the trek with the kid as he seemed to be super excited for it.
Shreyansh walking the jungle trek at Satkosia Sands Resort, Badmul, Odisha. Pic @ Krushna's
Shreyansh on jungle trek at Satkosia Sands Resort, Badmul, Odisha. Pic @ Sandeep Bal
As we walked with two forest guards on the narrow rocky surface trying to catch up with the speed of the team, the boy was deeply engrossed in observing the forest ambiance which was a first for him. Suddenly, he shouted with joy after discovering a blue butterfly, the first creature he could see at Satkosia.
Return from jungle trek at Satkosia Sands Resort, Badmul, Odisha. Pic @ Satkosia Sands Resort
The little boy completely refused to be picked up for even a moment,made friends with all fellow campers while enjoying the non-stop walking and talking the entire trek of nearly 2 kilometers.
As we were getting down to the riverbed where our tents were located, the little boy decided to indulge in fun-fights with dad on the sands and stay back a little from the moving group so as to move close to the water.
The sight of crocodile (magar) at Satkosia Sands Resort, Badmul, Odisha. Pic @ Krushna's
While both of us were walking casually on the uneven sand dunes few meters away from the river, one of the forest guards staying with us for our safety in the unknown territory, pointed towards the water shouting magar (crocodile). Thus we found the second creature seen in our adventure trip, a full grown magar inside the water, just few meters away from us. Though the little boy was overjoyed after seeing the crocodile, for the remaining part of stay this made him stay away from anywhere near to the water in the river. With the delight of being able to sight a crocodile on our trip, as we moved near the tents we could hear the sounds on heavy rain from the forest side with almost zero visibility of the trees but no rain on the riverbed. It stayed like that for few more minutes and then started pouring with heavy thunderstorm. As we watched the rain and thunderstorm from inside the tent through the netted windows, there was not a single drop of water inside, thanks to the good quality tents and perfect installation. The heavy rains and thunderstorm continued for nearly two hours as it turned dark with the early onslaught of evening.
Campfire at Satkosia Sands Resort, Badmul, Odisha. Pic @ Krushna's
As soon as the rains stopped, our hosts Chhamundia forest range were ready to serve us with tea and crispy pakodas. Though many of us had given up the idea of having a campfire after such heavy rains, the forest guards with their sheer desire to give us the best experience managed to lit up the fire with logs of wood. This doubled the joy of the little boy as he was repeatedly asking when will the camp fire begin. As all the campers moved their chairs closer to the camp fire, a local village troupe presented an hour long traditional folk dance-drama sequence of Kela - Keluni (snake charmer Couple) and Chadheya - Chadheyani (bird catcher couple).
The stars started coming up in the sky as the campers were engrossed in discussions with each other before proceeding for dinner with country chicken curry prepared by the native villagers in traditional style. It was a wonderful feeling gazing the stars while relaxing on the riverbed at Satkosia. The next morning provided ample opportunity for photo-ops in the scenic Satkosia sands. Though the heavy rain and thunderstorm of the previous evening made the overhead water tank collapse to the ground, the hosts were up at it early morning to fix the things in time for the comfort of the guests.

Family pic at camp site on Mahanadi riverbed at Satkosia Sands Resort, Badmul, Odisha. Pic @ Krushna's

Family selfie at Satkosia Sands Resort, Badmul, Odisha. Pic @ Krushna's
After getting over with morning duties, as we were having our breakfast ‘Upama and Dalma’, a tree snake on the nearby bamboo groove turned the centre of attraction as dozens of campers were aiming at it to capture in their lenses.
The tree snake that turned the centre of attraction during breakfast time at Satkosia Sands Resort, Badmul, Odisha.
Pic @ Krushna's
This was the fourth creature we could see at Satkosia sands if we include the Russel's viper snake sighted in previous evening. Few of the campers could also find giant squirrel in their morning jungle trek.
After breakfast at the Satkosia sands resort we proceeded to a view point, an elevated place from where the entire Satkosia gorge on Mahanadi river could be seen easily. After a few photo-ops we were on our way back to Bhubaneswar, with loads of memorable moments and nevertheless the new found love of my five year old kid for adventure and nature.
Villagers crossing the mighty Mahanadi river on a country boat. Pic @Krushna's
Camp site on Mahanadi riverbed at Satkosia Sands Resort, Badmul, Odisha. Pic @ Krushna's
Location: Near Chhamundia Check Post, Gania Chhamundia Road, Chhamundia, Odisha 752085, India

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