Polo Forest

Nestled in the lush hill forests lies a place close to my heart—the Polo Forest. Here, on its outskirts, my dear friend HRH Harsh Wardhan Singh, the then Raja of Vijaynagar, resided at his farm, which he fondly called “Eagle’s Nest”!

It quickly became our cherished escape from the chaos of city life. My daughter Ananya absolutely adored the morning horse rides through open fields and the thrilling jungle safaris as the sun dipped low in the evenings.

That quiet ritual became one of our favorite pastimes. On chilly December nights, we’d gather around the crackling bonfire, music drifting through the air—some classic rock, some Hindustani classical—talking about the tales of the Rajput Kings.

Harboring ancient ruins—including 15th-century Hindu and Jain temples adorned with intricate carvings and timeless architecture—Polo Forest has seen a significant surge in tourism in recent years.

With our spirits high and ignited by the enthralling beauty of the Polo Forest, we pressed on toward the city of lakes and beyond.

After the monsoon, these dry deciduous forests would turn into a lush, emerald subtropical jungle; straight out of Rudyard Kipling’s classic Jungle Book stories!