A cowherd watches an egret as it glides around like a paper plane before settling down near him. His buffaloes, the egret’s brethren, and a few Black Ibis languidly forage on their daily turf, unmindful of the chitter chatter of smaller birds that excitedly welcome the day.
From the balcony of my room at Vallonne Vineyards in Nashik, I wish I could watch this scene unfold every day.
Even though the vines are shriveled up at the moment, being off season for grape production, they’re set against a backdrop that is fascinating at any time of the year – the Sahyadri mountain range and waters of Mukhne Dam’s reservoir. If you’re visiting Mumbai, you could make the 3-4 hour trip