Ajgar Dadar Preserving Pythons

Preserving Pythons? Yes, you read it right!

Recently,  we visited Kakaiya village 30 kms from Kanha National Park. The villagers in association with the forest department have taken a unique initiative to protect and preserve the Indian Rock Pythons found in the rocky area. The preservation area is called Ajgar Dadar.

What is Ajgar Dadar? 

• A barren, rocky area with many holes that form chambers for the pythons. 
• The name "Ajgar Dadar" is a Hindi word that means "meadow plain for pythons"
• A place to see pythons of all sizes, from small to large

In a small patch less than half a km long, there are more than 30 holes or chambers where hundreds of rock Pythons live in their natural habitat. Pythons as we know are very sensitive to any movement or vibration on earth's surface around them. As visitors,  if we tread slowly without making any noise, we can observe the Pythons from close proximity. However, we three were followed by a noisy group. As a result, the Pythons sensed our presence and disappeared  into their rocky underground holes.

Despite the noisy group, we were able to take a few pictures and videos. Sharing below for you you to get a 'real' feel.

The area has been fenced by the village forest committee of Kakaiya village. A laudable initiative of the villagers.

The visitors can view the pythons and their holes from the fenced enclosure.

A close up of one of the pythons sighted follows.

Python homes or crevices in the rocks are serially numbered. See the hole number 3 in the picture below:

Another close up of the python sunning itself. 

See the short video clip below

Here is another clip showing the rocks and crevices which have been numbered. The python can be seen in the upper part of the screen gradually slithering from left to right.

So next time you visit Kanha, remember it is also home to hundreds of Indian Rock Pythons.

Here are the three nature lovers who had a taste of Ajgar Dadar. From R to L: Manik, CP and Ghumakkad.

More stories from Pench and Kanha coming soon.

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   - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad with CP and Manik / Kanha/ 16th Jan 2025

#Pythons #IndianRockPython #AjgarDadar #Kanha  #PythonProtection #MPTourism #NavyVeterans #ghumakkadharsh #ghumakkadhb #KakaiyaVIllage #VillageForestCommittee #gramvansamiti

Lakshmi The Tigress Teacher

Remember your mother teaching you how to take the first steps as a baby? Or, holding your hand while crossing a road?

A tigress is no different. We saw it this morning in Pench National Park,  MP. Lakshmi the tigress wanted her three cubs to cross a muddy track safely. How did she do it? How did she teach her cubs to do it?

See the videos and pictures below. Since all three of us, Debu, CP and me were in a rear row of safari vehicles, we could not get a vantage view. But the entire sequence of the tigress as a perfect mother and teacher unfolded before some 100-odd tourists. And left us speechless.

Lakshmi first crossed the track alone, paused, looked around, traversed back and repeated the sequence more tgan once. She did this to ensure the safety of the cubs on the other side of the forest track. 

She then let the cubs follow her to cross over. Initially hesitant, two of the cubs ran and overtook her to safety of the bushes on the other side.

Here is another clip shot by CP.

The third cub probably the shyest of all, had stayed back. Now before the tigress could go and fetch the third cub, she stood gazing sideways as if sizing up the situation and telling us to give way to the cub. The forest guides and drivers immediately signalled all the vehicles to back off saying 'Bacche aa rahey hain' the cubs are coming, the cubs are coming! After a wider passage was made,  she went back to fetch the remaining cub. The third cub may have been scared initially, but soon out ran the mother to join the other two cubs.

Watch above scene enacted live in Pench National Park. Thanks Debu and CP for sharing the videos.

The forest in not all about the tigers. Other animals, birds and trees are equally exciting if you have the patience. See the langurs in action.

Some more shots for you to 'feel' the jungle.

Morning Sun cast a spell on us.

Hope you have browsed our previous story on Shirmilee the tigress of Kanha.

The foursome who drove all the way from Secunderabad to Pench. Navy Veterans lving life!

More stories from the jungles of MP will follow.

Stay connected. 

Thanks for browsing.

    - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad with Debu and CP/ Pench/ 18th Jan 2025

#penchnationalpark #tigersafari #lakshmithetigress #teachertigress #wildlifesafari #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh

Sharmilee The Tigress

Shirmilee - means a shy woman ! But Shirmilee the tigress of Kanha is far from being shy!

We experienced it today at Kanha National Park. While on a morning Safari in an open four wheel vehicle, we were stopped by another vehicle. Loaded with professional photographic equipment, the occupants dressed in forest fatigues and led by Amrita, were making a documentary on one of the Tigers of Kanha NN - Neela Nalla. They asked our driver to stop, reverse and pull up on one side. Their vehicle came alongside and told us to wait for Shirmilee to cross over the road.

As if on cue, the tigress appeared from the bushes on the left, paused, started to cross over, paused again, growled at us twice and then walked into the bushes on the right. Leaving all four of us bewildered and thrilled at the same time. Three of us Debsashis, CP Srivastava and me recorded those fleeting moments on our cameras.

You can feel the excitement of our encounter with Shirmilee through the pictures and a video below.

The video clip below by CP has captured not only Shirmilee' walk but also her growl at us.

And after obliging us with her majestic walk, Shirmilee returned to where she belongs- the jungle. Debashis' picture below captured it so well.

Later at our resort, Suman Manna added that Shirmilee had become old and behaving aggressively. She had eaten up one of her cubs which otherwise the male tiger does. She is being studied for this behaviour.

We also saw Mahaveer the male tiger of Kanha. He did not come as close like Shirmilee. Yet we could catch a glimpse of his massive size.

Thanks Debu and CP for your pictures and the video clip.

There are many stories associated with Shirmilee. 

Once she chased a Forest Guard who was on foot patrol. He ran and climbed a tree. Being at a height, he could call his Beat colleagues  on phone. The tigress did not budge and kept waiting for her 'catch' to climb down. The rescue teams had to come on two elephant backs to bring their colleague to safety. Now, would you call Shirmilee a shy tigress?

Another time Shirmilee's cubs attacked three women who were plucking mushrooms from the forest during the monsoon. The women raised an alarm. The cubs got frightened and ran away to the mother who wasn't far away. The women rested the injured lady against a tree and ran to the huts to seek help.

In the meanwhile, Shirmilee came from behind and dragged the injured woman into the forest. Remains of her body were found two days later.

Shirmilee defies her name!

Such tales add to the thrill of being in a jungle! If you haven't been to one, do it now!

Readers may browse our earlier stories on Tigers.

Thanks for browsing.

   - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad with Debu and CP/ Kanha/ 16th Jan 2025

#kanha #ShirmileeTheTigress #tigersighting #MPTourism #TheKingOfTheJungle #wildlifesafaris #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh

Zero Mile Nagpur

 What is Zero Mile in Nagpur?

Why is it called the Zero mile?

Ghumakkad along with three other Navy Veterans visited the Zero Mile in Nagpur today.

Zero Mile in Nagpur lies precisely at the center of undivided India with the Zero Mile Marker indicating the geographical center of India by the British in 1907. The Zero Mile Stone was used to measure all the distances. The Zero Mile Stone consists of four horses and a pillar made up of sandstone.

However, after India's partition, the center of the country shifted slightly northeastwards into what is now Madhya Pradesh. The actual location is now in a remote forest near Sihora, in a place called Karaundi. Two other villages in Madhya Pradesh, Barsali, also claim to be the geographical center of India.

The Zero Mile pillar and the horses are currently being restored. Here are a few pictures.

The milestone

A tourist spot in Nagpur.

The Zero Mile Pillar.

One of the hexagonal stones with distance marker to Baitool, aka Betul.

Majestic horses in sandstone

Sandstone carving.

The restoration of Zero Mile Pillar

A map of undivided India dating back to 1907, showing the triangulation survey. 

Fast forward to 2025. Nagpur Metro  is a thing of pride. Close to the Zero Mile pillar are the Shaheed Smarak and Freedom Park metro station. Few pictures 

The two Ghumakkads at the Freedom Park

We close with Makhan Lal Chaturvedi's immortal tribute to the fallen soldier.

We are on our way to Kanha tomorrow.  More from the Tiger kingdom soon.

Thanks for browsing 

-  Harsh-the-Ghumakkad with Debashis Mukherjee

Nagpur/14th Jan 2025

#zeromile #nagpur #triangulationsurvey #mapofindia1907 #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadhb 

President's Colours

President's Colours.

What does it mean? What is the significance? Does it apply only to the Armed Forces?

This short story explains all of the above and few more aspects of this rich tradition of Indian Armed Forces. It was prompted by the Presentation of President's Colours to the College of Defence Management Secunderabad by the President of India on 20th Dec 2024. Being an alumnus and former head of faculty of the college, I felt privileged to be invited to the ceremony. But due to security reasons, photography was not permitted. 

Significance

The President's Colour Award is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon any military unit of India. It is also known as Nishaan निशान. It signifies meritorious service rendered by the unit both in peace and/or war. President's Colours are also awarded to paramilitary units and state police forces. Picture below shows the format of the Colours of the three Services

After India became republic on 26th Jan 1950, Indian Navy was the first to receive the President's Colours on 27th May 1951. Prior to that 33 units of the Army, Navy and Air Force which had received the King's Colours were "laid up" at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun on 25th Jan 1950. Readers may refer Wikipedia for a list of units awarded thus far as well as more details about the Colours.

Colours lead the ceremonial parades of respective units or academies. Readers may browse our story  'Military Passing Out Parades- Rush of Adrenaline' to get a glimpse of the Colours at the Passing Out Parade of the Officers Training Academy at Madras.

Origin

Colours signify honour. In olden days, the highest point of a fort displayed the Dhwaj ध्वज of the maharaja or the king of that kingdom. When invaded by enemy forces, the battle was incomplete unless the existing dhwaj was replaced by that of the conquering forces. Readers may browse our story 'Kumbhalgarh The Pride of Mewar' which showed the kalash कलश of the Kumbhalgarh Fort in Rajasthan. Readers are advised to read the full story to get a feel of the valour of the Rajputs 400 years ago.

Colours to CDM Secunderabad

College of Defence Management at Secunderabad India conducts various Leadership and Management programs for the officers from Indian Defence Services as well as friendly foreign countries. The flagship program called Higher Defence Management Course (HDMC) is a year-long full time residential program leading to a Masters Degree in Management. Established on 8th Dec 1970, the College has rendered yeoman service to the nation. In recognition of 54 years of dedicated and meritorious service, CDM is being awarded the President's Colours on 20th Dec 2024. Two pictures of the Invitation Card are reproduced below.

Since I will not be able to take any pictures of the event tomorrow, am posting this story in advance, particularly for non-military readers. I may add few pictures of the ceremony later.

Postscript (20th Dec 2024): Here are a few pictures of the event taken after the ceremony. TV grabs of the ceremony, though not very sharp,  sent by Adm Sanjay Datt, former Comdt of CDM are also included.

Talking about the President of India, Hyderabad is the winter retreat of the President. Rashtrapati Nilayam becomes the President's office-cum-home for few weeks. Readers  may browse our story 'Tunnel Tourism' to get a glimpse of the historical Rashtrapati Nilayam in Hyderabad.

To conclude, the whole ceremony of Colours Presentation was conducted with josh and elan, the hallmark of the Armed Forces of India.

Jai Hind.

Thanks for browsing.

    - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ Secunderabad/ 19th Dec 2024

#PresidentofIndia #PresidentsColours #IndianArmedForces #CDM #CollegeOfDefenceManagement #Secunderabad #honour #recognition #nishaan #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh