International Tiger Day 2020

29th July is International Tiger Day, also called the Global Tiger Day.

It is meant to increase the awareness about conservation of Tigers in the world. Increase in tiger population indicates healthy ecosystem.

Many groups/departments/zoos will organise events on the Tiger Day.

We will share some of our stories on Tiger Reserves in India. We sighted tigers in some of these reserves and were not so lucky in others despite numerous safaris. That is the lure of a tiger. You don't give up.

Here we go!

Ranthambor

After 25 years in search of a tiger, we were lucky to sight T-24 the famed tiger of Ranthambor. Located in Rajasthan, Ranthambor is easily accessible. You may like to browse a set of six inter linked stories. 

Prelude and Fact File
The Journey- Secunderabad to Sawai Madhopur
Tiger at last
Tiger's Cohabitants
Birds of Ranthambor
Ranthambor Fort and around Sawai Madhopur

Krishna The Male Showstopper

Tadoba

Tadoba in Maharashtra gives you a fair chance of sighting a tiger specially in summer months.

Follow Me Said Sonam The Tigress and We Obeyed!

Maya The Tigress of Tadoba

Manas

Manas Wildlife Sanctuary has unique bio-diversity. More than half the Sanctuary lies in Bhutan.

When your Vehicle Breaks Down in a Tiger Reserve

Bandipur

Bandipur in Karnataka and Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu - both the Reserves are easily accessible. Get a feel of the forest through our stories.

Srisailam

It is the largest Tiger Reserve in India. However, we were not so lucky to have a tiger sighting!

Kanha

This was our first Reserve to visit. Even after multiple visits in 1980s, we could not sight a tiger there.

Like all good things in life, Tiger sighting also requires patience. So, if you want to see the king of the jungle roaming freely in his kingdom, follow him. Do not disturb him. Do not litter or degrade his jungles. Do not cut or destroy trees. Effort of every person counts!

Let the tiger prosper. Mankind will also prosper!

Happy Tiger Day!

     - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad with Neeta Bhargava/ International Tiger Day/ 29th July 2020

#Nature #wildlife #tiger #internationaltigerday #conservation #tadoba #ranthambore #ghumakkadharsh #ghumakkadhb #natgeoindia #lonelyplanetindia #projecttiger #kanha #bandipur #mudumalai #srisailam #manas #kingofthejungle

Ranthambor 2 The Journey

__________________ Ranthambor Part-1: The Journey ______________________

After the Prelude, which you must have read, we now travel from Secunderabad in South Central India to Ranthambor Tiger Reserve in Eastern Rajasthan.

1.       Secunderabad Sawaimadhopur Journey

Our holiday special train left Secunderabad 15 minutes late at 2215 hrs. In fact we didn’t mind it getting delayed so that we do not have to alight at Sawaimadhopur at an unearthly hour of 3.30 am! We had had dinner before leaving home. Stocked up drinking water and settled down. To our pleasant surprise, the other two passengers in our AC1 coupe were to board enroute. This meant we could fold up the other two beds and thus have more head space. Of course Harsh utilised it for yoga next morning.

Since we were heading north, the morning sun welcomed us with its glow right above our head. See the picture. Sunrise through train window.

Harsh as usual got on to his mediation before capturing some morning shots.

The countryside in Maharashtra with its black and red soil had mix of crops. Cotton, wheat, jowar appeared prime crops. Wheat crop was in different stages of cultivation/harvesting. 

Neat and symmetric rows of fields are a photographer’s delight. All shots from moving train.

School girls at play. Probably they needed space in the neighbourhood! 

Natural rain water harvesting 

The train passed through some stations we had never been before like Shiva Shivanipur and Murtizapur, Narkheda and Dharakhoh 

Akola: we crossed the main line on Mumbai- Nagpur route next morning. Four Pooris and aloo bhaji are still sold at ten bucks (2013)! Incredible India!! At Akola, the electric locomotive was replaced by a diesel engine and the direction reversed!

Even in a small town like Akola, more multi-storied buildings could be spotted. A trend which is not eco-friendly because west facing walls of these buildings dissipate more heat after sunset. Adds to excessive heat and humidity—a problem which is faced in cities like Delhi now!

Narkheda: Where fresh oranges are still sold at Rs10/- for a pack of six ! Unbelievable. It may look green, but they are sweet. Enroute we saw plenty of orange plantations.

Amla: At 3 pm it was pretty hot outside. Hardly any passengers seen on the platform! 

Changing face of rural India—TV dish antenna atop small huts as well! (008)

Rural wisdom—see the haystacks on tin roofs to keep the huts cool in summer!

After Betul we climbed the hilly tracks. Flame of the forest (Tesu) in full bloom. This tree sheds all its leaves before it flowers. Like the cadets’ haircut before the passing out parade! It is used as a natural dye for playing Holi - the festival of colours. Tomorrow is Holi. 

Hill tracks offer enchanting views for photography. 

Tunnels in Vindhyachal ranges

Vindhyachal hill range is characterized by rounded hill tops and gentle slopes. Whereas the Aravali range has jagged cliffs. The Ranthambor National Park lies at the confluence of these two hill ranges.

Finally we reached Sawai Madhopur after 29 hours of comfortable train ride. Incredible India was impressive as always! 

Ankur Resort was our home for next two days.

In the next part, we take you to the Tiger land! And we were lucky after 25 years!! Yes, we came here 25 years ago and went back without a Tiger sighting!

This time, browse the next part of Ranthambor travelogue for tiger encounter!

Do share your experiences.

Ghumakkad Harsh

Postscript: Links to all our stories on Ranthambor are given below:

Prelude and Fac File
The Journey- Secunderabad to Sawai Madhopur
Tiger at last
Tiger's Cohabitants
Birds of Ranthambor
Ranthambor Fort and around Sawai Madhopur

Happy browsing.

#Tiger #Ranthambor #T24 #Sambhar #Cheetal #Aravalis #Zone6 #BirdsOfRanthambor #Fort #PugMarks #SawaiMadhopur #GhumakkadHarsh #GhumakkadHB

__________________________ End of Part-1 Ranthambor ____________________________ 

Ranthambor Prelude

_______________________ Ranthambor The King's Den _____________________

Call of the wild and in particular the king of the jungle is always so tempting.
Tiger eluded us at Bandipur National Park despite five safaris in three days during Feb 13. Barely a month later, we are off again! This time to the famous Rantahmbor Tiger Reserve in west Rajasthan.

We had been there in late 80s. But despite two safaris then, we had no sighting.
Jogi Mahal then was maintained by the Forest department. A few days after our visit, Mr Rajiv Gandhi then Prime Minister had visited Ranthambor and had stayed at Jogi Mahal overlooking the Padam Talao. We now understand it is no longer maintained as a Rest House. We will see for ourselves when we get there on 27th March. Right now, no pictures (Unlike all our earlier posts!) as we would not like to post borrowed stuff! Please bear with us till the next post.

Fact file: 
Access: 11 km by road from Sawai Madhopur railway station.
Air: Nearest airport Jaipur which is 130 kms north west. A good 3 hour drive via Banasthali women's University.
Accommodation: Plenty of lodges and resorts to suit all budgets.
Best season: Nov to May. The grass dries up in Apr and May with better chances of tiger sighting.
Safari: Forest department issues permits for 20 Gypsies (6 seats each) and 20 canters (18 seater open roof) every day. Book early (90-100 days in advance) to get a Gypsy.
Photography: Still cameras no charges. Video cams: Rs 400 each.
Dressing: Wear earthy colours so as not to disturb the animals. Light woolens in winter and cool cottons with a hat in summer.

For more background info on the forest, topography, monuments etc the reader may refer to an excellent blog by Aditya Singh 'Dicky' at: http://www.dickysingh.com/ranthambhore/

More when we get there soon! Those of you who have been there, tips are welcome!

Bye till then.

  Ghumakkad Harsh/ 25th March 13

Postscript: Links to all our stories on Ranthambor are given below:

Prelude and Fac File
The Journey- Secunderabad to Sawai Madhopur
Tiger at last
Tiger's Cohabitants
Birds of Ranthambor
Ranthambor Fort and around Sawai Madhopur

Happy browsing.

#Tiger #Ranthambor #T24 #Sambhar #Cheetal #Aravalis #Zone6 #BirdsOfRanthambor #Fort #PugMarks #SawaiMadhopur #GhumakkadHarsh #GhumakkadHB


__________________________ Ranthambor Prelude _______________________