Bodo Village- Living with Nature

Bodo Village in Assam now called Asom.
Like any other village in India.
Living in harmony with Nature.
Completely.
The villagers use local material for making their huts. Grow local fruits and trees. Respect Nature. They adapt to the climate using natural means.

This was evident during Ghumakkad's visit to a Bodo Village near Manas National Park (MNP) in north Asom in Nov-18. This picture story is part of a series.

Here is the complete set of stories of our visit to Assam and Manas National Park. We were a team of 20 Navy veterans and spouses all in their late 60s. This set of stories should be read together. Quick links are given below:

1. Who were the travellers?
2. Guwahati the Gateway to North East India
3. Driving through the Bamboo land
4. MNP- When a Safari Vehicle Breaks Down!
5. MNP- Where crickets sing like Temple Bells
6. Bodo Village- Living with Nature
7. Where to Stay in Manas
8. Deepor Beel A Ramsar Site

Coming back to the Bodo Village, let the pictures do the talking.

Bodo is pronounced as 'Boro' 

 Here is a short clip of Bodo folk dance being performed by Bolapi.

It was time to bid good bye. Even the Bodos bid adieu with Paan-Supari पान सुपारी. Only difference was that both the paan leaves as well as supari nuts were grown in the village and freshly plucked. See the picture below.

The eldest resident of the village came and blessed all of us. See her expressions below.

We sincerely hope that future generations living in rural India maintain their balance with Nature. The urban folks have done much damage to the environment.

In the next story we will answer the query 'where to stay' when visiting Manas National Park?

Thanks for browsing. Your comments and feedback are welcome as always. 

   - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/29th June 2019

#assam #manasnationalpark #bodovillage #Bodotribals #Nature #ecologicalbalance #Mudhouses #bamboo #localbuildingmaterial #cowdungpaste #bodochildren #bodofolkdance #beetlenut #beetleleaves #navyveterans #ghumakkadharsh #ghumakkadhb

Winners KBG-7 Bamboo Chicken

What is being cooked? Bamboo Chicken.
Where: Araku Valley, Andhra Pradesh
Origin: Tribals of Araku region.

Thank you all for keen participation in KBG-7. More than 150 took part.
First three correct answers came within the first hour! Congratulations to the Winners of KBG-7:
Chitra Shanker
Pallavi Bhargava
Hari Prasad

In addition, the following need special mention:
RB Dhavare
Vinay Prasad
Arnab B
Suryaprakash
Rohan Talukdar
Dhiraj Rawat
Varun Khanna
Lakshmi Rawat
Amandeep Kaur

Similar to Bamboo Chicken, rice based delicacies are cooked in Kerala and the North East. Many of you answered on those lines. However, during a recent visit to the North East, Ghumakkad couldn't spot any eatery selling an item cooked in a Bamboo-shell!

What happens to the burnt or charred bamboo pieces as circled in the picture above? It is crushed and used as manure in the fields. Similar to controlled burning of the stumps after a rice crop is harvested.

Those who haven't been to Araku Valley, may like to browse the following stories by Ghumakkad:
Train to Araku- A Ride to Remeber
What to see in Araku
Chaparai Water Cascade

Next contest onwards, we will give advance notice so that everybody gets a fair chance to be a winner! Watch this space for Contest No. KBG-8!

Thanks for browsing

    - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 22nd Feb 2019
#nature #wildlife #travel #contest #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh #awareness @ghumakkadhb #KBG #KBGContest7 @thetapcomics #natgeoindia #planetmindia #wandertrails #photowalks #araku #bamboochicken

Araku- Places to see

A date with the tribals!
Yes, at Araku the central attraction is the tribals. Araku is located in a tribal region and is governed by ITDA- Integrated Tribal Development Authority. It is located 130 kms north of Vizag in the eastern ghats. Local tourist attractions in Araku are:

• Tribal Museum
• Tribal Dance also called 'Dhimsa' dance
• Tribal Art
• Tribal food-- Bamboo Chicken

In this story we take you around these places or art forms. Short video clips are also embedded in the story.

Where is Araku? Google map for you.

Few spots like Chaparai Water Cascade and Coffee Museum are not covered in the APTDC tour. So we had hired an auto rickshaw. Rs 600 for an afternoon. Cabs were all booked being a long weekend. Here is Gopi our expert local guide-cum-driver! Thanks Gopi.

Our first stop was the Botanical garden.

 Get a feel of the toy train in a short video clip below.

Coffee Museum came next.

Swatch Bharat being practiced!

Next halt the famous Tribal  Museum.

A panorama of Borra Caves area.

 It's dance time! 'Dhimsa' the tribal dance.

  Feel the rhythm of 'Dhimsa' dance in this video.

Bamboo Chicken-- Araku delicacy!

 Where to stay in Araku?

Browse the video below to get an all round view of Araku Valley from the terrace of our suite.

AC Deluxe room costs Rs 2800 per night on twin sharing with complimentary breakfast. Can be booked on-line.

Just as we finished the day's sightseeing and entered the Mayuri resort, it started to pour. It went on for next four hours.

Another family had travelled with us in the train and had taken the same two-day package. Sandip Biswas an IT guy with his parents and in-laws. Group photograph with them in our Resort's lobby.

Liquor  shops do brisk business anywhere in India.

Return journey. Galikonda Viewpoint.

A short video clip taken at Galikonda with hordes of tourists and honking cabs and buses!

Before leaving Araku, it was time for a picture together.

Good bye Araku till we visit again!

Excursions from Araku-- you may browse the stories below:

Borra Caves- Beauty of Darkness

Chaparai Water Cascade

Thanks for browsing. Signing off for a week or so since we are travelling to Udaipur for a Naval Reunion.

      -   Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 22nd Sept 2017