photos of Corbett (part 2)

photos of Corbett (part1)

Jungle Lore.. Corbett

Blend a little bit of adventure to the fun and entice yourselves to have a lovely time and get spellbound. Chart a new chapter at Corbett National Park which definitely is a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts. It is the oldest national park which was initially established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the Royal Bengal Tiger. Now known as Corbett National Park, it is spread across 521 sq.km and has a rich and healthy flora and fauna attracting tourists from near and far. It is the ultimate paradise for naturalists and wild life enthusiasts.

I had a recent chance to visit this alluring national park and realized that the jungles speak a language of their own. Jim Corbett was a hunter turned conservationist who was also an efficient writer and a naturalist. I was encouraged to undertake this journey after reading Jungle Lore a book by the man himself. He has written down his learning’s in the best possible way for young naturalists. Being a passionate reader I took a decision to try to read the jungle like a book just like Jim Corbett.

Once in Corbett, the gushing streams, lush green forests and constant jungle activity are sure to mesmerize and charm you. One can indulge in short trails into the buffer zone, watch the early birds and get lucky if they spot the mighty cat on the prowl. My experiences in these verdant forests are given below.

I was camping in lovely tents pitched for wildlife enthusiasts at Wildrift in Syaat one of the peripheral villages of Corbett. It has an ideal location close to the forests where people have chanced on seeing wildlife right inside the premises. I took a chance to walk down this forest lane with a few friends and the first promising sighting we had was that of a Black Naped Hare. With renewed enthusiasm we continued our venture, coming across stupefying varieties of orchids in full bloom on the massive tree trunks. We also came across a rich variety of birds and had the immense pleasure of observing the changeable hawk eagle perch on a tree beside us and take its stance for almost an hour. On our journey back to campsite it was almost nightfall when we realized that there were langoor alarm calls right behind us, which indicated that a predator was on the prowl. Given the rocky territory we were in, it was certain that there was a leopard movement. With sheer excitement we seated ourselves on the ground, bracing ourselves to try and take a glimpse of this magnificent creature. There was absolute silence, we felt as if we could hear our heartbeats from a mile away, because of the frantic pace they were beating in. Then there were alarm calls given by the peacock which was closer to where we were now seated, it was now certain that the leopard was taking the same route through the valley which we had taken a little while ago. There was sheer adrenaline rush and anticipation in the air for the sighting of the stealthy leopard. We were waiting patiently in darkness with absolute silence when out of nowhere there was an ear piercing bark from the barking deer right behind us making us all jump from our skins. Well that was enough of an adventure for a day, since were already spotted so we had to make our way back to campsite.

The following day I had the chance to take a walk into the enchanting forest areas of Kaladhungi which still holds its charm from the time Jim Corbett himself strolled it. I chanced upon fresh pugmarks along the water front, on analysis it turned out to be those of an adult tigress. It was a pleasant welcome indeed, the thought itself was exhilarating, that the mighty beast had walked the same path a little while ago. Unfortunately I didn’t come across this beauty during my walk through the forest, but I was satisfied with the experience that it rendered.

It was truly amazing to wake up with the jungle and venture into the virgin forests. With just the wind to disturb me and the jungle sounds to keep me accompanied. I had no worry and no rush, I was extremely at peace enjoying the sights and sounds. It was wonderful to watch the butterflies animatedly sail through the air and feed from the flowers or do mud-puddling. The constantly fluttering birds, with various calls and exotic colors had me captivated, so much so that I used to lose track of time. I came across various species of birds like the laughing thrushes, bee-eaters, wood peckers, fly catchers, owls and exotics like the Great Pied Hornbill, Khalij Pheasant and Crested Kingfisher while walking upstream. The journey through the forest had me constantly crossing streams and observing the life near the riverbed. With a cacophony of sounds coming to my ears from the busy bodied birds. The jungle was alive and pulsating having me captivated and entranced. There were signs of predator territory as there were bony remains of cattle carcass and droppings of herbivores.

I was even lucky to have visited the elephant belt of Sitabani, a land which has its roots in the rich Indian mythology where it is said that Lord Ram had come for vanvas with his dutiful wife Sita. I had to wade through the waters of the entrancing Dabka River to reach the banks of the Sitabani forest on the other end. The weather was lovely with clear blue skies, crystal clear waters and the dense green forests waiting to be explored. When I had just crossed the Dabka I was greeted by the shrieks of the Great-Pied Hornbill, definitely a treat to the eyes. The jungle itself was mesmerizing and captivating, my resting point was at the temple of Luv and Kush, which has a natural spring on its side. I reached here as soon as the day began loosing its light, the source of light in this dark forest at night were the fireflies which came around in millions as if in festivity. I was lulled to sleep in the big hall of the temple while watching the game of the fireflies.

With this amazing little experience in Corbett I realized that there is more to observe in nature and appreciate its wonders rather then betting on sighting of a tiger while on a safari. These forests of Corbett are, ‘definitely a Pandora’s Box waiting to be opened’.

Come let’s explore Ranthambhore..

With the nearest railhead being Sawai Madhopur, Ranthambhore is undoubtedly one of the largest National Parks in Northern India. It was initially established as Sawai Madhopur Game Santuary and was declared as a Project Tiger Reserve. It covers a whooping 392sq kms and attracts tourists from far and wide to watch the majestic beast in its jungles.

I along with a few friends had a recent chance to visit this beautiful place which happens to be a paradise for the naturalists and the shutterbugs alike. We got off at the beautiful Sawai Madhopur station which has a charm of its own. Don’t miss out on watching the main building which is elegantly styled adding grace and enhancing the Rajasthani lure. From the station we proceeded to our hotels, with our mode of transport being canters which are actually open buses that one takes while on a safari. We realized that we had already started our wildlife adventure just by being seated in these vehicles. During our short trip to the hotel our driver who happened to be very friendly and jovial was telling us about the latest sightings at the park and many other wildlife incidences.

We were well received at our hotel where we retired to our rooms for freshening up and later assembled for snacks ready for our first venture into the famed national park. We had decided that our first trip inside the park would be to visit the impressive Ranthambore Fort which is located within the national park. One will undoubtedly come across this massive structure on their way into the core areas. The canters will drop you off at the base of the Fort, it is then a short hike uphill through the fort walls along a cobble stoned path. Be careful with your belongings as the first wildlife you will definitely come across is the Hanuman Langur. It is also impossible to miss out on the stunning peacocks that continuously call out to their better halves. If you get lucky you could even get to see the enchanting courtship display dance in full splendor and grace.

While walking up the path inside the fort you will realize that the fort was very well fortified with the doorways being built on blind sides so that it could not be easily seen by the enemy. Once at the summit you will come across various temples built in the ancient times which still hold their stance and faith amongst people. One famous temple which attracts crowds from afar is the temple of Pratham Ganesh or the Trinetra Ganesh. Lord Ganesh is the God of GooD Fortune, Education, Knowledge, Wisdom and Wealth and it is a common belief here that all wishes are granted. The temple itself is well maintained with prayer offerings on a timely basis. There is also a wonderful temple at the top which is sure to take your breath away, an added charm to this was that we came across a carpet of parakeets (rose ringed, plum headed and Alexandrian parakeets) feeding on grains. My…!! What a spectacular sight it was; so much of green mixed with red.. and a constant hum.

There is a pedestal specially made for viewing the entire park which is spread out in front of you as far as the eyes can see. You could easily get to see it on your way back. Three large lakes, the Padam Talab, Malik Talab and Raj Bagh, are visible from the fortification walls and contribute to a landscape of forests which is sure to leave you spellbound. We now knew what exactly we were looking forward to, venturing into the vastness of the jungles with the anticipation of getting the chance to watch the magnificent beast in its territory. With added excitement we headed back to our hotel to prepare ourselves for our first morning safari.
The following morning we had a light breakfast and our canters were waiting for us at the hotel to take us for the safari. With our backpacks readied and our cameras charged we were all set for our venture. The park gates open at 6:00 am and we had to reach before the stipulated time in order to get our zone allotments. (The entire park is divided into 6 zones, one safari will take you across only one zone and zone allotment is done by the park officials. It could also happen that you could end up getting the same zone again. For the permission of a safari one has to submit their details, photograph and id proof; it can be given to your hotel manager or at the park check post.)

On getting our zone allotments, we proceeded into the park with all our senses on alert to try and catch a glimpse of the awaking wildlife. We slowly made our way into the core area hoping to get a hint of the predator on the prowl, we came across impressive herds of Chital deer or the spotted deer basking in the sun and grazing undisturbed. We got to see two male Chitals with striking antlers dueling for courtship, it sounded as if swords were clashing in battle. Moving on, we came across a variety of birds, the largest deer viz the Sambar deer and even a few Nilgai (Blue Bull) which are the largest Asian antelopes. Unfortunately we didn’t come across the magnificent predators on this safari, or the ones after that. It was only on our fourth Safari that luck was on our side, our joy new no bounds.

We entered the jungle heated by the afternoon’s sun for our last venture into the national park, praying that we have good sightings in this safari. The safari was the same as before, similar sightings, but no predator, with dampened spirits we started our return journey to the outer gates. No sooner had the vehicle turned; our trained canter guide picked up the alarm calls which were absolutely inaudible to us. He made the driver stop, we realized that he had heard the movement of the predator. With our hearts crossed and absolute silence we tried to take our guides lead, slowly we could hear the alarm calls surer and clearly moving towards us. After almost an hour of waiting in anticipation we were gifted with the sight of the largest male tiger in Ranthambore. Like royalty, he strode towards us without any haste through the dried river bed. We were all holding our breaths, unsure of which course this handsome guy was going to take, it was as if the angels were looking down on us, the impressive beast had started going uphill. Our guide asked our driver to move from that place and go uphill in order to get a better glimpse. With an adrenaline rush and maddening beats in our ear we reached the spot where we were about to get a closer glimpse. True to the guides words the tiger came walking up the path in full splendor. He stretched a little as if trying to tease us and started walking away, after a few steps he marked his territory and gave us an absolutely captivating glance. He stood in the only path of the dying sunlight, which made his fur glisten like jewels, it was the most enchanting sight which I doubt I will ever forget. Unfortunately the encounter was brief as we had to return to the gates as the safari time was up.

We were hastily returning, animatedly talking about our recent sightings; which was definitely the highlight of the entire trip. But little did we know that there was more in store for us, as luck would have it, we chanced on spotting the timid yet stealthy and attractive leopard just a hundred meters away from us. Though we didn’t capture it on cam because of the dying light, we definitely captured this beast in our hearts and mind. The trip to Ranthambore had ended on a beautiful note.

Ladakh the final destination

After a mighty breakfast and with sheer excitement of reaching our dream destination we were back on the road. It was a pretty sight as the scenery changed a few hours down the road. The road stretched out in front of us as far as the eyes could see. The impressive mighty snow clad Himalayas on one side and barren rocks on the other. The sun playing hide n seek amongst the clouds with a little peek here and a little boo there adding charm to the already mesmerizing route. I remember going berserk trying to capture everything on my cam, which in the end I gave up as I decided to absorb it all in. My mind fluttering with excitement; acting like a sponge was absorbing the impressive landscapes one at a time. Later, we had a brief halt at-Lamayuru a land famously known as the moon land. No words could do justice to the scenery there; we hiked up a little hill just enough to get the adrenaline rushing which was worth the efforts.

Continuing on as we had to reach before nightfall our driver spotted the enchanting city of Leh nestled among the valley. I call it enchanting because when I was shown the city the sun was shining only on the city of Leh with clouds all around as if it was highlighted for us to see. We couldn’t wait to reach this paradise. On the outskirts we were shown the military base camps and the airport landing amongst the hills. Within a few minutes we reached our hotel Mandala where we were welcomed with stoles which were imprinted with ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’. It was only much later that we understood that the mantra is orally recited around the prayer wheels ( a famous identity of Leh) and is highly auspicious. One can find these wheels everywhere they go. They are impressive structures and highly alluring. We then had a filling meal followed by a rested sleep. The following day we visited the Shey palace which is not too far away from the city and were lucky to be a part of the famous Sindhu festival. Later we idled around in the market and enjoyed a little snack on the famed momos, returning back for dinner to our hotel.

During our stay at Leh we were gifted with a lovely climate enabling us to enjoy our trip to the fullest. We had taken a day trip to the much talked about Pangong Lake Tse, one can even opt for an option to camp there in tents spicing up your adventure a bit more. Be lucky to catch a glimpse of the captivating sunset which is surely to be etched on your mind forever. On the return journey one can stop at the Thikse monastery which is the largest gompa in Leh.

The following day we visited the lovely Shanti Stupa, with a little hike up the hill to reach this stupa one is sure to be gifted with an enchanting site. One can have a mesmerizing view of the entire city of Leh laid out in front of you, surrounded with the massive Himalayas as the outer boundary for as far as the eyes can see. We then visited the White Lotus school (Druk Padma Karpo) made famous by the movie 3 Idiots. We were spellbound when we were explained the architecture of the school. It was said that if one sees the layout of the school from a height it is shaped in the form of a ‘key’, which suggests that it symbolizes the key to education. Individual classrooms are smartly prepared with a single solid beam in the centre so as to hold the structure sturdy even during a natural calamity. Additionally the roofs are painted white with an intelligent venture which enhances the brightness so much so that there is no need of artificial lighting. Even the dormitories of the kids are intelligently prepared so that they remain cool in the summers and warm during the winters. The kids are given the freedom to explore and innovate which is truly amazing.

We also travelled to the famed Nubra Valley via Khardung La which happens to be the world’s highest motor-able road. One has to take care of their health cause the oxygen content here is a bit low, so avoid immediate movements and don’t have a prolonged wait at the pass. The pass itself is untouched and a winter wonderland, we had a fresh carpet of snow below our feet which made it a bit difficult to walk. The traditional colorful temple flags were well splayed and were a eye-catching sight against the white background.

Yeah..!! So my trip to Ladakh was a lovely and memorable experience and has been etched into my life forever. Our return journey was via the famous hill station of Manali. Where we stayed for the day and left by a night bus to Delhi where we were to be transferred to the airport to catch our flights back to Mumbai.

Leh-Ladakh- the ultimate adventure (part 2)

We continued on after leaving Srinagar, our next destination being a the famous town of Kargil.

It was quiet a long roadtrip. We started out after breakfast from our hotel carrying packed lunch to have later on. Kargil is the second largest town of Ladakh. We had a exhausting roadtrip before we reached our hotel in the late evening.

En-route to the hotel we stopped over at the prestigious Kargil War memorial. Looking at the Jawans stationed at the entrance, gives you an intense pride and extreme honour for the country. The jawan who introduced us to the memorial talking about its rich and not so old history, made us realise the importance of the place and the honour and love one has for his country.

The memorial itself is beautifully located amongst the hills which has the indian tri-colour perched high. Giving one an immense sense of pride. At the entrance to the museum there is a board on which tourists can write their remarks. We wrote the only  message that felt apt at the moment with all our feelings at d forefront, the message said “saare jawano ko tehe dil se salaam”.

Moving on inside, the museum itself has many pictures and remnants of shell casings, bazooka firing and all sorts of things that spell out ‘WAR’. Looking at the pictures one realises the gravity of the situation which was there at that time, it also portrays the pride of the soldiers after reclaiming the indian territory from the terrorists.

Going on outside there are names of all the jawans on a wall, carved out in stone who laid their lives during the kargil war. There is also a flame that remians burning in their wake. Our VEER JAWANS, definitely makes you want to give them a heartfelt SALAAM. India is so much about culture and its history.

With a new born respect for the motherland we moved on to our hotel. The hotelier was very keen and welcoming. The rooms were spacious and well furnished. There was a special arrangement for dinner for our group as we were a big group. It was very well planned. The food was also excellent with veg and non-veg being served separately. After having a wholesome meal we all crashed and woke up to a beautiful morning with an even more appetising breakfast.

We left after breakfast to continue our journey to the dream destination “LEH”..

.. to be continued

Leh-Ladakh- the ultimate adventure (part 1)

No man’s land but definitely every shutterbug’s dream destination, where even a novice can get the best captured shots. I am sure it is every individual’s ultimate dream destination. Be it a family outing or teenager’s spree or especially a friendly excursion.

I happened to board a flight at Santacruz domestic airport which dropped me off at Delhi airport from where I boarded a connecting flight to Srinagar. Once at Srinagar let me warn you, only the people having a post paid account are most likely to get range from there onwards. I experienced a problem as I did not know about it.

The Srinagar Airport is definitely one of the best airports I might have come across. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and boat-houses. I was lucky to have my accommodation in a boat-house which floats on one of the postcard lakes of Kashmir, the Dal Lake. You could select your own houseboat. If you are a big group of people you can book the entire houseboat, else you could select a single room in it. We had an airport pickup facility, which could actually turn out to be a boon if you are new to the place. You can opt for a vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian menu. We had a buffet system for our food, which was served on a lush and well maintained lawn with very beautiful flower beds.

Our boat house was a very nice and well maintained one, but it creaked a lot, apart from that there was no other issue. The staff was helpful and the service was very nice. The boathouse had a very cozy parlor with its very own library. Every room is fully carpeted and well furnished. The beds had locally hand woven blankets. The intricate wooden carvings on the windows and the partition between the bedroom and changing room were worth looking at. The room has an attached bathroom. Hot water could be an issue as it is provided only for a certain period of time.

After evening tea and snacks we went for the so profoundly talked of Shikara ride. It was paradise on earth. The waters were absolutely serene with certain areas having sheets of yellow lilies through which the boat ventures. The hills provided the best backdrop one can imagine, and the reflection of the sky in the water was just pretty. The continuous beats of rowing by the Shikara rower and watching the surrounding could lull you to sleep and be relaxed. For those who are enthusiastic on clicking pictures like me you will definitely not be bored. You could even keep your eyes open for various kinds of birds mostly water birds but I happened to see a roosting black kite.

Apart from that you can come across many other Shikaras which are actually shops from where you could buy stuff and people riding Shikaras which happen to be school bus services for kids. The kids there are also very sweet, with red chubby cheeks and the sweetest smile; you will definitely fall in love with them at once. The Shikara will take you to the famous boat bazaar on Dal Lake where you can do your shopping. Once done we were bought back to our houseboat on Shikaras via the Nagin Lake which is another major tourist attraction in Srinagar.

The following day we were to move out of Srinagar to continue our journey..

To be continued..

Rafting on Ganga, Rishikesh (part2)

Second day we had the longest rafting route of the trip a whooping 35kms!! Had an early breakfast and left by road for a higher access point to the Ganga from where we would start our journey. The rapids we faced were just amazing and we had body surfing which not only sounds cool but it actually was cool. The water into which we asked to jump was bone chilling but I won’t freak you out, you start enjoying the little ripples right after you are absolutely numb. My advice do not get scared of the chilling water, else you will miss the fun of trying to get back in the raft. Every raft has a guide on board and you have to listen to their guidance else you are definitely doomed. No more question marks you will get the hang of it in the trial trip. We had the most mesmerizing packed lunch en-route, on a little island filled with pebbles of attracting and varying colors. All tired and exhausted we were back at base camp, but the strength was still on and our hungry tummies were happy to see the served tea and yummy snacks. Unfortunately we were followed by bad weather hence had to rush to our tents to pack our stuff into bags as the staff told us if it gets to windy the tents could not be accessible. Once done, we were out on the serene beach for a session of volley ball which soon turned out to be a rainy session. It didn’t crush our spirits, but certainly chilled our bodies. That night we were all huddled together around the camp fire singing our hearts out as the rain had stopped and had definitely failed to obstruct our spirit.

The third day we had a rest day where in, we were to spot at Jumping Heights a place which kind of explains itself.  It has the highest bungy jump which is at a whooping height of 250m with a giant swing from the same bridge (you definitely need guts) no sissies allowed. Once you do either of these activities you earn a ‘I have guts’ batch. Other activity that you can opt for is the 1km flying fox in which you attain unimaginable speed of 160km/hr. The jumping heights base has its own resort. In the evening we chilled out at CCD which was located near Ram-Jhula where were going to be attending the famous Ganga aarti. It was a blissful experience and the melody there could actually make us feel the divinity and purity of the place. Once cleansed and rejuvenated we were back at our campsite ready to challenge our difficulties.

The final day on the agenda we were going to be facing our most major rapids rated as grade 3+. We left the campsite with our entire luggage which was to be kept on the bus. We started at a point known as Marine Drive, this was unimaginably the most awaited day, and one could feel the excitement in the air. We had a cliff jump which is a 30ft jump with body surfing in a rapid.  We ventured into our final route on the Ganga, perched on our rafts with paddles on hand, ready to tackle the grade 3+ rapids. Jotting down a few  rapids here, the first rapid we came across was known as good morning rapid, followed by 3 blind mice, black money, cross fire, and the two most dangerous ones the roller coaster where in our raft technically flipped and the last was the golf course. Boy! Were we glad that it was done! What followed next was carrying the raft out of the water to the awaiting vehicle; it was so exhausting we didn’t anticipate it to be that heavy. A temporary tent was put for changing into dry clothes. Sadly, our trip was over. With joy in our hearts, with many lessons learnt and having had the most amazing adventure the trip had come to an end, the bus took us back to Haridwar station where we were to board our Lokmanya Tilak LTT express directly to Mumbai.

Rafting on Ganga, Rishikesh (part 1)

Rafting on Ganga, Rishikesh

Just came back after a thrilling adventure camp from the religious place of Rishikesh.

The ultimate gateway to the Himalayas located in the Uttarakhand district of India it is located approximately 20kms from the holy city of Haridwar.

The name Rishikesh means master of senses and very rightly suggested it can thrill your senses to the absolute core.One of the major attractions filled with adventure and thrill is the option of rafting,. Added attractions are bungy jumping, giant swing, flying fox, cliff jumping on the serene Ganges. Rafting on the holy river is in itself a pleasurable experience.

We boarded the garib rath at bandra terminus Mumbai and alighted at Rohila, Delhi and then were transferred by bus to New Delhi where we boarded the Darjeeling janashatabdi to Haridwar (mid-station) then transferred to campsite by bus.

For those who want to enjoy stays in tents and the wilderness there are many places to choose from.I stayed at Camp Rapidfire, located an hour and a half from Rishikesh you have to trek down from the main road. Hiking back up, every-time you have to go out, may be tiresome for few, but it definitely is not a negative when you actually see the camp site.With a sprawling white sandy beach having its own volleyball courts and welcoming tents with your very own sleeping bags, this campsite is definitely worth experiencing.The staff was very friendly and helpful. The food was awesome. The amazing thing is you have an option of veg & non-veg.

Apart from that at the campsite the major issue is there is no electricity you have to carry torches and there are gasoline lanterns which light the entire campsite at night which is a very pretty picture having to watch silhouettes of the tents.  But just in-case you want to get your phones charged you could request the staff to charge it for you (don’t worry they are absolutely trustworthy).

On our first day at the campsite we had a warm up rafting session where we were briefed about the gear and given general instructions on paddling. We then ventured into the Ganges for our first taste of what rafting exactly is. This apparently was a 12km long stretch. Sounds tiring, right? Trust me it isn’t, we didn’t even realize it, what with trying to maneuver the raft (which is actually not as easy as it looks) and getting our commands right. We lost ourselves in it. We reached back to campsite for a really late but appetizing lunch. Evening was the bonding and games session......

to be continued...