Why Visit Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Central India

 Do you wish to see tigers?

Well, tigers are found in many reserves but the best place to see the big cats is Bandhavgarh National Park in Central India or the State of Madhya Pradesh. Being the most panoramic park, it is exciting to see the big cats in enchanting surroundings. Not only the ensconced beauty, but the park also

Tiger

comprises many ancient structures built by the tribal.

A tiger safari is a beautiful experience as you move through dense forests and see ancient structures. The Tala Range is full of idols, caves with ancient scripts that date back centuries, and tigers galore. The ancient artifacts are as amazing as the wildlife that you see on a jeep safari. The most interesting place in Tala range is Sesh Shaiyya or reclining  Vishnu. It is a 20 feet long reclining idol that is 2000 years old. It lies adjacent to a pond encircled by a stone wall. Water trickles down from the fern-infested forests and inundates the pond. Sesh Shaiyya is a charismatic sight and is in a state of preservation for centuries. Tribal and locals pray here on special occasions.

Sesh Shaiyya is one of the most preferred breeding grounds for tigresses and on a visit, it won't be a big surprise if you get a glimpse of a big cat. Above the reclining Vishnu is the fort at a distance of 2 km. But being out of the tourism area you cannot visit the fort.  But for the lucky ones who have seen the fort, it is a memorable sight. There are idols of Lord  Vishnu in zoomorphic forms besides a large idol that faces the forest below. The fort is situated at  Bandhavgarh Hill at a height of 800 MSL. From the fort complex, you can see the whole Sal forest which is a mesmerizing sight.

Wildlife of Bandhavgarh

Bandhavgarh is home to tigers, sloth bears, bison, deers, langurs, rhesus macaques, wild boars, leopards, and many small predators like civet cats, jungle cats, and ratel. The rare pangolin is also found here. The reserve is home to more than 250 birds including the Palearctic migrants that arrive in the winter.

Tiger Safari

Bandhavgarh is an excellent place for wildlife photography especially for the tiger. You need a permit for safaris issued by the MP Government. The safaris are conducted two times a day one in the early morning and the other in the evening time. The rides are conducted on open jeeps and canter which have to be hired in advance.

The reserve is situated in the Umaria district. The park is 170 km from Jabalpur Airport in Madhya Pradesh or Central India. It is closed on Wednesday evenings and during the monsoons. The destination has an excellent tourism infrastructure and is full of hotels and lodges. Thus, you can stay there for an extended period if you are a wildlife photographer or a filmmaker. Tourism is regulated and you have to follow the rules and regulations strictly.   

Tiger Safari at Kanha National Park in India

 

Kanha National Park is one of the most popular parks in India and receives over 100,000 domestic and overseas visitors. It is a tiger reserve and a National Park. The park is a conservation unit focused on saving the big cats, the ecosystem, and other life forms.

Although the park is for the conservation of critically endangered tigers its major success has come from the conservation of the Barasingha or the hard-ground swamp deer. From 66 heads to more than 500 heads the success was remarkable. George Schaller and the team played a crucial role in saving the species. The campaign was carried out in the late sixties and seventies. 

Kanha National Park

Situated in Central India near Jabalpur Airport the park is home to over 100 tigers and other wild animals. Some of the major fauna that inhabits the park are:

Tiger

Leopard

Swamp Deer

Sloth Bear

Bison

Axis Deer

Barking Deer

Mouse Dear (Rare)

Jackal

The mouse deer was seen and photographed after a gap of 14 years. It was thought to be extinct but the re-discovery was a big surprise. Small and nocturnal animals are the porcupine, civet cats, and foxes.

There are more than 250 avian species that include Palearctic migrants that arrive in the winter. Some of the popular species are Malabar Pied Hornbill, Shama, Racket Tailed Drongo, Spangled Drongo, Alexandrine Parakeet, and Orange Headed Rock Thrush.

Safari at Kanha 

The park is divided into four zones in the core area that comprises 940 sq. km. They are;

Kisli Zone

Kanha Zone

Sarhi Zone

Mukki Zone

The area of each zone is roughly 25 sq. km and each offers wonderful sightings of wild animals. Tigers are seen in every zone while Kanha and Mukki are the favorites for big cat sightings. The birds are all over the place. The tourism area has also been carved out in the buffer zone that comprises 1000 sq. Km.

Khatia (Kisli Gate)

Khapa (Mukki Gate

Phen (Micro Core)

Sijora (Sarhi Gate)

The excursions are possible on safari permits and there is a limit to park entry of vehicles. You should thus book the tiger safari in advance.  You can book a safari online at MPOnline Portal and also book at the respective gates. But it is better to book online since entry permits get sold out fast.   

  

      

 Tiger Safari at Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park is a tiger reserve situated in Central India in the State of Madhya Pradesh.  It is one of the oldest parks and received conservation status as early as the 19th Century. The Halon and Banjar Valleys were closed for hunting during the British Raj, and thus this was a conservation initiative.

Tiger Family

In post-independent India, the area was declared a National Park in the year 1955.  Then it was notified as a tiger reserve in the year 1973, under the Project Tiger Program. In the year 2000, it was awarded as the most tourism-friendly park in India. Kanha is also recognized as the best-managed tiger reserve in India with high-profile VVIPs visiting every year.

Kanha National Park Conservation Profile

Kanha National Park comprises an area of over two thousand sq. km with 940 sq. km as the core. The core is a protected area that is inviolate and managed by the forest department. It is where the tigers and other wild animals breed the most.         

Tigress with Cub 

The park is home to over 100 tigers and the critically endangered hard ground Barasingha or the Swamp Deer (Cervus duavcelli branderi). It is also known as the Branderi Barasingha who first noticed the hardened hooves that evolved in absence of swamps to enable the deer to move on hard ground.  This was impacted by the changing geography of the region which was once a large crater full of marshy swamps.  The park is well known for saving the Barasingha from extinction by raising the population from just 67 heads to more than 500 at present.   

Over 150 guard huts are built to safeguard wildlife in the park with beat guards regularly patrolling the reserve.

Kanha National Park Tiger Safari

Tiger tourism as it is called is carried out in 20% of the core. It is divided into four zones:

• ·         Kanha Zone
• ·         Kisli Zone
• ·         Mukki Zone
• ·         Sarhi Zone

Each zone is reserved for safari for those with the permit. At Kanha, permit holders cannot trespass into another zone. This is possible only on a full-day safari which is priced much higher.  Tigers breed in each zone without any hindrance and offer an opportunity for tourists to see them in their natural surroundings. Though habitats may be diverse, the park provides each with a tiger safari permit an equal chance to track and chance upon the big cats.   

Besides other animals, tourists can see plenty of birds more so in winter when Pale Arctic migrants arrive. There are over 250 species of avian in the park.

Tiger safaris are organized in the buffer as well. They are cheaper, and without many restrictions but offer a little chance to sight the big cats.

These are:

• ·         Phen
• ·         Khatia
• ·         Sijhora
• ·         Khapa

If you do not book a tiger safari in advance the permits get exhausted. Your only chance is to visit the buffer zone or stay at the resort. Hence always book the tourism zones in the core in advance. Please make all the preparation for the tiger safari in India in advance.   

Tiger Safari in India is Not Zoo Safari as Perceived

 Tiger Safari in India

Tiger safari in India is within the scope of tiger tourism as governed by NTCA, and the State Governments. It is not a zoo safari as wrongly perceived. Unlike in a zoo safari, the tigers and other wild animals move freely in an unrestricted area delimited by the crown cover.

There are more than fifty tiger reserves in India, and they are open to tourism in twenty percent area as per the court decision, this area comes under the jurisprudence of the respective State where the reserve is located.   

Tiger Safari & Zoo Safari Difference

Although in both cases you have to pay an entry fee. In the case of the tiger reserves, the entry fee is included in the permit which you book in advance or procure from the gates. In the case of the zoo safari, you need to buy a ticket at the entrance gate and enter on foot or in your car. At the zoo safari, a bus is available to score the large spread of the zoo and see the animals.   

In the tiger reserve, you cannot set foot on the forest floor, you have to stay alight on the jeep or the 20-seater canter. The jeep usually scores the area within the zone mentioned in the permit.  Brunch or tea can be had only in a designated area in the core of the tiger reserve, and there is usually one cafeteria for refreshment or freshening up in a zone.

The safari zoo may be commercialized with eateries in and around the zoo. The number of eateries can be unlimited and may be associated with other places of entertainment. Zoo safari is a one-day affair, while in the reserves you can stay for several days, and enjoy as many safaris as you like subject to the availability of permits. That is the reason why so many wildlife resorts are situated on the periphery of the buffer of the tiger reserves. These resorts support local employment and generate revenue for the hospitality industry. They are instrumental in earning valuable foreign exchange from inbound tourism that they enhance for India. 

Tiger Safari in the reserves is getting more popular day by day as filmmakers, wildlife photographers, holidaymakers, and naturalists throng these paradises. In India, Safari Zoos are limited in numbers and are usually situated near big towns or within.

Popular Reserves for Tiger Safari India

Some of the popular reserves are as follows:   

• ·         Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve
• ·         Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
• ·         Wayanad Tiger Reserve
• ·         Kanha Tiger Reserve
• ·         Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
• ·         Corbett Tiger Reserve
• ·         Pench Tiger Reserves     
• ·         Panna National Park

A visit to these National Parks and Tiger Reserves should be planned well in advance. It is very important to book safari permits in advance. You must make preparations before a tiger safari In India to make a success of tour. Apart from the permits secure accommodation at a luxury resort, make local travel arrangements, and then book the air flight, etc. If you wish to avoid travel hassles then engage the services of tour operators in India.   

Accounts of the Esoteric Indian Wildlife

 Esoteric Experiences Indian Wildlife

It was first the discovery of the white tiger in India that made headlines the World Over. India is blessed with amazing wilderness. Even after centuries of hunting and wood logging the country still retains considerable wilderness in 32 hundred thousand square km of land. 

It is home to over 350 mammals, 2000 species of birds including the subspecies and an amazing number of reptiles and insects. India is known as the land of the tiger with more than half the global population of the predator. The most majestic and now critically endangered animal is the tiger. At the turn of the century, there were more than a hundred thousand big cats in India. Before independence, forty thousand tigers survived in the vast stretches of forests and grasslands. 

But habitat destruction due to increasing agrarian practices and livestock keeping, most of the habitats were converted into fields and settlements. Post-independence, the forest habitats are completely fragmented. They are restricted to 51 tiger reserves and many National Parks and wildlife sanctuaries in an area barely comparing over one hundred thousand kilometres. 

Wildlife habitats are in a disarray and cut off without any viable corridors facing the risk of extinction due to inbreeding and continuous habitat destruction. It was the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 that stemmed the rot.

Project Tiger Program was another saviour, and inviolate areas in the reserves provided succour to the beleaguered wildlife and the remaining ecosystems. Well, and good, the tiger numbers that had plummeted to 1400 or less have risen to 3000 plus now. 

A lot of revenue is being pumped up for conservation from overseas and domestic tourism. A large populace is now wildlife-aware, and tourism is on the rise. Not only revenue for conservation, but wildlife tourism is also providing an immense opportunity for employment to locals and empowerment is taking place among the women and children in remote confines. 

India's Esoteric Wildlife

The country is well known for the white tiger which has been found in the wild only once but the animal survives in very large numbers in captivity the World over.  It was discovered at Sanjay Dubri National Park in Central India by the erstwhile Maharajah of Rewa.  

The Cheetah once found all over the country became extinct in the fifties, but it has been again reintroduced in the wild.  Hope lingers that it will survive and multiply. 

Another charismatic animal that tourists seek in the country is the black panther. Its sighting has increased in Pench, Nagzira and Kabini. The Asiatic Lion once widespread in the plains and grasslands still survives in Gir National Park in Gujarat, and its numbers are growing. Indian one-horned rhino is found in many parks like Kaziranga, Manas, Pobitara and Dudhwa National Parks. These are the megafauna we are discussing here, but the country is home to amazing esoteric lesser-known wildlife.

• Red Panda
• Clouded Leopard
• Snow Leopard
• Takin
• Goral
• Hoolock Gibbon 
• Pigmy Hog
• Golden Langur
• Nilgiri Langur
• Lion Tailed Macaque
• Hog Deer
• Hard Ground Swamp Deer 
  

These are a few animals that find mentioned here. The list is endless. If you travel extensively you will discover amazing wilderness that still exists in the country. 

Photo Bengal Tiger 

Tiger Safari 

Organized and guided tiger safaris on jeep and canter are a good way of spotting these animals in India. Visit any National Park or Tiger Reserve, and you will also spot rare and enchanting animals mentioned here. 

Some of the places where you can spot the tiger and other esoteric animals are:

Kanha National Park (Hard GroundSwamp Deer)

Kaziranga Tiger Reserve (One Horned Rhinoceros)
Manas (Golden Langur)

Namdhapha (Hoolock Gibbon, Clouded Leopard)

Silent Valley National Park (Nilgiri Langur & Lion-Tailed Macaque

Corbett Tiger Reserve (Indian Elephant)

Periyar Tiger Reserve (Indian Elephant)

Ladakh Cold Desert (Wild Ass, Brown Bear, Snow Leopard) 

For Asiatic Lion Visit Gir National Park in Gujarat.

The Bengal tiger is the most sought-after predator by tourists from overseas as well as domestic ones. You can spot the beautiful animals at the destinations mentioned below.  But remember to book a safari permit in advance. Vehicle entry is limited and you will miss out on the game ride!

The best destinations for tiger safari in India are the popular reserves:

• Kanha National Park
• Corbett National Park 
• Bandhavgarh National Park
• Ranthambore National Park
• Pench National Park
• Tadoba National Park. 

While booking a permit for a tiger safari in India choose one of these reserves. Book safari permits in advance I repeat along with travel services and resorts. Avoid holidays, and weekends since you can expect a rush and no vacancy in accommodations and without a permit, the tour is doomed. 

Book your tours through Book My Safari Company based in Mumbai in India.  The URL is https://book-my-safari.com/. Discover amazing wilderness in the country on a holiday safari.

 

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Uday Writes about tigers and safaris having worked as a naturalist for a number of years. He loves to write about Indian Wildlife. Uday provides content, SEO and digital marketing services as well. 

He can be contacted by emails

pateluday90@hotmail.com 

WhatsApp

  09755089323

Tiger Activity Videos filmed at Bandhavgarh National Park in Central India

 Bandhavgarh National Park 

The land of the tiger Bandhavgarh encompasses ancient history in a charismatic terrain that captivates visitors who come here for tiger safari and animal watching. The tiger reserve and National Park is also one of the best bird-watching destinations in Central India. There are more than two hundred fifty species of avian which includes the winter migrants. 

Famous for its big cats the destination is home to a number of tigers, leopards, sloth bears, wild dogs, bison, and deer besides small carnivores like the jackal and the fox. The park is home to a number of antelope, like the Indian gazelle, Nilgai, and four-horned antelope. 

Due to the presence of a large number of tigers, it is an ideal holiday destination as well as a place for filming and photographing the big cats.  

Videos of tigers can be made during the daytime to capture them indulging in various activities. They can be filmed sleeping, walking, hunting, eating, drinking, and simply relaxing.  Videos below showcase their active life as mentioned above.   

Bandhavgarh is situated in the remote district of Central India or the State of Madhya Pradesh. It is open during dry and winter seasons from 1st October to the end of June.  You can reach by flying to Jabalpur Airport in Madhya Pradesh from where a drive of four hours to Tala in Umaria District is required. Jabalpur Airport is connected to New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, and many other towns. It is connected by rail as well and has a vast network of highway connectivity. 

For a safari in the park, a permit is required which can be obtained online at MPOnline Portal. The park is divided into three zones namely:

• Tala
• Khitauli
• Magdi '

You can choose them alternatively for morning and evening rides.  You must book in advance since during the rush bookings in the core zones might not be available. You will then have to book excursions in the buffer which is not very productive. The safari is conducted on an open jeep and canter and private vehicles cannot enter the park. 

The permit is booked for a charge and the passengers on the jeep have to be notified during the booking online. The fee has to be paid online during the booking while the jeep hire and guide charges are paid at the entry gates.  

Accommodations pertaining to various categories are available at Tala Village and in the neighborhood. You should book accommodation in advance in case there is a rush. A jeep for the safari can be booked at the gate. Those interested in hiring a naturalist should request the lodge. Most of the lodges provide the services of in-house naturalists.

Chambal River Boat Tours 

Perspective on Kipling

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Uday Freelances as Naturalist in Central India. He is an avid birder and tiger enthusiast. He blogs on tigers, wildlife, and birds. He also writes on the environment and conservation.

Uday also provides SEO Services and Website Content in English. He teaches Digital Marketing in Jabalpur in Summer Holidays.
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Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
09755089323 

Huge Dominant Male Tiger on Live Safari

On the crossroad much before the camp, we spotted some suspicious activity among the bison. Alert and quiet they carried an inspecting look towards the direction we had come from. The snort gives the game away in case the bison or gaur as the animal is called in Hindi. The huge male began to snort fervently and we stopped completely. 

Before I could utter Tiger! The predator came into the view. Huge as it was T 67 or Dhamangaon was making his presence in this zone in Kanha. Our guide upon spotting the tiger heading towards the camp knew the movement well and we moved forward a short distance and waited. As the guide had predicted the tiger came down from the elevated ground unto the road some distance before us. 

Then the chase began actually as soon as the tiger landed on the jungle road he became busy marking the nearby trees pacing right in front oblivious of our presence. This continued for at least 15 to 20 minutes and I could film the huge beast in our pursuit literarily speaking. Even though the big cats act oblivious of the safari jeep's presence they are quite alert and keep gauging the distance we were at.  

Anyway, who would dare to come to a halt as the dominant tiger continued to walk on the road marking his territory here and there on the trees and the bush? Eventually, another jeep arrived before the camp and they could see the huge tiger walking behind us but not for long as the best entered a nearby bush not to come out again.  

I was using the camera for the first time and was in movie mode. I could capture the safari live but with a lot of shakes since trepidation had set in a long time before. To this date, I have not edited the video in order to keep the live tiger safari alive in my memory bank.  

We encountered T 67 many times as he was the dominant tiger of the zone in Kanha National Park. Once again we experienced a live tiger safari but in another area. By this time he was stressed out by the presence of another rival Sangam Tiger. Nevertheless, he was as aggressive and confident as ever.  

Tracking tigers is a tough but interesting job and a naturalist should remain confident in case of failure. The big cats of Kanha National park though acclimatized to humans are by all means as wild and as shy as anywhere. We keep silent and always maintain a distance in order to make the animal feel safe.  

The tigers are not maneaters by instinct but can charge when feeling threatened. And you better not experience the charge. Maintain a distance and be safe. 

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Uday Freelances as Naturalist in Central India. He is an avid birder and tiger enthusiast. He blogs on tigers, wildlife and birds. He also writes on the environment and conservation.

Uday also provides SEO Services and Website Content in English. He teaches Digital Marketing in Jabalpur during Summer Holidays.
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Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
09755089323 

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Choosing Right Tiger Reserve and Safari Zone

It is a major decision and would make or break your safari holiday in India. Choosing a tiger reserve is not easy if you are not familiar with the wildlife landscape of the country. There are a large number of reserves and National Parks which are popular for their tourism infrastructure as well as offer good sightings of megafauna and birds. 

Bandhavgarh National Park 

Diverse wildlife means conserving an indicator species in this country since that's what is accorded priority after a ravage of a few centuries. Lot many ecosystems were destroyed and lot many species became endangered and few become extinct. Nevertheless, there are efforts to conserve the dwindling nature and preserve the species facing extinction. This is why there is a great effort to save the tiger, Asiatic Lion, and the Rhino to name a few. 

Likewise, the tiger reserves are under the aegis of Project Tiger a conservation program that is at the forefront of saving the species.  But this is not enough since money has to be generated for the purpose and thus twenty percent area of core or critical tiger habitat is reserved for tourism. Of late even the outer ring of the PAs or the buffer zone has been facilitating tourism of safari.      

Tiger

Tourism generates revenue for conservation but then it can generate a lot of human nuisance as well. Thus to prevent this a set of rules has been framed by the State Forest Departments to regulate this activity. The most crucial step has been to limit the movement of vehicles in the parks. This prevents the clustering of the vehicles at one spot and also limits disturbance to the animals. This is facilitated by issuing permits for safari. Each tiger reserve limits vehicles as per the area and capacity and only those with a permit are allowed to explore the core in an open jeep or canter. Hence in order to enjoy a safari holiday in the parks, you have to secure a permit or permits for safari and this can be done online.       

For a successful safari targeting the big cat, one needs to study the matter a bit. If you are connected with the landscape through hoteliers, tour operators, or naturalists you will get a fair idea about choosing the right reserve as per your travel plan. You can get a fair idea from social media connections on Indian Wildlife and there is no shortage of groups or online communities for this. After having chosen the right reserve the next question that arises is choosing the right zone or zones for productivity. This has to be done because you are restricted to a particular zone for each safari or game ride. For this too you need to resort to the mechanism mentioned in this blog post.         

Some of the popular tiger reserves in India are mentioned below: 

• Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
• Kanha Tiger Reserve 
• Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
• Pench Tiger Reserve 
• Tadoba Tiger Reserve
• Corbett Tiger Reserve
• Periyar Tiger Reserve 
• Panna Tiger Reserve 

These are the reserve known for high tiger sightings and hence the target of tourists. If you are on an extended stay in the park then choose zones in consultation with the people mentioned above. Thus you can book tiger safari yourself online at State Portals. The best option is to choose a reliable tour operator and book the package it is offering to big cats in India. Booking permits in advance is a wise option for by the time you reach the gate to procure one the limit could have been exhausted.  

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Uday Freelances as Naturalist in Central India. He is an avid birder and tiger enthusiast. He blogs on tigers, wildlife and birds. He also writes on the environment and conservation.

Uday also provides SEO Services and Website Contents in English. He teaches Digital Marketing in Jabalpur in Summer Holidays.
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Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
09755089323 

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A Memorable Trip to Bandhavgarh

It was generosity of erstwhile Maharani of Rewa that we discovered Bandhavgarh. Our guests were slated to stay at Kanha Rest House but the booking was abruptly canceled. Maharani Sahiba was a visitor to our old house and she obliged by offering the keys to her Kothi at Bandhavgarh.  

Jeep Ride at Bandhavgarh

The discovery was amazing for the reserve as we discovered was home to tigers and some were often seen. 

Tiger at Bandhavgarh

We would visit the park many times a year one group or other. The desolate forest rest house was our shelter before White Tiger Lodge of MPTDC  was established. With hardly any tourists we had fun time and could well relate with the staff of the National Park. 

On Elephant Back

Machaan

Getting reservation was easy and all we had to do was to drive to Umaria on the way and contact the Field Directors Office for reservation which was happily granted. Then in the nineties popularity of the park became overwhelming and tourism flooded. Then all visits were formal but we continued our forays in the wild and still do. 

Machaan

Now I freelance as Naturalist and Birder with visits to tiger reserves being very frequent. The earlier visits that laid a foundation for my career today. The initiation was begun by my father's Bidi manufacturing business and we would look forward to tendu patta collection in the forest during the summers. 

Forest Rest House Bandhavgarh

In the seventies the destinations Bandhavgarh and Kanha were less developed and one had to carry rations and other belongings with us. Ha! It was truly wild then.   

Tiger sightings took place on elephant back and rarely on open jeeps. It was all economy in those days with few rupees as entrance fee and a room for Rs.60 at White Tiger Lodge. We could learn a lot from the mahouts and guides and occasional visiting photographers and were introduced to birds and animals in the parks. My cousins could photograph using simple cameras. 

Howdah

What more can be desired for our memory bank. Travels in older times!

Tiger Tourism: The ADD ON Racket - Online Booking

Ever since the Government or rather the NTCA capped entry into the tiger reserves in India its impact on the tourism industry has been disastrous. The unplanned expansion of accommodations in the tiger reserve precedes the implementation of the cap. Almost all tiger reserves overflow with a number of lodges and many of them are on the verge of closure.  

With the rise in tourism post-nineties, a mad rush to set up lodges in the outer confines took place. The cap came much later whence a PIL was filed in the SC calling for the ban on tiger tourism. The ban was supposed to be in totality hence perpetually placing the big cat out of the eye of the public. 

The ban if implemented would have had a disastrous impact on our tourism industry. Already under pressure, the tourism industry cannot bear the impact of such bans on prime indicator species and destinations. This is not all, after flourishing for decades the ban would have thrown a large number of the populace out of work. The local industry would have been the sufferer as well - directly or indirectly. 

Thankfully wiser counsel has prevailed and we are able to see the tiger in daylight. Nevertheless, as an enhanced conservation measure a cap was placed on the entry of vehicles into the park.     

The cap meant limited demand for accommodation and it also meant limited permits that would have assured the arrival of tourists. Without permits no tourist would book accommodation...that is obvious. 

Destinations that do not have alternative recreational places or opportunities are the worst hit. At these places the only way to run and profit from the lodges is to ensure tiger safari in the park for the guests. An unlimited alternative lies in the buffer but the buffer zones are habituated and do not yield any fruitful sightings, hence the tourist does wish to partake in a buffer safari.

The tiger safari bookings in Madhya Pradesh are carried out at the MP Online Site as well as at the current windows in the reserves. Both are subject to availability albeit there is no hue and cry about the availability and management of the tickets at the current windows the online booking system is like a storm in the eye.  

It is at the online booking portal where most of the anomaly exists. Taking advantage of the add-on system where you can add tourists forty-eight hours before the entry many lodges are into proxy bookings in name of their employees. This assures that whence tourists make a booking the add-on procedure is utilized and the tourists are added to the safari. Another charge that is being promulgated is that a hefty sum is charged from the tourists. This practice is being put in place by lodges that can afford to bear the cancellation charges. Obviously, these could be lodges with a hefty tariff.   

There was simmering contempt regarding this practice for a long time but no one paid heed. Now since a complaint has been filed with the authorities attention has been drawn toward the lacunae. 

How the authorities foolproof this system of ADD On or strike it out completely has to be seen. A lot of booking for the coming months have already been cornered and will be used to Add on future bookings.  

Pensive Tiger By Teerath Singh 

Wild Odyssey in India

Kanha National Park

Guests at Courtyard House

Mark & Karin Anger ; France
Denise Anfrui : France 

The drive was high in expectation a wild odyssey was in making as we boarded the taxi at Jabalpur Station and drove towards Kanha National Park. The enthusiasm of the visitors was palpable from their looks and they expected me to deliver which I did.

The guests were expecting to see some Central Indian wildlife after a visit to Gir National Park in Gujarat to see the Asiatic Lion.  

The next part of the journey was a few days at Bera the popular leopard habitat in Rajasthan in Western India. 

The Kanha trip was a great success with excellent tiger sightings, bird watching, and other enchanting mammals. 

Here are some of the images sent by Denise Anfrui.  

https://adobe.ly/2EiiKn4  

Tiger Safari Videos - India

Tiger safari video - Tigress at Link 8 Kanha National Park

Massive Male Tiger at Waterhole - Kanha National Park - Kisli Zone

 Legendary Munna Male Tiger at Kanha National Park in India

Early Morning Encounter Tigeress at Kanha National Park

Searching For Tigers

My First Tiger Sighting

With trepidation, my heart thumping madly I got on to the howdah tied on the back of the elephant. The contraption made of thin steel rods and a wooden plank was nowhere near to the assurance I needed on my first jungle adventure.   

I was at Kanha National Park sometime back in the early seventies. We were on the way to see a tiger. The ride on the pachyderm was anything but comfortable as it trudged past bushes and grass in the rugged terrain. I had a tough time tackling bamboo clumps that brushed past us like sharp-edged swords. The elephant, huge as they come was in intense conversation with the mahout oblivious of us on its torturous back. 

Tigress - Uday Patel

As a young lad, I had been introduced to forests quite early. My family was in bidi business and every year there was a visit to Central Indian Jungles in order to purchase tendu leaves.   

This was my first ride on an elephant and quite an unnerving experience it was. The mahuat pointed out to a big cat painted yellow black and white sitting beside a shallow water body in bright sunlight.   “Tigress,” he called out and then went silent. I could feel the fear rising higher within me. The cat sat listlessly and did not even bother to look at us. 

So this was the much-touted tiger, the King of the jungle. A terrible roar and a charge were what I was expecting from a huge animal. They did not arrive. Mankiller, bloodthirsty, ferocious all deadly notions started to flood my mind. But the nonchalance and the ease with which the tigress sat amidst the humans grouped around her changed by views. She was at peace with herself and her surroundings. This set to ease trepidation within me and my notions about this magnificent predator changed dramatically. Over the years I came to understand the tiger as part of an ecosystem that was connected to the environment upon which we all depend. That day I had become a tiger lover.   

My brother clicked from his simple black and white camera. The photo was a proud possession and it decorated the walls for a number of years.          

Big Brute Dabang on Full Charge

Courtyard House Kanha

Guests: Suresh Sinhji Patdi Darbar & Friends 

"One of our guests has not seen a tiger ever in his life," said Abhijeet Munshaw a wildlife enthusiast and photographer. This was our first conversation as soon as the check-in formalities had been done.  

"Well hope for the best," I said confidently. "Tigers being elusive is hard to come by."

Our first two safaris were good but no tigers. Then while traversing through Kisli Zone we decided to head straight for Karai Ghati. A day before, a tiger was seen on this road and heard roaring incessantly.     

Searching for tigers is at times frustrating. We went right up to the junction which leads to Sarhi Zone. Nothing. Well, there were pug marks of another male but they usually do not result in sighting often. We waited for the animal to emerge. But after some time we decided to move ahead and look for the tiger seen yesterday. The distance was not much and we could quickly bounce back if needed. There was no tiger there hence we moved on to score other areas. 

There is a female with cubs often seen near the Kisli Tank on the way to Karai Ghati. She deserted the water body whence one of the cubs was killed by a vagrant male. 

"Let's look for the tigress," I told the guide."She may have returned." There were many jeeps waiting with the same objective. We waited for some time, then I said to the guide. "Let's visit the place where the big male was seen yesterday rather than wait here." The guide was thinking the same hence we drove on. It was about a ten-minute ride straight on.        

The tiger was lying in shade covering almost three fourth of the jungle road. "Massive." I stopped as soon as the beast looked at us. There was a deafening silence as the beats thundered. "Keep at a safe distance," I told the driver.

"This is Dabang."    

The last time I had encountered this beast on the kill and he was very aggressive almost threatening to charge. Even the distance of twenty meters seemed uncomfortable. The guests were busy with their cameras while we were having a nervous look at the tiger. 

There was another jeep ahead much ahead. We were wondering if they were aware of the predator. Well, you remain silent on such occasions. 

The tiger kept looking at us, occasionally turning to look at the other jeep. He was not very comfortable but then lay quiet without any show of aggression. Well did he? 

In one instant the beast arose from his slumber and took a step towards us or rather charged. Frightening...is all I can say. We were at a safe distance but it seemed that he would be on the jeep in seconds. He did not, for he veered to right after a massive roar and vanished into the thickets.        

The tiger sighting was over and we turned back to look for the tigress. She was not there hence we moved on. The beautiful Kanha landscape enchants me every time and it did that to the guests as well.  

"Let's visit the male tiger again," the guest requested the guide. Well, that would have meant going in for the tigress as well hence we proceeded.  

"Turn back," the guide of the approaching jeep requested us fervently. "He is charging too often." Then another jeep approached us with the same request.  

"We should not agitate the big cat further," I explained to the guests. "He is not used to the jeeps, hence he gets aggressive and charges."      

The charge is not at all a pleasant experience. In fact, it could be nerve-wracking. 

We turned back. 

Searching for Tigers

His huge bulk (250 kg+) passed by our jeep turning our continence into shades of blue and black. The imposing bulk aided with dagger-sharp canines and claws that could rip open the mightiest on Earth all equipment for efficient hunting.  I could see all this as the animal literally glided noiselessly on the forest floor, past us on its digits and thickly padded paws. You can only hear the animal move whence its body brushes the twigs and leaves. 

Of course, he was aware of us but did not care to look and ambled past without shaking a whisker. I shuddered to think what would have happened if he had a streak of violence in him. We were no match for the big beast, neither in speed and agility nor in brute strength that the tiger was equipped with. 

He passed us by non nonchalantly without a glance and moved deep into the dense canopy sliding gently through the bushes without much ado. As we saw his contours slide through the dense foliage we heaved a sigh of relief.   

We were searching for tigers for the last two days without success. My guests from the UK came with the impression that the big cats were everywhere waiting to greet them. Their enthusiasm was childlike with hundred clicks waiting for them to create tons of memorable moments to cherish for life.  

"Do you still feel the excitement upon coming across the charismatic beast," she had asked me during the dinner. 

"After so many failed searches and hard work, my excitement upon sighting the majestic beast is as palpable as yours. Tigers are hard to come by in the jungles though their presence can never be undermined." I informed them.    

"Sighting tigers is a chance and also as a result of our tracing abilities." The conversation ended as the time to pop onto the bed arrived.   

That was Munna the loved one, a tiger who has carved his name in the history of Kanha National Park. As a dominant tiger he commands a huge area that encompasses three zones. He is the most visible of the big cats but nevertheless, he springs a surprise by being unseen for weeks.      

In spite of their bulk, these animals can hide easily in their sylvan surroundings. Through thousands of years of adaptation and evolving constantly they have mastered the art of camouflage. The changing hues of yellow-orange fur, shapely body contours, and limited height all contribute to the ability to stay still for a long time.     

Sharp eyes and ears besides incredible patience are recipes for success whence searching for tigers.  Understanding the behavior codes leads to making you good at the job. 

Our tiger reserves need to be experienced in a holistic manner by observing all the salient features. Nevertheless, the desire to see the tiger is understood. The parks are rich in biodiversity, birdlife, and other life forms that accord great thrills while on a wildlife safari. 

Photo Credit: Dharmagiri Pench

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Uday Freelances as Naturalist in Central India. He is an avid birder and tiger enthusiast. He blogs on tigers, wildlife and birds. He also writes on the environment and conservation.

Uday also provides SEO Services and Website Contents in English. He teaches Digital Marketing in Jabalpur in Summer Holidays.
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Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
09755089323 

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Sleepy Tigress and Low Speed Elephant Ride

Sat Tal - Uttrakhand

Nainital District - India

Jungle life is always exciting but it has many facets. Recently on a visit to Sattal and Corbett with guests from Auckland I had an amazing experience of wilderness in the foothills of the Himalayas.   

Sat Tal or Sattal is a geological formation of seven freshwater lakes that are incredibly clean. The periphery of the lakes and adjacent areas are much preferred for searching the avian wonders that abound. Situated at a height of 1400 MSL the township in Uttarakhand is more of a holiday resort. Hence the majority of the visitors arrive here for fun and frolic in the cool confines of the Himalayan foothills. 

The destination is also visited by birders like us. Albeit the construction is rampant resulting in damage to many natural places there are still hot spots for birding present. Sattal is home to many species along with altitude migrants that arrive here depending upon the cold in the upper reaches of the mountains.    

Himalayas

Chir Pheasant

Gharial

Grey Faced Woodpecker

Koklass Pheasant

Wild Elephants

Wedge-Tailed Green Pigeon

Green Munia

Photo Credit: Hari Lamba 

On a good day, one can see many species of bulbuls, woodpeckers, barbets, shrikes, thrushes, warblers, laughing thrushes, sunbirds, drongos, flycatchers, forktails, dipper, pheasants, passerines, raptors.   

In the cold climes, the hands and feet become numb and it challenges your sensory apparatus.  But the amazing bird-watching experience puts paid to the cold. 

After a fabulous bird tour we descended to Corbett Tiger Reserve. The safaris were arranged by our host a guide who owns a small guest house called Sparrow's Nest.   

Our first tiger safari took place in Bijarani Zone. This is a densely forested zone with long stretches of rivers and grasslands that are home to many wild animals.  It was in this area that we managed to locate a tigress that had crossed over from the mountain to the river bed and eventually lay down to rest in the grass. It was after some time that we realized that the big cat was quite near to us. With a lot of effort, we could have a glimpse of it lying down asleep

Tigress by Teerath Singh

. But before we left the tigress came out in the open and then quietly melted away in the dense grasses.

The next day our game ride was in Jhirna a picturesque zone with a lot of tiger activity. Here we were able to see elephants, notably a mother with a calf crossing the road. The rest of the trip was spent on searching for the tiger without any results.   

The evening was slated for a search for the forktail at Kumeria and then a ride on an elephant back. We saw a spotted forktail as well as many birds like long-billed thrush, brown dipper, redstarts, and yellow-bellied fantail.

The birding over we left for Ramnagar and on to the pachyderms back. The ride was anything but exciting as we crossed over the Kosi River and unto the forests on the banks. For my guest, this was his first ride on the elephant back. Not too pleasing an experience as the pace was slow and there were no signs of the tiger. However hard the mahout tried but the elephant was in no mood to budge at a greater pace.  

After an hour's ride, we departed for the guest house where we spent the night. The next day we left for New Delhi.