Posted by
DEEPJYOTI
on
November 25, 2011
Where it all begun
My trip to jaldapara wildlife sanctuary was debut in forest and wildlife tours. And it was certainly the one I would remember for years to come. We took the best way possible to reach JWS through train. We went to NEW JALPAIGURU from where we took the train
to MADARIHAT, a small village that serves as the gateway to JWS. One can even opt for other routes as their are various via roads and rails.
By noon we reached MADARIHAT and a car picked us up and went to HOLLONG FOREST LODGE inside the JWS core forest area. The tourist lodge is rarely available and it is to be booked atleast a 120 days before to reserve it. But people can opt for other hotels also
that is present in MADARIHAT.
After a delicios lunch we got ready for our evening forest safari in a jeep.
Our first destination was HARINDANGA WATCH TOWER. From the watch tower there is a beautiful view of the spanning forest. But to our luck we couldn't spot any animals from there. Disappointed we left and continued out ride to JALDAPARA WATCH TOWER.
En route to their quiet a lot peacocks and peahens can be sighted moving around along the road. Keeping our eyes open we moved on and got our rewards when we spotted a herd of GAUR. Indian wild buffaloes , bigger in size to their african counter part. The gaurs
are mainly black in color with milky white coverings from their knees to hoof and their big horns. Looked like they were wearing caps and sock. Moving in herd it was quiet a bit far from our jeep still we managed a good glimpse.
Finally we arrived at jaldapara watch tower from which a good view of barking deer nibbling in the field could be seen. Timid and shy creature it is and any movement made by us alerted it as a result always kept a safe distance from the watch tower.
Finally it was dark a bit at dusk and we started off for HOLLONG. Our final resting place for the night. A stay at hollong for the night is as good as the safari as the natives of the forest come together in the front view of the lodge deep at night. Salt pits
are put to feed the animals which are in requirement for animals to in take minerals. These attract the animals at the night and they are visible from the windows of the room. A great night to be experienced.
At dawn try to avail the first of the elephant trips to get more chances of viewing the animals. We did so and got lucky. KUNKI meaning female tamed elephants take four at once to visit inside the green. It is a ride to remember cause it gets you up-close
and personal with the forest. The tension and excitement is captured best on the ride.
The ride takes you to true core forest area where sometimes the light does not enter. The leafs of the plants and its other parts often touch you and feels like serpent crawling on you. After a while we reached the grassland where mother nature revealed its
secret and we were blessed to see the ONE HORNED RHINOCEROS native to INDIA. Elephants get you as close as 10 yards to them as rhinos are generally well behaved animals provided you don't agitate them.
An average of 2 - 3 rhinos are visible to every tourist, far less than KAZIRANGA in ASSAM though. It is due to the total size of JWS is one-eighth of the kaziranga. Moving ahead with our trip we caught a glance of SAMBAR, big and strong hervivores. Presence
of those animal proved that bengal tiger is also available but rarest to be spotted.
We were content to find the diverse variety of flora and fauna and my jungle experience was really great. I promised I shall return in the green soon. And most luckily mother nature rewarded us with the icing on the cake. From a 50 yards out we could spot a
animal which is so popular to us, the most successful of all killer cats. THE INDIAN LEOPARD. Resting and tanning its skin in the morning sun it rested on the ground.
And after sometimes it started having its breakfast from a kill it had last night. That was the probability, as said by our mahut. But we continued to click pictures of it from a good distance as time came to halt. It was a lifetime view.
After the wonderful , once in a light year jungle ride we were back at our HOLLONG and at noon we bid adieu to the JWS catching train back to NJP via madarihat.
I enjoyed being in mother nature's lap and now i frequently visit. You should too. It wont dishearten you if you keep faith in her. Run to her as soon as possible. :)
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Posted by
BABIT GURUNG
on
August 21, 2011
Everyone is known to the destructive change the world is acquiring, "Global warming" a hot topic, so hot that hardly someone cares about it. Different protocols, associations, organisations are formed on daily basis to stop the environmental hazardous change,
But if taken as a true perspective, it seldom works or is working, cause the world requires individual responsibility with their own respective roles, be it directly or indirectly. The question now arises that " How responsible I am in saving the true existence
of nature? ". Well the motivation mercury may rise and pump to burst the narrow glassy walls around you. But in today's world of globalization and high technology you may not enjoy the liberty beneath you to leave the revolving chair, the artificial cool air
you breathe, the maple wood flooring, new luxurious car and profitable projects and ventures to lie down on the soft grass under the open blue sky and inhaling the cascaded breeze of wild blossoms.
Now you run along with the pages of calender on your table and schedule the dates for a leave. The leaves are approved and you plan for the nearest hill station, sea beach or an exotic place to refresh your life. When you reach the same spot, you had visited
during your honeymoon period, you and your spouse are shocked!. The beautiful road has lost its memorable glimpse through the window pane of your car. Shops and malls with their praiseworthy architecture has replaced the lusciousness of flowery sprinkle on
the green carpet of grass. The friendly bows and greetings of natives have changed to commercial hypocritical salute from an urbanized face. Perished are the sun- tanned and wrinkled faces of the people who accompanied the place and its beauty. You complain,
reveal your disappointment, spend your budget and return unsatisfied and again join your world sweeping the beautiful memories of the place. Now you make a decision to visit a new spot or place on your next vacation as if the world will never end.
As I said world needs individual responsibility towards it as it has provided us with individual space to live.
So what is our responsibility as a traveler or how our impalpable effort can bring a slight change for the betterment of ecological balance. How to become a Eco-Traveler
or Eco-Tourist? Unknowingly a little change on the travelling tips may become a huge contribution to save the nature. If not for the full year, lets volunteer just for few days during the vacation as a traveler in saving the environment of a foreign
place. The place which heals the wounds and stress of whole years tiresome routine work and pressure. So enjoy the beauty of nature along with letting the beauty exist....forever for you.
Here are the simple voluntarily actions or decisions which certainly will count your role in the aid for saving nature.
1. Make your tour plans concentrating on a single destination for as many days you have planned for exploring.
"Rolling stone seldom gather moss", Don't be a rolling stone or a window watcher, enjoying the beauty of a place from the window of your car, Changing destination spots frequently. Many people travel like watching a movie completing the whole life story
in two hours, they want to visit as many spots as possible in their short leave period, its like sitting in a jet plane and completing the tour of whole world in less time. A place always has more to learn and enjoy than just reaching there. Enjoy the culture,
tradition, superstitious beliefs, regional food, local unexplored spots, domestic and wild animals, agricultural products, regional religious places, the history and many more. You can always take the help of the local people regarding this, every person in
this world likes to show the best part of his or her own place because every one loves his or her own birthplace.
2. Select a hotel, resort, camp or any place for lodging mostly owned or serviced by the local inhabitant of the place.
A true traveler or a nature lover doesn't seek for luxury as these are the things which the traveler leaves behind for a break, for a change, physically and mentally. Where is the change if the kind of food, hospitality, language, faces, roofs and floors, walls
and gardens, furniture and accessories are all the same you have left behind. Experience the difference in every thing in your surroundings which can only be felt in a local inhabitant's shelter.
3. Respect the natural beauty, religion, cleanliness and even the superstitious belief of the place.
Every traveler has a thirst for new experience of a new world. Its like amalgamation of different colors of nature. Your contribution towards the ecological balance requires a feeling of relation with that particular place. In order to create this feeling you
need to feel like it's your own birthplace, you follow the same religion, drink the same water, and believe what the region believes, I remember a place where landslides were frequent and it was a reign of terror for the locals, so they decided to construct
a temple right on the spot where landslide took place. As a matter of fact the landslides stopped, well, precisely not due to the temple but the surrounding trees, herbs and shrubs which were now saved and planted more as people considered that place a chastened
place and stopped cutting trees for firewood which now was an unforgivable sin for them. So don't be an alien trying to conquer the place in stead of enjoying the place and build a bond of love with the place, then you'll realize it's not just a tourist-spot
but a whole world for you.
4. Be a Guest not a buyer.
Imagine a customer at your business outlet who wants to buy everything you have displayed including your furnitures and show pieces as well, as those are also placed at the outlet. It's the same being a traveler, you don't buy the services and expect it to
be worthed exactly what you paid. You cant buy true hospitality and respect. Don't be materialistic,instead be emotional, remember you're not a patient who has come to be cured physically, you have come to refresh every junk in your mind and memory to feel
lively again.
5. Avoid buying the products which is polluting the environment of that place from the local shop.
It may sound crazy but let me describe in details. People have built some eating and drinking habits which are urbanized, like plastic packed edibles and drinks. Ever thought deeply! why a place gets exploited if it turns into a hub for tourists? Well, because
people carry their habits with them. They search for the same item which is found in their own place. As a result of this addiction local people of rural areas realize it and start selling these goods in their own shops and outlets only because tourists demand
it. Whereas the local people hardly consume or buy these goods. So most of the pollution is caused by these empty cans and packets, and because of lack of proper sub-ordination system, which may be strict in urban areas, the garbage starts growing making
the place dirty and polluted. But if no tourists buy these products from local shop then they won't import it because of lack of demand and thus the place remains clean as it is forever.
"Fluffy tit"
BUTTERFLY
"Things don't change, we change our way of looking things, that's all"
About Me
Blog- samsingchauthary.blogspot.com
contact: 9475332231, 7384083137
email: chauthary@gmail.com
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Posted by
Uday
on
March 05, 2011
The French Birder was very sure when he remarked "Sal forest are not good for birding!". They (Pure Sal Forests) are not good for tigers and wildlife safaris as well. But then Kanha Tiger reserve is an amazing diversity. Varied ecosystems abound and the
habitats are well preserved.
In birding tours to new places a proper guide is always required. For one should know where to go bird watching. If you know the tiger reserves well then you know the bird habitats as well. So instead spending time in pure Sal belts one can explore other habitats.
The tiger reserves in Central India are finest birding destinations that have been over shadowed by tiger safaris. MY recent trip with a British client was highly succesful. We could sight much more tan hundred bird species in three days with lot of time spent
on tiger chase as well.
Visit my birding blog for
birds of Kanha....
Pallas Fish Eagle, Grey Headed Fish Eagle, Grey Bushchat and Ultramarine Flycatcher found in North India visit Kanha National Park in winters. Along with Osprey they are a rare sight. There may be more in store.
Making a bird trip in Madhya Pradesh tiger reserve is a good decision. The tiger reserve are excellent for forest
birds. Wetlands in MP are scattered and none equal Bharatpur. Nevertheless wetland species here can surprise many keen bird watchers.
Birding in Central India if properly organized has a larger scope than imagined. Kanha, Pench, Bandhavgarh, Satpura, Bori, Noradehi, Pachmarhi abound in forest birds and their wintering cousins. Have a go....
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