I entered Bandhavgarh with a heavy heart as the Jhurjhura female death had shocked wildlife lovers across the globe. Had always admired her photographs and the beautiful moments that my fellow photographers spent with this majestic queen and her cubs were flashing in front of me as I was passing through the buffer zone of the reserve. The last thing I wanted was a phone call that disturbed my thought process. 2 things you can’t ignore in life – wilderness calling and wife calling! [continue reading…]
Tagged as:
B2,
Bandhavgarh,
Bhanbhai,
Jhurjura,
leopard,
Madhya Pradesh,
Tiger,
Tigress
Off to Ranthambhore National Park for some tiger spotting? Get ready for the world’s strangest system to book a safari.
On the face of it, it is all very simple. You can book online, get an instant confirmation and be done. Or you can go to the booking office an hour before a safari starts, and buy a seat in the current booking. Only there is more to it. Read carefully so you can maximize your chances of getting on to a safari – and spot a tiger. [continue reading…]
I drove from Delhi to Ranthambhore National Park in May 2010, and took different routes going and coming back. Here goes: [continue reading…]
“Bandhavgarh won’t disappoint you Sahib. But you need to show me a tiger in Corbett in return” said my guide cum driver Narayan (aka Angu) as I was getting ready for my first safari in a forest outside the cozy comforts of Corbett for the first time in 3 years. My last non-Corbett forest expedition was Kanha in 2006. I went to Bandhavgarh with extremely high expectations as my good friends and fellow photographers always spoke highly about the forest. Facts like the Tala zone of Bandhavgarh has the highest density of tigers in one particular forest zone were always fascinating but made me wonder if Bandhavgarh without the acclaimed tiger shows of the forests of Madhya Pradesh would live up to expectations from a sighting perspective. [continue reading…]
Tagged as:
Bamera Male,
Bandhavgarh,
Cheetal,
Corbett,
Indian Roller,
Kanha,
leopard,
Madhya Pradesh,
Malabar Pied Hornbill,
Tigers,
wildlife
Topslip is located in the Anaimalai Forest Range bordering Tamilnadu and Kerala. The erstwhile Anaimalai Wildlife Santucary is now known as IGWS – Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary. A Forest Preserve, this range houses a variety of wildlife and birdlife. Wild elephant and bison sightings are quite common. Quoting from an article in The Hindu, “The IGWS and National Park harbours over 250 species of birds of 49 families and is enormously rich in other biodiversity. According to the latest reports India is home to nearly 1,300 bird species in the diverse habitats.” The neighboring Parambikulam Sanctuary is to the West of Topslip in Kerala.
[continue reading…]
Tagged as:
Anaimalais,
Elephant,
forest,
Safari,
TopSlip,
wildlife
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxn1tZi_G7c[/youtube]
Shot in the heart of Corbett National Park, Wild Saga of Corbett is the only comprehensive travel guide on Corbett National Park. Loaded with safari tips, the film also showcases how we as tourists can help in the conservation efforts of the park authorities.
So in case you are planning a visit to Corbett and wondering what is the kind of preparation you need to do for your trip, grab a copy of this DVD by contacting the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) – India’s leading non -government organisation (NGO) or just call Nature Wanderers at +91 9871367945.
(Visit us at www.naturewanderers.com / www.flickr.com/photos/shivangmehta)
Tagged as:
Corbett,
Elephants,
Himalayas,
Tigers,
uttarakhand,
wildlife
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNmSMFyoPN0[/youtube]
Photographs by Kahini Ghosh Mehta & Shivang Mehta – wildlife photographers who run a camp in Corbett National Park and Rishikesh. Contact them at www.naturewanderers.com
Tagged as:
"Shivang Mehta",
Corbett,
Himalayas,
india,
Kahin Ghosh Mehta,
Ladakh,
Leh,
naturalists,
Nature Wanderers,
naturewanderers,
photography,
Videos,
Wild,
Wilderness
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF9dQRB3-OA[/youtube]
Contributed by Shivang Mehta and Kahini Ghosh Mehta. They are wildlife photographers and film makers and also run a camp in Corbett National Park in Uttrakhand, India. Learn more about them by visiting www.naturewanderers.com
Tagged as:
Corbett,
Forests
By Shivang Mehta and Kahini Ghosh Mehta
Deep inside the heavily wooded forest of Corbett National Park rests a Machaan that gives shelter to hundreds of photographers, naturalists and tourists visiting Corbett every year. Approximately 30 feet in height, this old machaan gives a panoramic view of the picturesque Dhikala grasslands and the Ramganga river that supports a multitude of life forms in Corbett National Park. “The forest is always buzzing with activity,” I realized this when I spent my 3 hours on this watchtower for the first time in early 2003. Since then the watchtower has been my popular hotspot and has played an instrumental role in helping me witness some of my most memorable wild moments in Corbett National Park. [continue reading…]
Tagged as:
"Shivang Mehta",
birding,
Corbett,
forest,
india,
Kahini Ghosh Mehta,
Kumaon,
naturewanderers,
Tiger,
Wild,
Wilderness,
wildlife
Tusker Taking A Mud Bath in Corbett
Many a times, people wonder and debate on the most feared animal in the forests of India. We have been asked this question on multiple occasions and the answer is difficult because when in the mild in addition to the big predators there are zillions of life threatening living bodies that one should fear. A lot of people believe that a confrontation with a big cat like a tiger or a leopard can be a nerve-chilling experience. That’s definitely true to a certain extent but the king of the Indian forests – the tiger – is not a wanton killer. It attacks in its defense only when it is provoked and in a lot of cases we have seen that a tiger can be the most harmless predator and gives a damn about your presence. When given his space, he can offer you some of the most wonderful moments of your life giving you the opportunity to get upclose with him and witness his glory. [continue reading…]
Tagged as:
"Shivang Mehta",
Corbett NP,
Elephant,
india,
Kahini Ghosh Mehta,
nature,
Nature Wanderers,
Safari,
Tiger,
Uttrakhand,
Wilderness,
wildlife
To be born in the lap of nature is a blessing of God for me. People frequently ask me about my childhood experiences in the wild and are very curious to know why I chose wildlife as a field of study? Going down the memory lanes, I recall that my earliest association with wilderness started at my birthplace Chhindwara – a small town in Madhya Pradesh, India. I used to roam in and around the dense and wild forests of the buffer zone of what is popularly known as the Pench Tiger Reserve.
Who can forget Mowgli, the pint-sized child and his adventures with Sher Khan and Bagheera of Rudyard Kipling’s best-seller Jungle Book. Teaming with exotic wildlife, this is the land that inspired Kipling to visualise his most famous work. [continue reading…]
Tagged as:
"Shivang Mehta",
india,
Kahini Ghosh Mehta,
Madhya Pradesh,
nature,
Pench,
Tiger,
Wild,
Wilderness,
wildlife
The mesmerising view of the majestic Himalayas, the mysterious forests flooded with pine, deodhar and saal trees, a diverse variety of flora and fauna, a unique conglomeration of picturesque landscapes and a culture and history full of tales of bravery – this is what Kumaon has been offering to tourists from across the globe for centuries. Nestling in the foothills of the Himalayas, Kumaon is located in Uttrakhand – the northern hill province of India with its headquarters in Nainital.
The wilderness of Kumaon has continued to fascinate visitors since time immemorial but wild Kumaon actually came into the limelight because of Kumaon’s favourite son – the man who was known to the locals as the Gora Sadhu for his philanthropic work in the region and who thrilled the world with his famous hunting stories where he described his chilling experiences in the forests of Kumaon. The world knows him as Jim Corbett – the famous hunter who turned into a conservationalist and played an instrumental in bringing Kumaon on the world tourism map. His writings that are captured in a series of best selling books like the Maneaters of Kumaon, My India and Jungle Lore give a perfect depiction of the inimitable wilderness, culture and traditions of this region. [continue reading…]
Tagged as:
"Shivang Mehta",
Binsar,
Corbett,
fishing,
Himalayas,
india,
Kahini Ghosh Mehta,
Kumaon,
naturewanderers,
photography,
Ranikhet,
Wild,
Wilderness,
wildlife
Lakshmi - the leopard cub
Remember I wrote about Lakshmi, the injured leopard cub, in the forests of Ranthambhore in the Indian state of Rajasthan who has been under the care of the forest department and hotelier Gerhard Wiehahn? Click here to read the previous post on Lakshmi.
I got this update from Gerhard a few days ago, and it certainly made for some cheerful reading. This is what he said: Continue Reading…
Tagged as:
cub,
lakshmi,
leopard,
Rajasthan,
ranthambhore
I had written about a rescued female leopard cub, Lakshmi, in the forests of Ranthambhore in Rajasthan in India here as well as posted a YouTube video here. But apparently I was slightly misinformed, giving the impression that her future may not be so bright. But here is something from Gerhard Wiehahn, who works as a General Manager in a hotel in Ranthambhore, that may bring a smile to all our faces. (Thank you Gerhard, the world needs more people like you): [continue reading…]
This is the story, so far, of a female leopard cub rescued by the forest department in Ranthambhore in Rajasthan in India.
For starters, why did the cub, now called Lakshmi, need to be rescued ? There were two theories going around when I visited the forest during the Christmas week of 2007. [continue reading…]
Tagged as:
forest,
holiday,
india,
leopard cub,
Rajasthan,
ranthambhore,
sanctuary,
travel,
wildlife
