India, with its teeming millions, may seem an unlikely choice for anybody looking for a bit of privacy, but tucked away in the yet-unexplored nooks and crannies of this vast and beautiful country are wonderful destinations just perfect for the honeymoon of a lifetime.
Get snug before a pinewood fire in a snowbound Himalayan hill station, wander through forests of fragrant sandalwood, flaming rhododendrons, or cool pines, take a quiet stroll through the tea gardens and coffee plantations of the Nilgiris. Carry a cosy picnic lunch to a secluded spot hidden away in the wilds or go along on a relaxing cruise through quiet backwaters. Let your hair down and enjoy yourself on a golden beach: go swimming, surfing, and sailing. Visit ancient temples and monasteries, sightsee or just wander along a pretty mountain path.
Indulge yourselves.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Bandhavgarh National Park
Bandhavgarh lies in the heart of Madhya Pradesh- traditional tiger country. This is where Rudyard Kipling found inspiration for his famous Jungle Book (remember Mowgli?), and this is where the tiger still roams- although now protected by dozens of laws, some effective, some not.
Once the hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Rewa, where an alarming number of tigers were hunted down in pre-independence India, Bandhavgarh was mercifully declared a National Park in 1968. Today, the Bandhavgarh National Park is a compact reserve (448 sq. km) of sal trees, bamboo thickets and grasslands, teeming with birds
and animals and the highest population of tigers anywhere in India. The park is now home to 22 species of wildlife, including the regal ‘gaur’, umpteen varieties of deer, and carnivores such as the striped hyena, jungle cat and sloth bear and over 250 species of birds. Within the park itself is the Bandhavgarh Fort, now in ruins and largely overrun by the surrounding forest.
Although Bandhavgarh is in the area where the famous white tigers of Rewa were first found, don’t expect to see any of the exotic beauties around. What you will see, however, is an amazing diversity of flora and fauna which can certainly make a trip to this wildlife preserve utterly worthwhile.
Entry Requirements:-
Access:-
The closest railhead is the town of Umaria, which is 30 km from Bandhavgarh; it’s linked by train to cities in Madhya Pradesh and other states, including Delhi. Private and state owned bus services operate regular buses to Bandhavgarh from Umaria, Jabalpur, and other towns in Madhya Pradesh. Taxis too can be hired to get to Bandhavgarh. The wildlife park’s entrance is at a tiny settlement called Tala, which has facilities- although limited- for accommodation.
Within the bounds of the Bandhavgarh National Park, vehicles may be hired at the entrance to drive around; in addition, private vehicles are allowed in. You could also ride through the jungle on elephant-back -- and if you kept completely quiet and are very, very lucky, you could even spot a tiger!
Best time to visit:-
Accommodation:-
Bandipur National Park
Once the private game reserve of the Mysore maharajas, Bandipur, the large forest (866 sq km) south of the river Kabini is now part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and one of WWF’s Project Tiger sites. It neighbours the Nagarhole National Park, the Mudumalai National Park in Tamil Nadu and Wynaad in Kerala. All together this area makes for the largest protected forest in India.
Bandipur has a sizeable population of wildlife - elephant, spotted deer and sambar, gaur and flying squirrel, four horned antelope, Nilgiri langur and sloth bear. Amongst the reserve’s most prominent animals are its 1,900-odd elephants.
The Royal Bengal tiger (75 in the Park) and leopard are even more elusive here than elsewhere because the moister region that they inhabit falls under the protected core area where casual visitors are not allowed. Mostly dry deciduous forest with an abundance of teak on the periphery, the moister core area of Bandipur, has large tracts of fragrant sandalwood and rosewood. However, some summers this area too gets unbearably dry and during these times the animals migrate to the neighbouring wetter Mudumalai Park.
Entry Requirements:-
Access:-
Bandipur is 80 km from Mysore, and a similar distance from Ooty, and takes 2 ½ hours by road. Mysore is further connected to the rest of south India by train, while a narrow gauge train comes to Ooty from the plains station of Mettupalayam. Mettupalayam has train connections to a number of other towns in Tamilnadu. Once you’ve got to Mysore or Ooty, you can take a bus or hire a car or taxi to get to Bandipur.
Private vehicles are not allowed to tour the park, so buses abound, rumbling and roaring their way around, drowning out any chance of seeing animals. Better options for getting around in the park are the forest department jeeps and vans. The Forest Department also organises elephant rides of about an hour (or more) each, which take you deeper into the forest than you’d otherwise be able to go.
At Bandipur, you can book a machan near a watering hole for the best viewing of all.
Best time to visit:-
Accommodation:-
Luxury resorts around Bandipur National Park are more expensive but offer many more luxuries; they also arrange their own elephant safaris and jeep rides. A double room at one of the resorts will cost about Rs 3,000 per night, which will usually include meals, wildlife safaris, and fees for cameras, vehicles and entry.
Chilka Lake National Park
The Chilka Lake in Orissa is Asia's largest inland salt-water lagoon. Studded with small islands- including the picturesquely-named Honeymoon Island and Breakfast Island- the lake is separated from the Bay of Bengal by a sandy ridge. The pear-shaped lake spreads across 1,100 sq km, and has a unique ecosystem with a range of aquatic flora and fauna found in and around its brackish waters. An impressive array of bird life, both native and migrant, makes Chilka one of the best places in India for a bit of satisfying bird-watching. White bellied sea eagles, greylag geese, purple moorhen, jacana, herons and flamingos are among the many species which make the lake a bird watcher's delight: Chilka, in fact, is home to one of the world's largest breeding colonies of flamingos.
Other than the birds, Chilka's shores are home to blackbuck, spotted deer, golden jackals and hyenas, and the lake is rich in aquatic life- its waters harbour around 160 species of fish, crustaceans and other marine creatures, including the famous Chilka dolphin. Prawn, crab and mackerel fishing are an important source of livelihood for the local people, and hundreds of small fishing boats set sail each morning to bring in the day's catch from the lake. he Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve harbours India’s second largest pachyderm population, and the chances of seeing elephant herds is pretty high, especially during the dry season.
AccessChilka is approximately 120 km from Bhubaneshwar, the nearest airport; state transport, OTDC tour buses and private operators ply the roads between Chilka, Puri, Behrampore, Bhubaneshwar and Cuttack. The nearest railway stations are at Rambha and Balugaon, both of which have train connections to cities as distant as Kolkata, Puri, Hyderabad and Chennai. From both Balugaon and Rambha buses are available to the lake. Local transport is basically limited to three wheel rickshaws and auto rickshaws, bicycles and cars are sole modes of private transport. The services of local boatmen and the OTDC's motorboats are available for access to the islands though outboard motors are not allowed near the bird sanctuary. OTDC boats can be hired at Barkul, and cost between Rs 410 (for a 7-seater boat) to Rs 790 (for a 34-seater boat) per hour. A special tour is operated by the OTDC between Barkul and Kalijai, and costs Rs 40 per head.
Best time to visitThe weather remains moderately warm the whole year round, so come any time of the year except during the rainy season from June to September. The best time, however, is from October to March, when the lake is crowded with migrating birds, usually at least 50-70 species. Pilgrims flock here in January during Makar Mela (at the time of Makar Sankranti) to pay obeisance to the Goddess Kalijai, whose temple is situated on Kalijai island in Chilka Lake.
AccommodationThere are a few hotels on the banks of the lake including an OTDC run hotel and two tourist bungalows (the `Panthnivas' at Rambha and Barkul) that have stunning views and a relaxed vacation ambience. Air-conditioned double rooms at the Barkul tourist bungalow cost Rs 700 a night; non-airconditioned rooms cost half that price. The bungalow at Rambha is somewhat cheaper, with air-conditioned double rooms for Rs 500 and non-airconditioned rooms for Rs 250 a night. A number of state-run as well as privately-operated resthouses and tourist lodges also dot the shores of the lake, and tariffs vary considerably, depending upon the facilities offered.
Corbett National Park
In the foothills of the Kumaon Himalayas, close to Ramnagar, lies the Corbett National Park. The first Reserve forest of its kind, the park was established in 1936- when it was known as the Hailey National Park- mainly through the efforts of Jim Corbett, the conservationist. Corbett lived throughout his childhood in the area of Kaladhungi between Nainital and Ramnagar. He had a deep insight into the ecology of the area, and in later years he was called upon by the locals to shoot down man-eating leopards and tigers that stalked the villages. Locally referred to as "Carpet Sahib", he turned to photography and writing, authoring books on wildlife, like "My India", "Jungle Lore" and "Man-eaters of Kumaon".
Corbett National Park was the first to be designated a Project Tiger Reserve in 1973. Situated at a distance of 260 kms from Delhi and 128 kms from Nainital, the Corbett National Park is best known for its big cats, especially the tiger. Despite the efforts of conservationists, the tiger population of India is dwindling rapidly, and Corbett National Park is one of the few parks where the tiger can still be seen. There are around 50 tigers in Corbett, besides other wildlife like leopards, several lesser cats, the wild dog, porcupines, jackals, civets, sloth bear, black bear, wild boar and a few hundred elephants.
Stretching over 520 sq km with a core area of 330 sq km, the Corbett National Park consists of mixed deciduous and sal forests and stretches of savannah grasslands where antelope, chital, hog deer and sambar graze. The Rhesus monkey and common langur are ubiquitous, while the long-snouted gharial, marsh crocodile, cobras and pythons can be seen on the mud banks of the Ramganga. The Ramganga reservoir, in the main Dhikala camp area of the park, has over 600 species of birds, including the pied kingfisher, crested serpent eagle, fishing eagle and Himalayan grey headed fishing eagle. The river is also home to the famous river carp mahseer, a favourite catch for anglers.
Entry Requirements:-
Access:-
The nearest railhead is at Ramnagar, 50 kms. from the main park campsite at Dhikala. Convenient trains connect to Delhi, Lucknow and Moradabad. It is also possible to rent a car and take the road from Delhi, passing through Moradabad; the bus journey from Delhi takes about 7 hours. There are daily buses from Ramnagar to Moradabad and Ranikhet.
From Ramnagar, buses run to Dhikala (within the park); jeeps too are available for hire, at a tariff of about Rs 800 per day.
Elephant rides and jeep rides can be arranged once in Corbett National Park; private vehicles and jeeps are also allowed. Elephant rides are the recommended way to see the animals, the charges are Rs. 100 per person or Rs. 400 per elephant for two hours.
Note that movement within the camp is restricted and moving out on foot is forbidden. Best time to visit:-
The Corbett National Park is out of bounds during the monsoons- usually from about June 16th till November 14th. Once the park reopens after the rains, the best time to visit is between January and mid-June. In the winter months from December till February the Ramganga reservoir is full of migratory birds. Summer is the best season to view wildlife, especially the tiger, that come out of the deep forests for water.
Accommodation:-
A range of tourist accommodation is available at Corbett's main campsite in Dhikala, which includes three-room cabins, forest rest houses, huts, tents and log hut dormitories. There are, in addition, Forest Rest houses at Khinanauli, Sarpduli, Gairal, Sultan, Bijrani, Malani, Kanda, Dhela and Jhirna. Accommodation is also available in private lodges and resorts outside the Park.
Rooms in the forest resthouses cost between Rs 100- Rs 500 per night, depending upon the accessibility of the resthouse. The most popular camp, Dhikala, offers rooms for about Rs 500 and dormitory beds for Rs 50. Rates for foreigners are thrice the amount.
Private resorts and hotels in Ramnagar are much more luxurious than what you’ll get in Corbett, and they charge a proportionately higher rate too- between Rs 3500 to Rs 5000 is the average- per night.
Dudhwa Tiger Reserve
Stretching over an area of some 811 sq km (with a core area of 648 sq km), Dudhwa National Park lies amid the warm, tropical forests of the terai, in the foothills of the Himalayas. Sprawling along India’s border with Nepal, Dudhwa is a tiger reserve, and lies north of the Suheli river.
The park’s thick sal forests, extensive grasslands and wet marshes harbour a wide range of wildlife, including tiger, swamp deer (barasingha), elephant, jackal, sloth bear, leopard cat, jungle cat, civet, fishing cat and a vast number of birds.
Dudhwa’s birds, in particular, are a delight for any avid birdwatcher- plenty of painted storks, sarus cranes, owls, barbets, woodpeckers, minivets and many more, including some rare species like the Bengal florican. Much of the park’s avian fauna is aquatic in nature, and is found around Dudhwa’s lakes- especially Banke Tal.
The great Indian one-horned rhino, which was hunted out of existence in this part of the country by the end of the 19th century, has also now been reintroduced in Dudhwa from other sanctuaries in Nepal and India. Brought to Dudhwa in 1985, rhino populations have increased marginally over the years since. Visitors, however, are not allowed into the rhino zone yet, so don’t count on seeing any.
Dudhwa had, in the recent past, been facing problems of encroachment and poaching, both of which have had an adverse effect on the park’s ecology. Swamp deer populations, especially, had fallen, but recent surveys show that the park’s recovering, slowly but surely.
Entry Requirements:-
All visitors to Dudhwa National park have to get entry permits from the Director of the Park, whose office is at the district headquarters of Lakhimpur Kheri. Entry costs are roughly Rs 100 for three days, for foreigners. Indians pay less, and extra charges are levied for vehicles and cameras. A daily fee of between Rs 50 and Rs 100 is charged for a vehicle, depending upon its size.
Access:-
The town of Bareilly is the nearest major railhead and has train connections to most major cities in northern India, including Delhi and Lucknow. Dudhwa has its own station too, but connections to it are scarce. Palia, 10 km from Dudhwa, also has a few trains coming in from other parts of Uttar Pradesh.
The nearest airport is at Lucknow, 250 km from Dudhwa.
Both from Lucknow and from Bareilly (besides other cities like Delhi) there are good road connections to Dudhwa via Palia. Private coaches and buses operated by the UP State Road Transport Corporation connect Palia to Bareilly, Delhi, Lakhimpur Kheri, Shahjahanpur and other towns.
Vehicles can be hired in Dudhwa to go on a tour of the park; a more eco-friendly- and much more exciting- option is to take a ride on one of the park elephants. Elephant rides are arranged in the morning and the evening, when there are more chances of spotting animals.
Best time to visit:-
The best time to visit Dudhwa is between November and May. The park remains open to the public from November to June, but by June it’s usually a little too hot for comfort. Remember to take your woollens along if you’re going between December and February- it can get pretty chilly here, in the foothills of the Terai.
Accommodation:-
Accommodation in the park is available at log huts, lodges and forest resthouses at Dudhwa, Sathiana, Bankatti, Kila and Sonaripur. All are pretty minimalist (except the one at Dudhwa, which has a small canteen attached to it), and charge a nominal tariff of a couple of hundred bucks a night. Also in the park, on its southern periphery, is a lodge owned by `Billy’ Arjan Singh, the conservationist who has largely been responsible for the setting up of Dudhwa.
Another option is to stay outside the park; Palia has a handful of hotels, and luxuries that you won’t get in the park- provisions, medical facilities, and telephones included. The hotels in the town, obviously charge more than what you’ll pay in Dudhwa; about Rs 500-700 a night is a fair estimate.
Great Himalayan National Park
Hemmed in on three sides by the towering peaks of the Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh's Great Himalayan National Park is undoubtedly the place to go for a rendezvous with the wildlife of these mountains. Here, amidst dense forests of blue pine and cedar, in high alpine meadows and mountain slopes which remain covered with snow throughout the year, lives one of the densest and most impressive populations of Himalayan wildlife.
Created in 1984, the Great Himalayan National Park (officially known as the Jawaharlal Nehru Great Himalayan National Park) includes, in a wide swathe of land covering 765 sq km, the previously-established Tirthan Sanctuary.
Adjacent to the park are two more important protected areas- the Pin Valley National Park and the Rupi Bhabha Sanctuary- a vast expanse of land sheltering many of the species, both animal and plant, endemic to the Himalayas. The Great Himalayan National Park lies in Seraj Forest Division (in Kullu District), in the upper catchment areas of the Jiwa, Sainj and Tirthan rivers. A park where the altitude varies from 1,500 mt to about 6,000 mt, encompassing within it snowcapped mountains, river valleys, and steep cliffs. The diversity of terrain and altitude is reflected in a corresponding diversity of vegetation. Deciduous broadleaved forests of oak and bamboo alternate with pine and deodar woods, while grasses and colourful wildflowers crowd alpine meadows in the upper reaches.
Inhabiting this stretch of land is a dazzling array of animals and birds. Among the most prominent mammals are leopards, Himalayan black bears, brown bears, langurs, rhesus macaques, and wild sheep such as the Himalayan thar, bharal and the ibex. Rarer animals like the highly endangered musk deer are also found in the park, and there have been reports of snow leopard sightings. The Great Himalayan National Park is unsurpassed in its bird life, with almost 68 resident species and close to 50 migrant species being sighted here. Pheasants, such as the gloriously beautiful monal, the kaleej and the Western tragopan, are among its many attractions.
Entry Requirements:-
Visits to the Great Himalayan National Park are allowed only between sunrise and sunset.
Access:-
From Kullu, National Highway # 21 (to Manali) leads to Aut, from where a motorable road leads part-way to the park. A vehicle can be hired at Kullu to do the trip to Gushaini or Neuli, the end of the road. From here onwards, visitors need to go on foot, as no motor transport or horses are allowed.
Within the Great Himalayan National Park, the only form of transport is your own two legs- so make sure you're physically fit and wearing a sturdy pair of boots. A qualified guide is mandatory for everybody visiting the park; you'll be able to hire one at the park's office. A trek through the park is definitely the best way to see the beauty of this area, and with some luck you should be rewarded with some great sightings of birds, bharal, langurs, and even a leopard or bear.
Best time to visit:-
Accommodation:-
Other options for accommodation lie outside the park's boundaries, but these too are resthouses, and not too different from those within the park. Forest resthouses exist at Aut, Sainj, Sairopa and Shangarh; for all, reservations need to be made well before you arrive
Gir National Park
More than two thousand years ago, the Asiatic lion, Panthera leo persica, ranged all across the Indian subcontinent right up to Greece. The Lord of Beasts was celebrated as the symbol of power and might, feted in verse and art, feared and admired.
Two millennia down the line, the Asiatic lion has fallen prey, despite its strength, to urbanisation, poaching, and all the ills human populations cause as they expand. India’s national emblem- the four-lion Ashokan capital- is one of the places lions can be readily seen. The other, of course, is the famous Gir Forest in Gujarat, the last stronghold of this majestic creature.
Nearly exterminated by 1910- a result of drought, irate villagers and sheer indifference- the Gir lions were brought under protection by the Nawab of Junagadh, who banned all hunting in the area. After independence, in 1965, the Indian government declared the area a national park. The lion population- which had sunk to an alarming two dozen in the early 20th century- has slowly climbed over the years since, and now numbers about 300. The Gir National Park and Lion Sanctuary is collectively known as the Gir Protected Area. Gir stretches over 1,412 sq km of scrub and grassland, dry deciduous forest and some marshland. Besides lions, Gir harbours antelope, deer, leopards, hyenas, crocodiles and jackals, along with a spectacular array of birds.
An important part of the Gir Protected Area is the 4 sq km spread known as the Gir Interpretation Zone, about 12 km from Sasan Gir Village, the headquarters of the park. The Zone has a cross-section of wildlife within the park, and a visit here almost guarantees a lion sighting, which is otherwise a hit-or-miss affair in other parts of Gir.
Entry Requirements:-
Access:-
In addition, fairly good roads link the park to the rest of the country. Junagadh itself is only about 60 km from Gir, and there are frequent buses connecting the town to the park.
Vehicles are available for hire at Gir, and are easily the best way to see wildlife in the park. Some of the most popular routes for a drive are the Sasan-Kamaleshwar Dam, the Sasan-Kankai, the Sasan-Chodavdi and the Sasan-Tulsishyam routes. Time your jaunt through the park for dawn, when there are more chances of seeing lions and other wildlife.
Best time to visit:-
Accommodation:-
Kanha National Park
The largest wildlife sanctuary in Asia, Kanha National Park was one of the first Project Tiger reserves in India. It is, in many ways, Project Tiger’s biggest success story, with the tiger population having doubled since 1976. Over 1,945 sq km of bamboo thickets, extensive grasslands and dense sal forests make up Kanha- a series of plateaus which stretch across the eastern segment of the Satpura ranges in Madhya Pradesh. This is the land of the tiger, the leopard, and the wolves which inhabit the pages of Jungle Book.
Of this area, the core- about 940 sq km- is the national park; around it is the buffer zone. Porcupines, jackals, sloth bear, jungle cat, macaque, dhole (wild dogs), bison and a stunning spectrum of birds inhabit Kanha, and make a trip to the sanctuary a must for any wildlife enthusiast. It is a truly thrilling experience, made more so by sightings of the tiger, ‘gaur’, or even the tiny mouse deer (muntjac) or the rare hardground barasingha, found only in Kanha. Go birdwatching on a misty winter morning, and you’re likely to see beauties like the racquet tailed drongo, crimson breasted barbet, crested hawk eagle and golden oriole.
Who knows, you might even catch a glimpse of Shere Khan off on one of his up-to-no-good prowls…
Entry Requirements:-
Visitors to Kanha National Park are required to obtain entry permits- a very nominal Rs 2
for Indians- at the entrance to the park. Additional charges are tagged on for vehicles (about Rs 15), for cameras, for guides and for elephant rides. Tourists are allowed to go on excursions in the park only at designated times, generally from sunrise to noon, and then from afternoon to sunset. Check with the park authorities about when you can go. Driving at night or moving around the park on foot is prohibited.
Access:-
The nearest airport is at Nagpur (266 km from Kanha), which has connections to a number of major cities in India, including Mumbai. The nearest railhead is Jabalpur, at a distance of 169 km; Jabalpur has trains coming in from all across the country, and from here there are convenient buses to Kanha. The MPSRTC operates two buses daily, the earlier of which leaves Jabalpur at about 7 in the morning, to reach Kanha by noon.
Other cities and towns which are connected to Kanha by road include Raipur (219 km) and Mukki (25 km). From all these towns, there are regular buses to Kisli, and to the two park entrances, at Khatia and Mukki.
Once you’re in the park, you can hire a jeep from the MPSTDC office at the park. Jeeps can be booked through the manager of the MPSTDC log huts at Kisli, though elephant-back is a far better and quieter vantage point, to explore the park. You can go on mapped circuits accompanied by guides from the forest department who help you to identify the animals and birds. If you are a birdwatcher, Kanha will give you hours and hours of fun – the early morning being the best time to spot the birds. Also within the park is the Kanha Museum, which focuses not just on the flora and fauna of the area, but also on the local tribal population.
Best time to visit:-
Accommodation :-
Accommodation for tourists visiting Kanha consists of MPSTDC log huts (befittingly named the `Bagheera Log Huts’, in tribute to Kipling’s leopard from Jungle Book) and a youth hostel. Rooms here cost between Rs 700 to 900, and can be booked through the MPSTDC offices in Delhi, Bhopal and Jabalpur. Dorm beds at the youth hostel cost Rs 300, inclusive of meals.
In addition to the log huts, there are other forest rest houses and cabins, at Khatia, Mukki and Kisli. These are managed by the park authorities; reservations may be done through the Field Director, Kanha Tiger Reserve. Khatia and Mukki have a number of privately owned resorts and hotels as well, with a wide range of tariffs.
Keibul Lamjao National Park
Cervus eldii. Eld’s deer. Thamin deer. Brow-antlered deer. Sangai. Dancing deer. A whole lot of names for a single species, but that’s how it is for this unusual deer, a graceful animal which is found only in one state of India- Manipur. A highly endangered species, the brow-antlered deer is found exclusively in a small area which stretches across the extreme north-eastern corner of India; Myanmar and part of Thailand. In India, the place to see this beautiful creature is the Keibul Lamjao National Park.
Keibul Lamjao is famous not just because of the brow-antlered deer; its other claim to fame is the fact that this is one of the very few `floating’ protected areas in the world.Approximately 50 km from the state capital, Imphal, Keibul Lamjao lies on an island on the fringes of the Loktak Lake.
Gazetted a sanctuary in 1969, Keibul Lamjao officially became a national park in 1977. It today stretches over an area of about 40 sq km, surrounded by marshes, hillocks, and the lake itself. A number of streams too crisscross Keibul Lamjao, which, combined with extensive marshes, make the park a typical wetland. The Loktak Lake, which is really what the park is all about, is covered almost completely by floating mats of the dense aquatic grass known locally as `phum'. Other wild grasses, including a variety of wild rice, form the bulk of the vegetation, which supports an astoundingly large and diverse fauna.
The most prominent- if not the most easily spotted- of Keibul Lamjao's many denizens is the brow-antlered `sangai' deer. A much-loved creature in Manipuri folklore and dance tradition (so much so that it's even known as the `dancing deer'), the sangai had been reported extinct in 1951, but after being re-discovered, has finally become Keibul Lamjao's prime attraction. Other animals in the park include otter, civet, wild boar and hog deer, besides a number of small reed-dwelling birds. The Loktak Lake is home to a large piscine population.
Entry Requirements:-
Indians visiting Manipur are required to obtain an Inner Line Permit, also available from the offices listed above. Like the RAPs, these too are valid for visits to Keibul Lamjao.
Access:-
The best way to see Keibul Lamjao is by boat- and that too in the early morning or in the evening, when the lake's at its loveliest. The sangai, which live in small herds, lie low through most of the day and come out to feed either around dawn or at dusk, which makes a circuit at this time even more satisfying for wildlife-watchers. Local boatmen acting as guides can be engaged to take you around the lake.
Within the park are observation towers which offer a good view of sangai habitat, and for the more adventurous, a guided walk through the park is possible. Look out for the somewhat shaky floating phum, though- a wrong step and you could end up in rather a lot of water!
Accommodation:-
Kaziranga National Park
Welcome to the land of Rhinoceros Unicornis. The great Indian one-horned rhino, more than two tons of frightening muscle and tank-like belligerence. With its armour-plating hide and its 24” long horn- which really isn’t a horn, but compressed hair- the Indian rhino once ruled the roost in the wetlands of north-east India. Hunted mercilessly, it was on the brink of extinction when conservationists awoke to its plight. The result, and a successful one at that, is Kaziranga National Park, in Assam.
Stretching over an area of 430sq km on the south bank of the Brahmaputra river, Kaziranga is one of the last refuges of the
Indian rhino. A vast stretch of coarse, tall elephant grass, marshland and dense tropical forests, it has managed to survive the onslaught of poachers, urbanization and burgeoning human populations. Plans are already afoot to extend the park’s boundaries to include the Brahmaputra river to the north and a part of the Mikir hill ranges to the south.
Fairly early on- in 1908, in fact- Kaziranga was declared a reserve forest and was officially closed for shooting; at the time it could boast of only a few dozen rhinos. By 1950 the area was a wildlife sanctuary, and in 1974 it was designated a national park. Bounded by the misty blue hills of Barail and Karbi Anglong to the south, the national park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. Today it’s one of the few places in India where it’s possible to see the rhino out in the open- an awesome sight indeed. And, what’s better still, the rhino population of Kaziranga now numbers more than a thousand of the creatures. Endangered, no doubt, but protected too.
Kaziranga is home also to elephants, sloth bears, tigers, leopard cats, jungle cats, hog badgers, capped langurs, hoolock gibbons, pigs, jackals, porcupines, pythons, wild buffaloes, Indian bison, swamp deer, sambhars and hog deer. Besides these, the park has a respectable avian population, which increases considerably in the winter, when migrating birds visit the park.
Entry Requirements :-
Visitors to the Kaziranga National Park are required to register at the Tourist Centre in the Bonani Tourist Lodge while entering the park. The entry fee for foreigners is about Rs 200; for Indians it’s Rs 10. Charges for cameras and vehicles are additional (even if you bring your own vehicle, you’ll pay a fee for it). Rented vehicles and elephant rides cost between Rs 750 to 800 for a ride of about an hour and a half. The fees for Indian visitors are appreciably less- generally between Rs 50 for an elephant ride and Rs 150 for a hired jeep.
Access :-
The two most convenient bases for getting to Kaziranga are Jorhat and Guwahati. Jorhat, 96 km from the sanctuary, is the nearest airport, but Guwahati’s Borjhar Airport, 239 km from Kaziranga, is connected by more flights. Cars are available on rent at both airports.
There are also direct train services to Guwahati from Calcutta, New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Cochin and Trivandrum. In addition, both Jorhat and Guwahati are accessible by road from all the neighbouring states- West Bengal, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
From Jorhat and Guwahati, taxis and buses are available to get to Kaziranga.
Once within the park, wildlife-watching trips can be taken at dawn on elephants that wade through the tall elephant-grass and give you a vantage view of animals waking up to the day. Elephant trips cover Baguri, Hole Path, Mihimukh, Kohora-Central Path and Arimarah. On an elephant ride, do wear trousers that fully cover your legs to avoid abrasions from the coarse elephant-grass.
Best time to visit :-
Accommodation :-
There is a wide range of accommodation available at the park ranging from luxury resorts to rest houses, tourist lodges and dormitories. Most are maintained by the ITDC or the Forest Department, and there are some privately owned properties too.
Accommodation at state-run forest lodges must be booked in advance at the park headquarters, and tariffs range between Rs 450- 750 for a room; dorm beds come for about Rs 150 a night. For reservations contact the Joint Director of Tourism, Kaziranga, P.O. Kaziranga National Park, Dist. Jorhat, Assam, India: 037626 52444
Private accommodation is also available, in the form of a luxury resort where rooms can be booked for Rs 1100 a night.
Keoladeo Ghana , Bharatpur
Amongst India’s premier wildlife sanctuaries is the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, on the border between the states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Formally known as the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, it’s a marshy area, stretching over 29 sq km of kadam forests, grasslands and shallow lakes. Created by the Maharaja of Bharatpur in the 19th century by diverting water from an irrigation canal, Keoladeo was founded as a shooting preserve, but given the status of a bird sanctuary in 1956. Upgraded to a national park in 1982, the area today ranks as one of the best waterbird preserves in the world- and it’s a World Heritage Site.
Keoladeo Ghana, Bharatpur harbours some of India’s richest birdlife, including the gorgeous shocking-pink tinted painted stork, several species of cormorants, egrets, pelicans, ibises, cranes, ducks and geese. One can see over 350 species of birds, both native as well as migratory. Among the latter, the highly endangered Siberian Cranes, which come to nest in winter, are the rarest. Bharatpur is the Siberian Crane’s only known wintering ground in India; at last count, only 2 cranes nested at the park, definitely a cause for worry.
In addition to the birds, Keoladeo is home to a wide range of mammal and reptile species, including deer, jackals, blackbuck, fishing cats, otters and blue bulls.
Entry Requirements:-
Access :-
If you decide to pedal through the sanctuary, cycles can be hired at the entrance to Keoladeo; a map of the park’s walking trails can be obtained from the reception counter at the entrance.
Best time to visit:-
Accommodation and other facilities:-
Accommodation tariffs range from anywhere between Rs 50 for a fairly bare-bones room in one of the forest lodges, to up to Rs 3500 for a room in the Laxmi Vilas Palace resort. Realistic prices for a comfortable if not luxurious room would be about Rs 200- 400 per night.
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
The Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, a Project Tiger reserve, lies among the foothills of the Bhutan Himalayas, in the far eastern state of Assam. The park, which spreads over 2,837 sq km, is a vast, relatively unspoilt expanse of low-lying sal forests and grasslands. The core area of the reserve lies in Kokrajhar and Barpeta districts, whereas its outlying areas spread over the neighbouring forest reserve divisions of North Kamrup, Western Assam Wildlife Division, Kachugaon and Haltugaon. To the north lies the Royal Manas National Park, in Bhutan.
Initially known as North Kamrup, Manas was designated a wildlife sanctuary way back in 1928 and in 1985, was declared a `World Heritage in Danger’ site. The only tiger reserve in Assam and also famous for the rare golden langur and the red panda, Manas is one of the best-kept national parks in India. It’s home to India’s second-largest tiger population, and although a ride through the park may not guarantee a tiger sighting, you might see some other beauties. Manas’ other denizens include elephants, rhinos, swamp deer, gaur, and more elusive species, such as the clouded leopard, golden cat, pangolin, fishing cat, pygmy hog and leopard. Manas has more than 450 species of birds, of which the great pied hornbill and the Bengal florican are among the leading stars.
Entry Requirements:-
Entry fees for the park are Rs 200 for foreigners and Rs 10 for Indians, with additional charges been tagged on for cameras.
Access:-
Manas National Park is 176km from Guwahati, which is the nearest major airport. The capital of Assam, Guwahati has regular flights coming in from most major cities in India, and getting to Manas from here isn’t a problem. It actually makes a lot of sense to drive down because the roads are very motorable. State transport authorities and private operators have bus services to Manas from Guwahati. You can also hire taxis to Manas from Guwahati.
The roadhead closest to Manas is the town of Barpeta Road, which is at a distance of 41 km from the park.
Within the park, elephant rides are your best bet for seeing wildlife, although boats are also available for wildlife-watching trips down the Manas and Hakua rivers. The wildlife is best seen on elephant back at dawn.
Best time to visit:-
The best months to visit are October to April. Avoid the monsoons (June to September) when heavy rains can flood the park and wildlife stay away.
Accommodation:-
For accommodation there are two lodges maintained and run by the tourist department. The state department has two bungalows located at Mathanguri inside the forest with little or no catering facilities. For reservations contact Tourist Information Officer, Barpeta Road, Assam, India 781315; Tel: 03666-232749.
Nagarhole National Park
Welcome to one of the best places in the world to find the tawny, black-striped Royal Bengal Tiger, elusive and stealthy, noble and regal: Nagarhole. Karnataka's Nagarhole National Park (officially known as the Rajiv Gandhi National Park) is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India's largest stretch of protected forest, an area which includes, besides Nagarhole, the neighbouring sanctuaries of Bandipur, Mudumalai and Wynaad. Established in 1955 as a wildlife sanctuary, Nagarhole was designated a national park twenty years later. The park today stretches in a series of gentle hills and valleys, over an expanse of 640 sq km, north of the river Kabini. The park is centred around a perennial water reservoir formed in 1974, when the Kabini River was dammed.
Nagarhole's vegetation is refreshingly different from Bandipur's dry scrub- moist deciduous forests, including bamboo, teak, eucalyptus and cassia, cover much of the sanctuary, providing a refuge for a wide range of animals and birds. Nagarhole has all the resident wildlife of the Nilgiri hills: Nilgiri tahr, Nilgiri langur, bison, leopard, Asian elephant, wild boar, deer, dhole (wild dog) and porcupine, besides tigers. A high canopy of trees- up to thirty metres tall in some places- harbours rare birds such as the endangered Malabar trogon, the Malabar pied hornbill and the crested hawk-eagle.
Nagarhole saw some upheavals in 1992, when quarrelling between the wardens of the park and the local villagers resulted in arson which had an enormously adverse impact on the park and its wildlife. It will still take a few years for Nagarhole's forest and animal count to get back to normal but there has already been a resurrection of sorts and things get better every year.
Entry Requirements:-
Access :-
Within the park, there’s ample scope for wildlife watching. Jeeps can be taken for a drive through Nagarhole, or you can go off on elephant safari- the best way, in fact, to go deep into the jungle. Hiking is also allowed through the park, although only in some areas where there are fewer chances of encountering a hungry tiger or a masth elephant! The lake is open for a slow coracle ride or a swift motorboat skim.
Best time to visit:-
Accommodation:-
Parambikulam Sanctuary
Lying adjacent to the Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, the 285 sq km stretch of forest known as the Parambikulam Sanctuary is one of Kerala’s premier wildlife reserves. Parambikulam lies in the Annamalai Hills, south of the Palghat Gap in the Western Ghats. The area’s hilly and rocky, drained by several rivers, including the Parambikulam, the Sholayar and the Thekkedy. Thickly forested with stands of bamboo, sandalwood, rosewood and teak, the sanctuary has some marshy land and scattered patches of grassland. Parambikulam was once home to some of south India’s finest stands of teak; most of these, however, have now been replaced by teak plantations.
Little remains of the original teak forests, other than the famous Kannimari teak tree, the largest in Asia. The tree is about 5 km from Thunakadavu, and is one of Parambikulam’s prime attractions.Parambikulam’s animal species include many of India’s most prominent mammals: tigers, leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears, elephants, wild boar, barking deer, spotted deer, langurs and macaques. Parambikulam is also home to Kerala’s largest population of gaur. Besides these, civet, chevrotain, pangolin, crocodile, jungle cat, porcupine and some 140 species of birds are found in the sanctuary. Although the larger cats are few and far between, gaur, monkeys and deer are fairly common in the sanctuary.
Entry Requirements:-
Permits are issued by the Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) at Thiruvananthpuram (Tel: 62217), the Field Director, Project Tiger at Kottayam, and the Divisional Forest Officer at Parambikulam.
Access:-
Touring the sanctuary is possible by boat or jeep; both can be hired from the park authorities. Alternatively, you can climb one of Parambikulam’s two watch towers for a bit of wildlife-watching. One tower is at Anappadi (8 km from Thunakadavu) and the other’s at Zungam, 5 km from Thunakadavu.
Best time to visit:-
Accommodation:-
Accommodation can be reserved through the Range Officer, Thunakadavu. Rooms at the Thunakadavu PWD Resthouse and the Tamilnadu Government Inspection Bungalow can be booked through the Junior Engineer, Tamilnadu PWD, Parambikulam.
The nearby towns of Coimbatore and Palakkad, by virtue of their size and importance, offer a much wider range of accommodation, and are a good base for visitors to Parambikulam. Rooms in either of the two towns usually cost between a couple of hundred rupees for basic amenities to around a thousand or slightly more for fancier accommodation.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Pench National Park
This is the land Situated on the border of Madhya Pradesh and adjoining Maharashtra, the Pench National Park is as well-known for the abundance of flora and fauna found within the park as the varied species of wildlife. Named after the river that flows nearby, Pench was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1983 and in 1992, Pench was included under the umbrella of "Project Tiger" as the 19th Project Tiger Reserve.
Spread over 758 sq.kms of tropical moist deciduous forest, Pench is one of the most accessible tiger reserves in the country, and just 90 kilometres north of Nagpur. The Reserve is located in the southern part of the Satpura hill range in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts in Madhya Pradesh. The terrain is undulating, with most of the area covered by small hills and mounds.
The forest area of Pench National Park is redolent with tropical dry deciduous teak and interspersed with bamboo trees and other species of shrubs. The 'Kullu tree' (a species of gum tree) in Pench is a highlight, and visitors are often mesmerized by its almost white bark and spread out branches that are a startling contrast to the lush greenery around. In addition there are many rare varieties of herbs and grasses in this region -many of them of medicinal use. Fauna-wise, a number of endangered species have made it their habitat including the Indian wild dog, the wild pig, nilgai, chital, muntjac, gaur, the four-horned antelope and of course tigers. The tiger population in pench is one of the hightest - 55, in number. The park is also rich in bird life with over 200 species like barbets, bulbuls, minivets, orioles, wagtails, munias, mynas, waterfowls, and blue kingfishers. The Pench River and water streams that weave through the area, along with nallahs and ravines provide the perfect habitat for the water birds of this region. This is also the hunting ground for crocodiles and turtles.
Access:-
Best time to visit:-
Periyar Tiger Reserve
Periyar, in Kerala, is the best-known wildlife sanctuary in south India. Though billed as a tiger reserve, Periyar is really famous for its wild elephants, 100-year-old artificial lake and its setting in the beautiful thickly forested Western ghats. This is not your best shot at spotting the Bengal Tiger considering there are less than 40 of them that inhabit an area of 777sq.km but there’s plenty of other game like the Nilgiri langoor, Nilgiri tahr, bison, deer, antelope and about 700 elephants to make the trip worthwhile.
The Asian elephant is diminutive compared to its larger African cousin but the thrill of spotting a herd of them lumbering through the dense
shola forest or wading into a lake is going to be no less than seeing the African elephant in the Masai Mara grasslands. There are more than 700 of these large grey animals that have for a long time been a symbol of Indian exotica. Over a 100 species of butterfly and at least 240 species of birds inhabit the area.
Around the park are some interesting aromatic spice gardens. Many have good guides who’ll tell you about the medicinal value of each spice and maybe startle you with how much of the research is millennia old.
Entry Requirements:-Entry permits to visit Periyar are available at the Wildlife Information Centre (near the boat jetty) in Thekkady. For foreigners, the permit costs Rs 50, and it’s valid for five days. Charges for guided tours of the sanctuary and for boat trips, are extra.
Access:-The nearest airport is not in Kerala but at Madurai (140 km) in Tamil Nadu. In Kerala, Thekkady is closest to the Kochi international airport (190 km). The nearest railhead is Kottayam from where it takes about 4 hours by bus, marginally lesser by car. Buses to Periyar usually originate and terminate at Aranya Nivas, a posh hotel inside the Park. They do halt briefly at the town of Kumily, just outside Periyar. The sanctuary is very well connected by bus to many towns in Kerala and neighbouring Tamil Nadu. There are bus connections from Ernakulam (6 hours), Kottayam (4 hours), Trivandrum (8 hours), Kovalam (9 hours), Munnar (4 ½ hours) and Kodaikanal (6 hours).
Jeep and elephant safaris are also a good perch from where to view the animal world. A little ‘encouragement’ from you would probably take the mahout off the beaten path to more rewarding locations. If you are staying outside the park then a rented bike or local bus will take you to the park’s entrance. Most visitors tour the park on the two-hour boat rides around Periyar Lake. Rather than the larger sized public boats, which proportionately dim your chances of actually seeing game, go for a smaller private boat, which would correspondingly tilt the odds in your favour. Early morning and dusk are the best times for wildlife. In the afternoons they all tend to disappear into the shade of the thick forests.
A morning ‘trek’ is another great way of doing some serious game watching. A knowledgeable guide will take you to all the hot spots and point out anything interesting like pug marks (if you are really lucky) or chital droppings. Some hotels offer more serious treks into the forest that a keen enthusiast will enjoy.
Best time to visit:-The tourist season is from September to May and particularly the Christmas - New Year holidays. From February onwards it starts getting warmer and though this could be distinctly uncomfortable, it has its benefits. The animals are easiest to spot now as elephant and chital (spotted deer) alike flock to the waterholes. Avoid weekends when the park can get quite full with people looking for a daylong getaway.
Accommodation and other facilities:-There are enough possibilities to suit different budget requirements both inside and outside the park. The entire gamut from cheap basic to expensive luxury will present itself before you. Inside the park it is also possible to stay in the very rudimentary set up of the observation tower or ‘machaan’ (like the hunters would in earlier days). This gives you a very good chance at game spotting. Be sure to carry bedding and food, and mosquito repellent or you might find it easier to stay up than you thought! Also carry sturdy and comfortable shoes for your nature walk, dull clothes, some warm and waterproof clothing, and mosquito repellent. Cameras and camcorders too are allowed into the park but the latter has to be accounted for with a ticket.
There are several restaurants outside the park including some fairly posh ones with great food and ambience. Inside the park it’s a different matter altogether. The Rest Houses provide you with a cook but carry your own supplies. If you’re camping out on the observation tower the entire bedding and eating arrangement has to be yours.
Accommodation tariffs in Periyar range from Rs 150 a night (in the state run guest house) to a steep Rs 7000 a night in the luxurious Lake Palace resort.
Rajaji National Park
Lying in a 820 sq km swathe across the Shivaliks, at the foot of the Himalayas, the Rajaji National Park spreads across three districts of Uttaranchal- Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri Garhwal. In 1983, the three wildlife sanctuaries of Rajaji, Motichur and Chilla were amalgamated into a single contiguous park consisting of several distinct vegetation zones. These include broadleaved deciduous forests, riverine vegetation, grasslands, and pine forests in the upper reaches.
Inhabiting these dense green jungles are an impressive array of creatures- furred and feathered, docile and dangerous. 23 species of mammals- including tigers, leopards, elephants, deer, jungle cat, wild boar and sloth bear- and 315 species of birds are found in Rajaji. The most prominent avian species include pea fowl, woodpeckers, pheasants, kingfishers and barbets, supplemented by a number of migratory species during the winter months. Besides that, the rivers which flow through the park harbour fish such as trout and mahseer.
Rajaji’s history of conservation has been rather rocky in the recent past. The park’s been besieged by a host of problems, ranging from soil erosion to poaching. Despite all these issues, Rajaji continues to be one of northern India’s major wildlife reserves- and one of the best places to see the fauna and flora of the terai.
Entry RequirementsAll visitors to Rajaji National Park need entry permits in order to be allowed into the park. Permits are available at each of the gates to the park, and cost Rs 30 for Indians and Rs 350 for foreigners. These permits are valid for three days; if you wish to stay longer, you’ll have to pay Rs 20 a day (if you’re Indian), Rs 175 per day if you’re not. Additional charges are levied for cameras and vehicles. Still cameras are free for Indians and Rs 50 for foreigners; vehicles are Rs 500 for both Indians and foreigners.
AccessOne of the reasons for Rajaji’s popularity is that it’s conveniently situated for anybody coming from Delhi. The national capital is only 231 km from the park, and there are convenient overnight trains from Delhi to Haridwar and Dehradun, from where there are connecting buses to Rajaji. Similarly, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, is linked by bus to Haridwar and Dehradun. From Rajaji, the nearest airport is Jolly Grant, at Dehradun, while the most convenient railheads are Haridwar and Dehradun. Both have railway connections to the rest of the country.
Rajaji is accessible through different gates; the Ramgarh Gate and Mohand Gate are within 25 km of Dehradun, while the Motichur, Ranipur and Chilla Gates are just about 9 km from Haridwar. Kunao Gate is 6 km from Rishikesh, and Laldhang gate is 25 km from Kotdwar.
Within the park, the only way of getting around, if you haven’t got your own vehicle, is by elephant. Elephant rides of about 2½ hours each are organized by the park authorities and cost between Rs 50 and 100 per person.
Best time to visitRajaji National Park is open to visitors between November and June. The months from December to March are usually the best time to visit, as the weather’s at its best. Beyond April, things start hotting up, though it never gets unbearably hot.
AccommodationWithin the Rajaji National Park are ten forest resthouses, at Beribara, Chilla, Ranipur, Dholkhand, Kunnao, Motichur, Kansrao, Satyanarain, Phandowala and Kasarodi. The resthouse at Dholkhand is currently not open to visitors, but the others charge approximately Rs 75-150 (for Indians) and Rs 225-450 (for foreigners). Chilla has, in addition, a tourist complex operated by the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam.
The accommodation provided is fairly basic, and there are no catering facilities. You’ll have to bring your own food along, and do your own cooking- utensils and crockery are provided.
Staying outside the park, at hotels and tourist complexes in Haridwar, Rishikesh or Dehradun, is a good idea if you’d rather not rough it out. All three cities have a wide range of accommodation options, ranging from budget to mid-range and even luxury; and considering the close proximity of these towns to the park, it’s not too difficult getting to Rajaji for the day’s wildlife-watching.
Further information is available from the Rajaji National Park office at 5/1 Ansari Marg, Dehradun (Tel: 0135-2621669 / 2744225).
Ranthambhore National Park
The Ranthambhore National Park stretches across an area of 1,334 sq km on the eastern edge of the Thar Desert. Once the hunting grounds of the erstwhile ruling family of Jaipur, today it is one of the last sanctuaries of the big cat, the Royal Bengal Tiger. Ranthambhore actually consist of not one, but three, wildlife preserves: the Ranthambhore National Park itself, the Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary and the Keladevi Sanctuary.
Ranthambhore is an oasis of dense dry deciduous forests amidst a vast tract of semi arid scrub and thorny desert vegetation surrounded by the hills of the Vindhyas and the Aravalis.
An ancient fort lies within the park boundaries of Ranthambore, adding to its charm. Ravines, nallahs, water bodies and waterfalls add to its beauty and offer many natural hideouts for tigers and the other wildlife endemic to this park.
Part of Project Tiger (one of Asia's most important conservation efforts), Ranthambhore is the favourite haunt of wildlife buffs and professional wildlife photographers from around the world who come to see tigers, panthers, wild cats, hyena, jackal, marsh crocodile, wild boar, bears, many species of deer and a rich birdlife of over 300 species, including the great Indian horned owl. Ranthambhore encompasses three lakes: Raj Bagh, Malik Talab and Padam Talab, where aquatic birds can be seen.
Although latest reports show that the tiger population of Ranthambhore is on the decline, it’s still one of India’s best places to see the great cat in all its glory.
Entry Requirements Entry to the Ranthambore National Park is limited; all visitors must obtain a permit at the entrance to Ranthambhore before they’re allowed to enter. Foreigners pay an entrance fee of Rs 200; for Indians, the fee is Rs 25, while Indian students pay Rs 5. Additional charges are levied for cameras.
Access The Ranthambore National Park is 145 km from Jaipur though the nearest railhead is at Sawai Madhopur, 12 km away. Sawai Madhopur, which lies on the main Delhi-Mumbai railway route, is connected by train to a number of cities and towns across India, including Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur. The nearest airports are at Kota and Jaipur, from where a bus or train can be taken to Sawai Madhopur, where a taxi may be hired to get to Ranthambhore; alternatively, you can take the bus which goes to the park.
Within the park, hired vehicles- especially jeeps- can be hired at the entrance to Ranthambhore. The RTDC (Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation) organizes jeep and truck safaris for tourists, besides which you may bring your own vehicle into the park.
Best time to visit Ranthambhore is open for visitors between October and June. Summers are very hot in this part of the country, and temperatures rise so high that you’ll probably end up being utterly uncomfortable. However, the summer heat attracts animals to the waterholes, so there’s greater chance of seeing wildlife in May or June.
The best time for a trip remains between December and April, when the weather’s great and there’s plenty of opportunity for doing some hardcore wildlife-watching. March and April, especially, are months when tiger-spotting is more common.
Accommodation Hotel accommodation suiting all wallet sizes from deluxe heritage hotels to economy class is available both inside and outside the park. The forest department has forest rest houses within Ranthambhore National Park, and private hotel companies operate facilities- cottages, heritage hotels, wildlife resorts and the like- outside the park; some of these are extremely luxurious and offer nearly all the facilities you’d expect of a deluxe property.
Sawai Madhopur too is well-equipped with accommodation facilities, both private and RTDC. It’s so close to Ranthambhore that it actually makes a lot of sense to stay in the town and visit the park during the day.
Both within the park and in Sawai Madhopur, accommodation tariffs range between Rs 400 to Rs 1500 per night, most rooms costing about Rs 500- 800. Cottages, which are more convenient for groups, cost about Rs 1200-1500 per night.
Further details on visiting Ranthambhore may be obtained from the Field Director, Ranthambhore National Park, Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan (Tel: 07462-20223).
Sariska Tiger Reserve
A hot favourite on many tourist itineraries, Rajasthan is an exotic and heady combination of desert, history and culture. Come winter, and the state’s flooded with tourists eager to go on camel safaris, to shop, to visit medieval palaces- and, in an increasingly large number of cases, to go wildlife-watching. Of Rajasthan’s more than a dozen Protected Areas, Sariska is easily one of the best.
Sariska Tiger Reserve lies amidst the Aravali Hills- 800 sq km of grassland, dry deciduous forests, sheer cliffs and rocky landscape interspersed with the ruins of medieval buildings.
Nearly 90% of the area is covered with thickets of scrubby dhok trees, within which lives an impressive array of wildlife - including the elusive and majestic tiger. Apart from the tiger, a variety of other wildlife like the leopard, sambhar, chital, nilgai, four-horned antelope, wild boar, rhesus macaque, langur, hyena and jungle cats are found in the park. Also a highly visible section of Sariska’s inhabitants are its many birds- the park is home to India’s largest population of peafowl, and harbours quail, sandgrouse, golden- backed woodpeckers and crested serpent eagles, among other species. The Siliserh Lake, on the edge of the park, has a large number of crocodiles.
Like many of India’s other wildlife reserves, Sariska too has its own set of issues relating to poaching, pollution and conservation. Despite these problems, however, Sariska has endured. Local forest protection societies have been set up in neighbouring villages, and efforts by regional NGOs have helped generate a certain level of interest among the decision- makers as well as the local villagers.
Entry RequirementsAll visitors to Sariska Tiger Reserve need entry permits to get into the park. These permits, available at the office of the Field Director, or at the gate to Sariska, cost Rs 25 per person. Extra charges are levied for cameras (about Rs 10) and vehicles (Rs 100 for a minibus, Rs 75 for jeeps and cars).
AccessThe town closest to Sariska is Alwar, and the park itself lies off the Delhi-Alwar-Jaipur highway, just over 100 km from Jaipur, and about 200 km from Delhi. Alwar, a mere 21 km from Sariska, is the nearest railhead, and has frequent trains from Deeg, Bharatpur, Jaipur and other towns. In addition, the high-speed Shatabdi Express comes daily from Delhi, except on Sundays. The train stops only for two minutes at Alwar, so you’ll have to be quick on your feet, getting on or off.
The nearest airport is Jaipur, which, by virtue of its being the state capital, and an important tourist destination, is well connected to the rest of the country.
Regular buses connect Alwar to Delhi and to other towns and cities within Rajasthan as well. From Alwar, there are buses to Sariska, and rented vehicles or taxis can be taken to get to the park.
Within Sariska, jeeps can be hired from the Forest Reception Office to tour the park. The other option for avid wildlife-watchers is to hire a machan or `hide’ near one of the waterholes.
Best time to visitSariska is open to visitors throughout the year, although certain jungle tracks are closed during the monsoon and the breeding season. The best time to visit the park is late in the winter around January or February. If you don’t mind the heat, April to June is a great time to see animals at the waterholes.
Accommodation Hotel accommodation is available in close proximity but outside the park limits. The RTDC has two hotels on the periphery of Sariska, and the forest department operates a small resthouse. A room at the resthouse costs between Rs 300 to 700 per night, while rooms at the RTDC hotel range between Rs 700 to 1,900 per night.
A little further from Sariska is the Hotel Sariska Palace, a heritage hotel where a double room costs between Rs 3,000 – 4,000 a night. Rates at the nearby resorts are also approximately the same as at the Sariska Palace.
The other option is to stay at Alwar, which offers accommodation facilities ranging from budget to deluxe.
Further information on Sariska can be obtained from the Field Director, Sariska Tiger Reserve, Distt Alwar, Rajasthan, or from the offices of the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC).
Simlipal National Park
Simlipal National Park, 320 km from Bhubaneshwar (Orissa), is a 2,750 sq km sanctuary and a Project Tiger Reserve. Situated in the Mayurbhanj district, the park’s hills, waterfalls and dense foliage hide almost 95 tigers and a number of other species of ‘typically’ Indian wildlife: elephants, deer, leopards, gaur bison, sloth bears, reptiles, langurs, crocodiles and more than 200 species of bird life.
The forests of Simlipal consist predominantly of deciduous sal trees, and are crisscrossed by twelve rivers, which meander through the hills and plateaus of Simlipal, creating some of the area’s most impressive waterfalls.
The spectacular Barehipani waterfall, with a 400-metre drop, and the Joranda waterfall, with a shorter drop of 150 metres, are so beautiful that one is forced to reflect on nature’s majesty. Besides the fact that there’s a lot of wildlife to be seen in Simlipal, there’s also a wide range of local flora; the park boasts of at Simlipal boasts of at least 82 species of orchids.
The National Park has a core area of about 850 sq km, where most of the tigers are concentrated. Visitors are not allowed into this section of the park, but if you’re lucky you just might see a tiger wandering further out. What you’re more likely to see are elephants, monkeys, deer and birds. Joshipur, which is one of the two entrances to the park, has a maggar centre where you can catch a glimpse of the crocodiles at close quarters.
Entry Requirements:-
Entry permits for Simlipal have to be collected from the Field Director, Simlipal Tiger Project, Baripada, before you’re allowed to step into the national park. One has to apply at least 10 days (preferably 30 days) in advance to visit the park. The application has to be accompanied by a copy of your passport, if you are a foreigner. Indians have to provide proof of identity to support the information required.
Foreigners have to pay an entry fee of Rs 100; Indians, Rs 5. Cameras have an extra charge levied on them. All applications for entry to Simlipal must be reconfirmed at the Simlipal Park Office (Tel: 06792 52593) at Baripada.Access
Simlipal has two entry points, one at Lulung, and the other at Joshipur. The nearest railhead is at Baripada, about 50 from Simlipal. Baripada has direct rail connections to all of India’s major metropolises: Delhi, Calcutta, Chennai and Mumbai, in addition to regular trains from Hyderabad, Guwahati and other cities in the region. Baripada also has extensive road links to other cities and towns within Orissa and other states. From Baripada, regular buses leave for Lulung (a distance of 30 km) and for Joshipur (65 km). Alternatively, taxis may be hired to get to Simlipal. Private cars or taxis can be used to drive around the park.
Best time to visit
The park is open from November to June. By June, the temperature goes up pretty high- as much as 40ºC- so it’s better not to visit Simlipal at this time. Winters, however, are pleasantly cool; the coldest it gets is about 14ºC.
Accommodation and other facilities
The accommodation and dining facilities in Simlipal are woefully inadequate. Within the park are bungalows- at Barehapani, Newana, Joranda, Joshipur and Gudgudia- which are maintained by the forest department. Lulung and Joshipur have other tourist lodges and hotels; don’t expect any luxuries, though. It is, in fact, advisable, to get your own bedding and to bring along food as well, just to be on the safe side.
At Chahala (85 km from Baripada) is an old hunting lodge which has been converted into a tourist accommodation unit. It’s actually one of the best places to stay if what you’re mad about watching animals. Chahala is next to a salt lick which is much frequented by animals, and therefore has great scope for wildlife-watching.
The best place to put up outside the park is the town of Baripada, which has a choice of hotels and lodges to offer to tourists.
State-run tourist lodges and forest resthouses charge between Rs 100- 150 for a room, while the lodge at Lulung comes for about Rs 500 for a double room and Rs 75 for a dorm bed. Hotels in Baripada too charge between Rs 150- 500 for a room, depending upon the level of luxury offered.
