A Barbaric Act #WOW

“Minister wants the tiger dead”, said Singh, a senior bureaucrat Singh from forest ministry, while scanning the landscape of Tippeshwar Tiger Sanctuary in the Yavatmal District of Maharashtra, “now that court has given shoot at sight order.”  “ Sir, I think court has given shoot at sight order only as a last resort; why don’t...

Ranthambhore in Summer

On a warm summer afternoon I boarded Jan Shatabdi Express from Hazrat Nizamuddin Station, Delhi en route to Sawai Madhopur. My destination was Ranthambhore national park in Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan. This was my third trip in as many years. Train left Nizamuddin at 1.15 pm and reached Sawai Madhopur by 6 pm. Return...

A Day in Ranthambhor

It was a hot summer morning in Ranthambhor National Park. Inhabitants had gathered around watering holes. Peacocks were trying to entice females. They had spread their feather widespread and strutting around. But deers around them had other worries. There was a rumour that a sambar deer has lost his life. In this era of social...

Inside Ranthambhor Tiger Reserve, Tiger Sighting Finally

I went for second morning safary with a lot of trepidation. I have seen a lot of wildlife.  I have seen a tiger. But I did not have a picture of tiger. I was picked up by canter from the lodge. By the way, I did not get a gypsy. On a hindsight, it was...

Inside Ranthambhor Tiger Reserve, Evening Safary

I returned to lodge very distraught and disappointed. So near yet so far! True, I had seen a tiger. But, I have no picture as proof to share and brag. I would be laughing stock of people who discouraged me from visiting at this season.    So I approached manager. "Please change my booking from...

Inside Ranthambhor Tiger Reserve

My safary started with a cup of coffee at the lodge. A canter came to pick me up. Most of the choice seats were taken. I  got a seat at middle of last row with travellers on each side.  It came to my mind, may be I should have booked a seat in a Gypsy....

Ranthambhor and Ranthambhor Bagh

Ranthambhor is located near Swai Madhopur town of Swai Madhopur district of Rajasthan. Swai Madhopur can be reached from Delhi by road or  by rail. Nizamuddin - Kota Jan Shatabdi express takes 5 hours to reach Swai Madhopur.  I had visited Ranthambhor tiger reserve a few years earlier. It was in the month of December....

Baghvan Taj Safary Part II

The main purpose of our visit to Baghvan was to participate in jungle safary and hopefully get a tiger sighting. Our earlier visit to Ranthambhore National Park in Rajasthan was not fulfilling from the perspective of seeing a tiger.  We went five times in the jungle, without sighting a tiger. Disappointment was multiplied because party...