Travel to Bandhavgarh National Park in India

Bandhavgarh 

Situated in the Highlands of Central India Bandhavgarh is a paradise and tiger heaven. Wrongfully credited with sightings of the first and only white tiger in the World, the destination was contiguous with Sanjay National Park nearby in Sidhi District its rightful birthplace. 

This tiger reserve nevertheless is one of the most prolific breeding grounds for the big cats. It is a land of upheaval with a tortured terrain charismatic and densely forested. Bare-faced steep cliffs jut out of the earthen womb as a huge surprise. The lofty land mass creates deep glens and marshy plains where mountain rivulets invade...they are the lifeline of this diverse ecosystem that supports a myriad of lifeforms. The big cats prefer to hunt in the marshy grasslands which slows the movement of the herbivores. 

The National Park is ideal for animal and bird watching with a focus on the tigers. There are more than twenty-two mammals in the park beside a large number of reptilian species and birds. Ideal for wildlife holidays the destination also provides recreation and excitement on tour. Experiencing remote India has a calming effect with serenity and picture-perfect ambiance all around. The forests are home to peace and silence and the feeling is exhilarating.      

There is a little-known secret of this destination. An ancient civilization that thrived more than two thousand years back has left telltale marks in form of a fort, temples, pool, and numerous structures that confine themselves to the Tala Zone. Created by tribal and dynasties that came to rule now and then the architectural splendor is like a cynosure in the deep jungles devoid of modern urbanity. The fort is out of bounds for tourists but Sesh Shaiyya a reclining statue of Lord Vishnu is worth a visit. It is a small pool under a grove that contains the statue and numerous trickles emerge from the fern-infested slopes of the mountain that inundates. It is an esoteric experience in the place where the tigress often breeds. The River Charanganga emerges from this mountain and flows down to the plains creating a spectacular biodiversity hub. Time stands still in these confines as if frozen for eternity.            

                                                       Shesh Shhaiya

On the way to the park at Umaria about 32 km, you will also come across a 10th-century temple with the telltale architecture of ancient Central India. The access to reach Umaria and then Bandhavgarh is through Shahpura Township eighty km from Jabalpur Airport. The township is famous for plant fossils dating back 60 million years. The Fossil Park is situated on the way to Mandla and houses a museum or a collection of fossils along with a cafeteria. This is an ideal stop for freshening up and exploring the fossils. 

Jabalpur to Shahpura via Kundum drive is safe and pleasant along the scenic surrounds, teak forests, green fields, and quaint hamlets situated in between the mountains. The rows of dhabas or eateries provide hot snacks and meals to travelers. They are small and hygienic places some with toilet facilities to facilitate this long journey.      

Albeit there is not much need to make a stop nevertheless a cup of tea on the way is refreshing as you will encounter many little shops selling this wonderful brew. Most of the purchasing of essentials should be done at Jabalpur with flights connected to New Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai. The railhead too is well connected.       

A short holiday of at least two nights should be organized, and permits should be booked in advance at MP Online Portal. Entry into the core zone is not permitted to those without a permit. There is a number of wildlife resorts for accommodation which you can book online. These accommodations provide you with good food as well which includes Intercontinental and Indian.

Safaris are conducted in the early morning period and then in the late evening. The excursions are conducted on open jeeps and canters. On-foot safari and off-roading are not possible at Bandhavgarh Reserve.  

For overseas visitors on tiger safari in Central India it is best to contact a tour operator. The packages available take care of all the bookings and journeys besides being economical. Group travel is the best means to travel on package tours organized for wildlife watching and birding.     

The package tours also include travel to Kanha National Park at a distance of five hours via Shahpura from Bandhavgarh. Kanha is a popular tiger reserve and much visited.  

Add A Healing Touch to Post Pandemic Resort Experience

Post-Covid Hospitality & Travel

Be it a tiger safari, sightseeing, or cultural experience the visitors expect a lot. Yes, a lot of warmth and care, and in post-covid-19 travel, a lot of hygiene and SOPs are in place. Whether it is a budget lodge or a high-end resort the new normal is to prevent coronavirus infection.    

This calls for intense hygiene most of the premium hospitality businesses would feel offended by this statement. But believe me, this is hygiene with a difference it includes paraphernalia like masks and gloves. The thermal scanner is here to stay. As the new normal lays stress on hygiene, personal care cannot be neglected. Frequent bathing and regular hand washing with soap or sanitizer have become not a practice but an imperative. How can you as a resort staff keep the property clean & disinfected, and not self-cleanse often?

The lodges have been burdened with a lot of extras as regards chemicals, clothing, cleaning, and washing paraphernalia. The new normal may be a fun spoiler a bit if you experience the social distancing it imposes, and thus prevents get-togethers and partying...the feeling of being safe is itself exhilarating with the chances of infection peeking in from unknown quarters completely negated. 

Courtyard House Kanha

Those willing to wager travel in this period would be brave souls willing to leave the sanctity of their homes and experience the World like they did before. This is sort of a community initiative or lending a helping hand these are the clients who should be treated with hand in gloves literary speaking. They would expect greater warmth and care while the SOPs post-pandemic would be an assurance. They are here to revive the hotel industry.

Hence true travel professionals and accommodation providers would pay heed to this. In the post, covid hospitality paradigm disposal and scant use have become the norm. Although this goes against the principles of economic use, prevention of infection from one guest to another is a practice that carries weight now. Greater.

Disposing of desk and bathroom accessories that cannot be cleaned or recycled has to be done without hesitation. This applies to all the paraphernalia that guests before departure may have come into contact.

The contact spaces with the reach of wandering guests, hosts, and staff need frequent sanitation using disinfectant. The luxury suite, or rooms, bathrooms, balconies, sit-outs, and passages all need to be disinfected frequently. Even the library books and reading tables need a dose of disinfectant. There are lots of chemicals that are going to be used. This use of chemicals is not a good or Eco-friendly new normal, but as long as the contingency prevails that practice remains.

Travelers not in groups will have to be kept at a distance at the coffee table and dining. Even during safari or excursion sharing cannot be possible. The guest distancing norms are set as post pandemic SOPs but the imperative lies with the guests themselves.

Organizing the best stay experience which is sound and safe is the way forward now. Offering the best thrills and frills during the heritage or nature experience is imperative for successful operations. Deliver the best to the guests not only for a perfect holiday but for their social media content and memories that will last a lifetime.
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Uday is a naturalist, and a writer, and loves to blog on travel and wildlife.
He provides SEO Services and Website Content in English.
He Teaches Internet Marketing in Jabalpur in Summer
Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
09755089323

Post Covid - 19 : Changing Dynamics of Travel

With the horrendous incidence of Covid 19 intrusion the whole travel paradigm has changed. With the widespread occurrence of this malicious virus we are changing all aspects of our lives. The impact is furious not only the deaths that have occurred but the damage it has caused to the economy by virtually bringing our movement, our enterprises and our profession to a screeching halt. 

All aspects of our lives have come to a standstill and Governments are in a frenzy to get activities rolling back without endangering the populations. Travel and tourism have been badly hit including in India. Few holiday destination have been spared from this widespread distress and they too are reeling under the pressure of transport ban, closures and lock downs all across the globe. 

Ecotourism in India is the biggest sufferer with all tiger reserves and National Parks closed for this season. The future seems bleak with hesitation to reopen destination amidst the raging corona virus is obvious.  

Cornovirus is here stay for long as most of the scientific fraternity perceives. This means we will have to learn to live and still continue with travel and tourism activities. As the lock down rolls downhill and the World opens up a paradigm shift has to be in picture. No longer can we move around in holiday places with absolute freedom.

The World can never remain locked down forever or the economy will come to a complete stand still and hunger and joblessness would be as vitiating as the virus itself. Hence a middle path will have to be found and it is already happening as the World begins to move. A new lifestyle will be in place and the behavioral code  would change as well. Face mask, distancing, keeping away from strangers, restaurant etiquette, transportation norms all will change.   

There would be no hugs no embraces no kissing only a silent nod or Namaste!  

For resort vacation there would definitely be changes in accommodation norms and guest conduct on a stay. These would be applicable to the places of interest as well. All this will increase visitation time due to cautious approach at the places of interest. 

Tiger reserves will conduct safari under stringent norms keeping social distancing in mind. Many reserves will conduct screening or testing as a regular practice. This would be cumbersome but a necessity.

The greatest fear in the reserves would be infection passing off to the big cats or other endangered animals. This of course would be a rare occurrence since jeeps do maintain a distance from the animals during the game ride in the park. 

Global airlines would be most restricted and perhaps they will not load to full capacity keeping social distancing in mind. The boarding time would increase with extensive screening and testing. The exit would also be tardy with new rules and regulations taking place. This would increase the cost travel and limit availability of seats.

Overseas visitors would prefer to travel by air than by rail in India as the services would be restricted with lots of cumbersome rules and regulation. The idea of being holed up in a coach with a hundred passengers on an overnight journey does not sound very appealing anyway.

Taxi rides would not be much of a bother as long as few people travel and the driver is tested regularly.

Well all these will last till a cure or a vaccine arrives but this is not going to happen very soon. Hence if you are a travel enthusiast then  embrace yourself for myriad of changes that will come into picture. All the rules and regulations would discourage many would be tourists, and the destinations would in want off business. 

Would the World of travel become better with less people participating?  Would ecosystems improve? Will wild be less stressed? All this will become clear as time proceeds but certainly Covid-19 is not welcome.   

Jabalpur to Kanha Via Mandla - Road To Tiger Heaven

The Journey on Road to Mandla

The jerks and bumps are unbearable and the ride long. These are the travails of a bus journey  to Kanha.  Who cares? I am going to the tiger heaven.

Mandla Fields

Jabalpur to Mandla Road is being built since ages, and I am used to the rough patches that arrive intermittently but with a stressful certainty. The sight of broken culverts, rocks and gravel and piles of sand alert you in advance as to what is about to come. The terrible jerks. OOf!

The crowd inside is bone crushing, and my lungs heave as bodies pile up on me whenever the bus vacillates on the rough patches. The beautiful landscape is a solace as the bus moves forward painstakingly on a non existing road. 

Banzar River

I sit tight on a badly designed seat that could challenge the best of the designers to rectify. You can see the cushion rotting, brittle, yellowed by age as it peers through the jagged edges.  

The whole picture is that of absurdity since the rattle is called a luxury bus. 

It stops every now and then to pick roadside passengers, some in small groups. The conductor pushes them all inside to the back where there is no space. They are duped easily, the rustic rural populace. 

"Go back there are empty seats behind" his standard speak every time he loads the bus. There are none, the travellers are mercilessly cramped up in the little suffocating passage between the rows of the seats - two on left and three rows on the right. 

Kanha Village

I am lucky for being on seat with kids beside who barely occupy much. In summers it gets worse with heat insulated between those on board and windows too small to let fresh air in. Anyway it gets too dusty hence people keep the windows closed most of the time. 

When I look outside, I see no work going on. The idle machinery - caterpillars and road rollers tell a sad story of indefinite delays in Government managed projects. This means more such horrible experience till the highway is eventually complete. The finished patches in between are like a breath of fresh air and future travel seems promising on the cement structure that will let ply the vehicles to and forth. Bus rolls smoothly as if on a rink...too difficult to believe.  Then the next patch awakens you out of the reviere. 

Mandla Village

The journey over unfinished patches is an absolute shock, and tests my body whence catapulted towards the roof and back onto the seat. Thanks to a long association with this road to Mandla, I have gained expertise in twisting and turning on time, and using these very acrobatic skills I always land back safely on the seat - me and my laptop and yes the baggage. But nobody is perfect many a times my goggles and hat are thrown astray and crushed under the unruly impending feet. They are all around. 

The bus stops for few minutes for refreshment at a market place called Narayanganj a small filthy town still living in the past. I go for tea and samosa from the roadside cart making sure they are hot. It is a hurried affair, the small shops well some of them selling eatables pass on adulterated stuff since there would be no fight back by unsatisfied customers due to lack of time. The toilet facilities are non existent, I hope they build some along with this new highway.     

After a hot cup of tea and samosas, I feel bit relaxed and this gives space to my cramped feet. In fact the stop is good to unwind my whole body ....crushed as it is.    

The bus journey ahead is as terrible and throws you into throes of convulsions. The twists and turns are more severe, and after frequent stoppages the bus is jam packed. The luxury bus I mean. There is no more halts worth their time only pick ups now and if you are feeling like it hold on tight.  The smell of edible lingers on for a long time in the cramped space of the rattle and an occasional burp  from the passenger smells like a bad fart! 

The journey is nevertheless amusing with wide variety of crowd that has mingled inside in perfect harmony. In India it is the crowded places that open up the region's culture. You learn how people carry on in adversity unbearable. I do not experience the World when I travel to Kanha National Park in a luxury SUV! All I experience is sleep and little shop talk with my clients...those which land at Jabalpur Airport. 

Mandla Township

After what seems an eternity full of bone breaking experience I land, lock, stock and barrel in one mutilated piece after three hours and run to the next bus. Sometimes the connecting bus to Kanha is late, and I get time to freshen up and for a cuppa chai!

Courtyard House Kanha

The journey to Kanha from Mandla onwards appears to be luxurious whence compared with the earlier one. Yet it is a painfully slow journey with innumerable halts. Eventually I reach Mocha township in the buffer from where I am picked up to take me to Courtyard House Kanha wildlife resort at Patpara Village. This is a high end property and I will get the much needed rest. I freelance here as a naturalist in the tiger heaven and love my work immensely. 

Bus ride anyone? 
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Uday is naturalist, a writer and loves to blog on travel and wildlife.
He provides SEO Service and Website Contents in English.
He Teaches Internet Marketing in Jabalpur in Summer
Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
09755089323

Planning A Tiger Safari at Ranthambhore

Wildlife Tour Planning Ranthambore!

Before you do get some facts right. The safaris are organized in Ranthambore with the sole aim of giving you a wildlife experience. Wildlife experience or interpretation is part of your holiday at the tiger reserve in Rajasthan in India. During most of the excursions, tourists search for the tiger. This is the main focus of the holiday for most of the visitors except the birders who seek a more holistic experience. The birdlife is simply fantastic!

Tiger

Little attention is paid by others to the common animals in an ecosystem that has so much to offer. Hence when you visit the destination enjoy the sights and sounds of all the creatures and not only the big cats. During the game rounds, you can see the leopard, sloth bear, Nilgai antelope, sambar and spotted deer, hyena, jackal, wild boar, and langur monkeys.  

The destination has a number of ancient historical monuments some of which can be visited. The picturesque lakes create a magical splendor and offer thrilling sights of animals and the tigers that hunt there.    

The park organizes two safaris one in the early morning and another around three in the afternoon. These have to be booked in advance. The park is divided into various tourism zones which have to be selected during the booking. Remember to book the zones in the core area which offer the best sightings of wild animals.

The permits are charged and photo identification is required to be mentioned whence booking. During the entry, the photo identity has to be presented by each and every one. The options you get is a visit on an open jeep or a canter. The former is more private but the latter is cheaper and the ride has to be shared with other tourists.  Anyway book in advance is my advice! The option for current booking is also available at the Gate if entry is not fully booked. Do you wish to take a chance? 

For a longer duration of stay, a large number of high-end, heritage, luxury, and budget resorts are available. These are situated near Sawai Madhopur township out in the buffer area. You can book them online if you wish. Choose the one that offers modern amenities and good service. Read trip reports or reviews or seek references from a friend who has already been there.

The entry is fixed as per the time set by the forest department. The exit is also fixed by the department. Jeeps are available for excursions in the park and some hotels provide naturalist services to enhance your experience. All this costs money so be prepared to spend. The rewards are worth the expense.

Resort

There is a limit for the entry vehicles in the core zones for the excursion. There is a  full day safari at Ranthambhore option available online. In this format, you enter early and exit late while you spend the whole day in the park. This is best suited for wildlife photography and filming. Book any tiger safari but do it in advance is my suggestion. In case of a rush, you will not be able to avail of an entry in the core zone.    

Carry quality binoculars and some books on wildlife. Warm clothing in winter is essential. And yes make a purchase of all essentials at Jaipur before you depart for Sawai Madhopur. The park is closed during the monsoon from July to September.  

Magnificence & Simplicity - Both are Awe Inspiring

Around the World in Eighty Dollars!

Nandita Amin - Vadodara

As I was snooping through wide array of images in her albums (facebook) there emerged a peripatetic wanderer, foodie, animal/nature lover and lens woman amazing.

Through her travels,Nandita Amin enraptures with the unfolding saga of her travels, with an eye for bringing out the essence of the objects through her images. Wanderlust is for adventurers, explorers and the brave with an eye for hidden mysteries and the unseen. Travel is not just leisure, it is an opportunity to experience, to learn and enrich life as well lived.

For many, the images offer opportunity to experience life outside one's domain without the hassles of travel formalities and what not...right within the cool corridors of one's house ensconced in comfort and ease.          

During travels: Some of her images...................  

Baobab Avenue - Madagascar

Bengali Sweet

Amma

Blue Fronted Redstart - Uttrabchal

Cobra

Cooking Stove

Shekhawati Haveli Courtyard

Ancient Gate Navalgarh 

Iran - Persian Architecture

Navalgarh Haveli

Rajasthan Haveli

Highway - Delhi - Haryana

Tehran from Air

Iranis

Karonda

Courtyard

Kuber Temple of Narmada

Kumari  

Male Tiger - Tadoba Tiger Reserve

Delhi Sky

Baoli

Tree Shrew

Iran

Irani Lady

Mustrad Fields Gujarat