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The title and the picture won’t really tell you the entire story.
We did spot a leopard while crossing one of the ravines but if you were expecting that the leopard would take a quick stop, pose for us till we got a good shot and all, it doesn’t really happen that way in the jungle. We got a clear but very short glimpse of this leopard while he vanished into the trees. He was probably on a kill as we could hear multiple alert calls, from monkeys and deer as the guide explained us.
So I decided to share the picture of the leopard I shot in the museum but just that it happens to be a post-life one!
You would find over hundred species of birds in Kanha. I am a total non-expert in Ornithology and hence preferred to admire the birdies sitting pretty in trees, walking on the roads or flying all over.
Capturing these birds through a poor lense that I had was a big headache. But even if I had a much more powerful lense, this experience explains that wild life photography is not a joke.
I am sure in love with the jungles. You would also be if you can admire the abundant beauty spread over acres and acres.
I shot this picture at around six in the morning and trust me it was COLD. Later we were told it was less than three degrees centigrade. My fingers were frozen and I really tried hard to capture this heavenly backdrop.
This bison walked straight towards our jeep and apart from trying capture this huge thing in my capture I also prayed to god that he should shower mercy over us in case the bison decided to charge.
This ‘in-your-face’ glare of the bison is intimidating and makes you realize why would even tigers avoid this dude for a dinner, unless unavoidable. Especially while in group, bison would be unbeatable for tigers. And now most amazing fact, bisons are vegetarians!!! If eating grass would develop such muscles, I would change my diet right away.
If there ever was any Mr Bison competition, this dude would sure win.
In the first safari in Kanha, tigers ditched us but few other families played like gracious hosts and almost posed for us.
On the way back to the resort we spotted this bison walking in the field close to the safari trail. The evening sun, chilly air and the wholesome freshness of the jungle made the whole mystical. And this bison looks almost divine here!
In this jungle visit, our agenda was very clear, to spot the tiger. All those who have seen tiger only in the zoo, I mind you that spotting the tiger in the jungle is not at all easy. Nobody really cares about your wish and all you need to do is to try your luck.
Since we were all heart-broken after our visit to Pench last year, when we spotted the fresh foot prints of a male tiger in our very first safari in Kanha, we decided to control our joys till we would see owner of that foot print. But as luck would have it, the owners had decided against our wishes in that first safari.
Do you ever try making sense out of the random clouds in the sky? I sure have that weird habit. So let me know if you too notice the Batman sign here.While you are in a jungle, you feel fresh, miss all kinds of pollution and can’t help but admire the wide, clear and crystal blue sky!
You would find primates in probably every jungle. And all over the jungle in which they exist. Surprisingly, in Kanha, monkeys tend to behave pretty much like natural monkeys minding their monkey businesses. And they don’t really chase the tourists to snatch things away from them. If Kanha monkeys are dumb or they really prefer to stick to their jungle routines, I would not be the best person to judge.The one you see in this picture chose to ignore the four evolved primates in the open jeep that stood still 5 feet away and I got this shot. If you notice the shine on the fur, you would wonder if Loreal has started making stuff for monkeys too.
You would naturally think that how thick is thick, if I keep repeating that Kanha is a thick jungle. Of course words would always be short of explaining you the density of this forest to the hilt. But what if I say there are areas where the ground has not seen sun light in quite some time. Would that give you some idea?Indeed there are several such areas in Kanha. You don’t even get to go to most of them. We were lucky to pass through probably one or two of that kind. And January is of course winter time. The morning safari that would commence at six in the morning almost killed me due to frozen blood. Awlrity, I am exaggerating. But for a boy who lived all his life in Mumbai, roaming around in an open jeep when the temperature was some one or two degrees centigrade and chilly winds were in the face, Kanha was as cold as Antarctica!And the funny part is when the sun rises you feel blessed while you actually get the sun. Like you would get if you are on the sunny road as seen in the picture. But you reach the turn where again those thick layers of Sal trees don’t let the sunlight reach the ground, the cold gets worse.
When we visited Pench National Park in January 2009, we almost swore that the jungle trips are a must in life! They must happen at least once a year. So to keep up this promise and to start the 2010 on a refreshing note, we planned to visit Kanha National Park situated in Madhya Pradesh.
Spread over 1,945 square kilometers, this picturesque national park came into existence in 1955 by a special law. Since then it has dedicated itself in becoming an ideal home for both predators and preys. The lush Sal and Bamboo forests, grassy meadows and ravines of Kanha homes uncountable wild life species. And we were there to spot the prime one, the Royal Bengal Tiger. No, I am not at all underestimating the beauty and wide variety of the wild life you can find in Kanha. But after all, watching a tiger in its natural habitat is a treat. (All those who have seen tigers only in zoos, I feel sorry for you! Honestly!!)
And the fact that deserves special mention here is that this national park (or jungle that it is) was the inspiration behind Rudyard Kipling’s unforgettable classic The Jungle Book! Few may debate if it was Kanha or Pench. But guys, trust me, this jungle is an eternal inspiration from the mother Earth to whatever that is alive.
