Indian Wildlife Club Forum

Travel A trip of Wildlife explorotation at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary New Delhi Posted by Pratap Singh on April 29, 2016 Me and my gand decided to share a story here at indianwildlifeclub.com that even is India's biggest urban city wildlife exists. Yes in New Delhi we might not have a big national park like Ranthambore Tiger Reserve but there are some green spaces which a wildlife lover might find attractive to visit. So lets get started with Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary At Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary one can escape the urbanest of New Delhi and see a large variety of birds and animals like 200+ species of birds, 100 butterflies species, jungle cat, jackals, blackbuck, nilgai and most popular & my favorite black-naped hare which is also referred as Indian hare. Along with this there is CEC (Conservation Education Center) & Bombay Natural History Society has a small presentation for visitors which educate on Flora & Fauna of Arvalli and also teaches how to conserve it. Most guests here which I noticed were families with small children and I also met with a family who run a nice hotel in south Delhi by the name of Hotel GTC who told us that this sanctuary is perfect for those who wants to educate their children about the importance of wildlife. Good thought. We visited the Sanctuary in April which is pretty hot. So I will suggest that the best months to spend a day here is in Winters of New Delhi which are from the months of September to February. Plus I will also suggest to carry extra bottles of water as this is an eco-zone so you won't find much options of water bottles inside the park. For travelers who are especially visiting Delhi to explore Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, accommodation option nearby are Greater Kailash or Noida. And if you want any extra information then feel free to comment of share this post on Twitter along with @jsc_999, I will love to assist. Read More View Comments \| Post Comment
Travel Jaisalmer Wildlife and tourism are going hand in hand Posted by Pratap Singh on April 18, 2016 Since 2010 the government of Rajasthan has taken some actions to promote eco tourism in many cities which are famous for their wildlife like Ranthambore and now the government have also declared national parks as eco-sensitive zones which means that one can't construct permanent accommodation in jungle area. This policy isn't just for national parks with green forest but also for the sand dunes of Jaisalmer which after this decision has implemented new ideas to promote tourism with innovative ideas. So in this post I would love to share a view of eco tourism of Jaisalmer which is attracting many to visit the sand dunes of Sam from October to March every year. 1. Desert Camps - More the 100 camps have been set in Sam region and not just Swiss tents, here we have small restaurants offering local food, musical program from local dancers and bonfire events. All those events are mostly seen in Jungle camps and now are available in desert camps too. A wise example is to check this site on Jaisalmer Desert Camps and Jaisalmer Desert Tents at Sam which offer desert camp accommodation, nice dinner and an awesome musical evening at Sam sand dunes. Suggested site to view more on desert camping in Sam sand dunes, Jaisalmer is Jaisalmer desert tent, Dangri Jaisalmer desert camp and Khiri desert camp. 2. Desert Safari - Well as you have jungle safari in national parks we have desert safari in desert dune areas. One can either enjoy a 30 mins to 2 hour camel safari or an hour ride in Jeep safari. Plus if you are one of those travelers who love to walk then a trekking trip to the sand dunes will be a new experience. 3. Nearby attractions - Well Sam is just 45 kms away from Jaisalmer and I must say that the road conditions here are excellent. So one can either explore many tourist spots of Jaisalmer like Golden fort, Gadisar lake or visit the haunted city of Khuldhara which is in between Sam and Jaisalmer. 4. Best time to visit Sam - From the months of April to September the weather is very hot in Sam as it touches 55 and there are also some sand storms which no travelers wants to experience. So October to March are perfect for a Jaisalmer holiday. For more information one can contact local desert camps sites as they can offer more details which one needs if they are planning to spend a holiday in Sam & Jaisalmer. Read More View Comments \| Post Comment
Travel Explore the luxury & wildlife of royal state of Rajasthan Posted by Pratap Singh on April 13, 2016 Rajasthan, a term when someone speaks of we get ideas like Hawa Mahal, Amber fort and other royal castles. But not many know that Rajasthan also has a strong wildlife tourism which the state offers by its National Parks, State Zoo's and safari tours (elephant) So today we (me and my friends from Chetarm Voyages who assist travelers in exploring Rajasthan with their tour packages) share some amazing destinations which a wildlife lover would love to see. 1. Ranthambore National Park tour Open all year except the rainy days, Ranthambore national park is a heaven for wildlife travelers to explore the forest which has largest tiger population in India, Leopards, Nilgai, Sambar deer, Chinkara, Jackals, Black bucks and more more. The national park very well connected with popular urban cities like New Delhi (a 4 hour train ride), Jaipur (a 2-3 hour train ride), Kota, Agra etc. As we can tell by experience that travelers who buytour packages to visit Jaipur from us are also interested to visit Ranthambore as they just require one extra day. Ranthambore National Park also has some other tourist attractions like the Ranthambore Fort which got famous after a few documentaries done by Discovery channel and there also also some local famous temples of Ganpathi where one can visit for god’s blessing. 2. Desert National Park of Thar Thar or thar desert is 18th largest oasis if the world and it comes in both Rajasthan (India) and Pakistan side. But the one in India has develop a unique national park which is a dry desert area but surprisingly contains vast variety of birds and fossils of dinosaurs dates almost 6 million years. The Thar Desert National Park comes in Jaisalmer district which currently is a hot tourist destination (Hot weather and hot as per tourist numbers). The city of Jaisalmer offers such un-touched heritage like old havelies, massive forts that travelers love to explore Jaisalmer. We know as because as per our number 60% of people planning to visit Rajasthan wants to look at thedetails of our Jaisalmer holiday tour package. 3. Other National Parks of Rajasthan. So of the major parks have been discussed but still Rajasthan has many other parks like - Sariska National Park, Alwar Sita Mata Sanctuary, Pratapgarh Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary , Bharatpur Keladevi Wildlife Sanctuary, Karauli Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Kumbhalgarh National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary, Kota Darrah Sanctuary, Kota Mount Abu Sanctuary, Mount Abu Making a total of 10 wildlife national Parks in Rajasthan. And the best time to explore these attractions in September to March as they weather is quite calm in these months. Read More View Comments \| Post Comment
Travel A Trip to desert wildlife of Jaisalmer and Sam Posted by Pratap Singh on April 13, 2016 Well the term wildlife mostly brings jungle and green regions in our mind as famous wildlife parks in India are Ranthambore National Park, Jim Corbett National park etc and they all have one thing in common. They are all forest area. But today I want to share my experience of India's only desert wildlife national park. Its Desert National Park at Sam Jaisalmer. The national park is like 20% of complete Sam sand dune area and thats comes to a figure of 3162 sq Km. The desert national park is mostly made up of craggy rocks and sand dunes but one will be surprised to see the type of birds visible in the park. At the park one can see Short-toed eagles, falcons, vultures, buzzards and kestrel plus the park also have fossils of dinosaurs which ate almost 6-7 million year old and plants which are 180 million year old. Sam regions nowadays has become a popular tourist destination for travelers seeking adventure activities like paragliding, quad bikes and all of these are offered by locals who have created many desert camps in Sam. Some notables ones are Royal Desert Camp, Rajputana Desert Tents Jaisalmer and Maharaja Camps. Plus travelers can also enjoy musical programs in these camps like Rajasthani folk dance and also taste local prepared cuisine. Just 45 kms from Sam we have the city of Jaisalmer which is also referred as the golden city of India as the Jaisalmer fort, which was once the home of Jaisalmer royalty is made up of yellow sand rocks and it shines when sunlight comes on it. For more information of Jaisalmer once can check this list by https://www.tripadvisor.in/Attractions-g297667-Activities-Jaisalmer_Rajasthan.html Read More View Comments \| Post Comment
Travel Tiger Safari Tour in North India at Corbett Posted by Uday on January 17, 2016 Corbett National Park was the first protected area to be declared as a Tiger Reserve. Named after the legendary hunter of man eating tigers Jim Corbett the region abounds with rich wilderness. The park is now a hub of tiger tourism and birding in India. Situated at a height of six hundred MSL it is also known as the foothills of Himalayas. The towering mountains can be seen while on a game ride in the park. Divided into six zones namely: Bijarani Dhela Jhirna Dhikala Sonanadi Durga Devi The entry has to be booked in advance using the online facility or through a tour operator. All zones are equally good for a safari but I personally rate Dhikala and Bijarani as best. In Dhikala one can see plenty of birds apart from the tiger, wild elephant, sloth bear, gharial and marsh crocodile. For a game round Dhikala a stay in the complex is necessary. The booking is done in advance due to the heavy rush. Bijarani is good for tigers and other mammals found in the reserve. There are more than five hundred avian species to be sighted here. Many of these are altitude migrants while some arrive from far but local migrants and residents abound. The region is having affinity with Indo-China hence one can see the goral as well on the mountain slopes. Hod deer is another species worth looking for. There are more than six hundred wild elephants which cover an extensive area. The reserve is top rated by bird watchers in Northern India. The best season is of course in winters. For tigers summers is the best season but they are visible throughout the year. The destination has more than 200 tigers hence the impressive sightings. Joy rides on elephant back are also available which are conducted by the forest department in the zones. In the buffer region at Ramnagar one can hire privately managed elephants for ride in the forests adjacent to the Ramganga River. For safari in other zones stay at Ramnagar is the best as there are many hotels and guest houses. One can avail any kind of accommodation depending upon one's budget. Corbett is accessible from Delhi by road and a visit is often organized in a package tour. The itinerary often contains a visit to Bharatpur, Nainital and Corbett. While the first two are for bird watching the latter is for tiger tours apart from bird watching. The destination is also accessible by train from Lucknow and New Delhi. Due to extreme cold one needs warm clothing and a cozy place to stay. If you are not in a package tour then hire a birding guide to hence the checklist. Read More View Comments \| Post Comment
Travel Mowgli Land - Pench Wilderness Posted by Uday on August 22, 2015 Less known as tiger reserves since quiet late the park in India was made famous by the legendary Rudyard Kipling. It is said a British Officer (Lt.Moor) discovered Mowgli living among the wolves near the village of Sant Vavadi. The news got to Col.Sleeman and then to Kipling. Using his imagination he carved playful but adventurous life of the child and his wild entourage of the Seoni Hills. The vivid spins of imagination and entailing story that emerged made the Jungle Book immortal. The escapades enthrall and enliven the minds of young and old. The Seoni Hills mostly under serve biotic stress harbor enchanting wildlife in small area untouched by the mauradaurs of the wild. This is now known as Pench Tiger Reserve and National Park all over the world. Ensconced in Seoni and Chhindwara District of Madhya Pradesh in Central India the tiger-land is one of the choicest place to get to see the tiger in its natural home. A part of the reserve is under Maharashtra Forests but most of the tourism is in the belt that lies in Madhya Pradesh. The park is about eighty km from Nagpur Airport while the distance from Jabalpur Airport is about 200 km. The distance from Kanha National Park is about 150 km. The long drives to the reserve takes a turn at Khawasa Township on the border to the two states. From here it is a ten km drive to Turia Gate of the reserve. Both the long drives to the tiger reserve cut across some of the finest reserve forests creating a picturesque spectacle. The road to Turia Gate offers a chance to see the Indian wolf for those lucky enough. The big cats are encountered everywhere in the dense canopy besides the other animals. The reserve is home to many other mammals and antelopes like the Nilgai, four horned deer and Indian Gazelle. Tourists on tiger safari preen their eyes and alert their sensory apparatus to get a sight of the sloth bear,leopard and the wild dog. The majestic gaur is striking in appearance due to its massive musculature and sheer grace. The coarse feeder thrives in the park thanks to excellent conservation efforts. Wild boar, spotted deer,sambar and langur are a common sight. Pench River intersects the reserve and is dammed at Totlah Doh. This has created a large reservoir now frequented by various species of water birds. Hence the reserve is a good place to see both the wetland and forest species in Central India. The river is a perpetual source of water and hence acts as the lifeline of the park. The ecosystem comprises of low lying mountains, dense mixed forests, grasslands, water bodies and rivers. These elements form an excellent habitat for the tigers and major mammals. Small nocturnal mammals can be seen on the night safari in the buffer zone of the park. Animals such as civets, mongoose, wolf, leopard, porcupine, pangolin, ratel and many more. The night safari is available throughout the year and can be booked on the MP Online Portal. There are many resort hotels for accommodation in the buffer zone of the park near the Turia Village. The hotels at Pench National Park range from budget to star category offering accommodation at different tariff to suit the visitors. The main tourism zone of the park is open from 1st October to end of June while the night safari is available throughout the year. Tourists visiting the park must carry warm clothed during the winter along with good set of binoculars and some bird books. Since the gate entry is limited to set number of vehicles one should always book in advance before arrival. Read More View Comments \| Post Comment
Travel Magical Wildlife of Bandhavgarh Posted by Uday on August 19, 2015 A four hour drive through picturesque Umaria Forests takes one to Bandhavgarh after landing at Jabalpur Airport. Albeit one comes across lot of denuded patches the remaining low lying hills with good forest cover create a pleasing picture. Once teeming with wilderness and forests the region has lost its sheen. Like every where else the reserve forests are slowly turning into green deserts. The wildlife is badly decimated thanks to indiscriminate poaching which still goes on sporadically. The long continues stretch takes an abrupt turn at Shahpura township. This place hosts the famous Ghagua Fossil National Park. The plant fossil date back to 60 million years whence the tectonic plates became active. Another fifty km of drive takes you to Umaria rail head. Close to Bandhavgarh National Park the forests appear some distance from here. A good thirty two kilometer drive takes you to the Tala Gate. This is a premium tourism zone in the land of the tiger. The tiger landscape stretches to about 1100 sq.km an area under the Project Tiger. Bandhavgarh is one of the most picturesque park in India. Small as compared to many it contains high density of tigers. It is also an excellent breeding ground for the big cats and other mammals. The stunning biodiversity encompasses all forms of wildlife from microbes to giant gaurs. The Indian bison as they are called had become locally extinct some years back due to disease prevalence. Translocation of gaurs from nearby Kanha National Park is a major success story. The park is home to other mammals like the sambar, leopard, barking deer, sloth bear, spotted deer, four horned deer, langur, rhesus macaque, wild boar, dhole and many small nocturnal ones. Excellent bird life prevails especially the forest species. Unfortunately bird watching is much neglected under the shadow of the majestic tiger. Reptiles, insects and many other forms of diverse life thrives in this magnificent ecosystem. Bandhavgarh is home to some ancient relics of civilizations dating back to two thousand years. The fort complex is magnificent, a visit offers sight of Vishnu Idols in stone in zoomorphic forms. The large reservoirs, fort in ruins, Hindu temples and intervening forests and grasslands all create exotic ambiance. The low lying Bandhavgarh Mountain offers a view of the park. A panoramic grandeur which leaves the visitors spellbound. Midway up the ascent is Sesh Shaiyya esoteric and remote the pool is surrounded by ferns and grasses with springs. The dense canopy and the grove accord amazing serenity to the visitors. The reclining Vishnu is carved out of an igneous rock and is twenty feet long. Jungle roads enable the tourists to cover a large cross section of the forests. This is the tiger safari that lets you seen the beast in the wild. A drive yields much more deer, wild boar and langur the ubiquitous fauna of the reserve. Three species of antelope can be seen here namely Nilgai, Four horned Deer and the Indian Gazelle. For the more attentive plethora of avian species mesmerizes with their startling colors. More than two hundred and fifty species inhabit this National Park many of which are migrant. The park is open throughout now but during the monsoon only buffer zone safaris are available. Post monsoon all the three core zones are open for tourism. While photographers tolerate the intense heat of the summers, International visitors keep to the cooler months. Hence October to March are busy months here. Visitors should avoid festival days in order to gain a positive experience of the resort. During holiday periods the hotels in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve are nearly full. All type of accommodations are available near the Tala Gate. The park permits are also booked fully hence one should reserve much in advance for the busy period. Early Booking is possible on Internet at MP Online Portal. About three day safari offers holistic experience of the wildlife heaven. Winter clothes are required as it gets very cold. In summers khakis will do. Carry binoculars, good cameras and bird books for better understanding of this magnificent ecosystem. Read More View Comments \| Post Comment
Travel Loghouse Stay at Chinnar Posted by V S Sankar on June 07, 2015 Log House Stay At Chinnar........ I have visited the Chinnar WLS few times over the years and never had the opportunity of spending a night in the wilderness of the beautiful place.The idea of visitng Chinnar and staying for a night came up again in this May(2010), and we packed our bags and headed towards Munnar on a fine morning. Chinnar is one of the 12 WLS that Kerala is proud of and is adjoined by Eravikulam Natonal park,Anaimali WLS and Kodaikkanal WLS.The highest peak of Kerala,The Anaimudi is just 23kms away from Chinnar. We reached Munnar around 8pm and stayed for the night there.The climate was pleasant and we felt really good and at least for a few days escaping the gruelling heat down the plains. The next day, our idea was to visit Eravikulam National Park and then proceed to Chinnar.But the tourist inflow was very high and we saw quite a number of them lining up to get to Eravikulam NP.We decided to skip the Nilgiri Tahrs for this vist and headed immediately towards Chinnar. We have planned to stay at one of the Loghouses that Chinnar offers.We havn't planned which particular loghouse.Any one of them would do for us.All are inside the Chinar sanctuary. We meandered our way towards Maraiyur(which is around 40kms from Munnar).Both sides were filled with tea plantations and we stopped at a few places to take some pictures.We reached Maraiyur and without stopping headed towards Chinnar which is a further 18 kms away. We stopped on way to view the Thoomanam waterfalls which was cascading with all its splendour.I clicked a few photos with my Canon 400D and 55-250 IS lens. From the tourist info center we came to know about the loghouse near the falls.But we have already made up our mind to be at Chinnar proper. We finally reached Chinnar checkpost around 2pm.A quick vegetarian lunch at the hotel run by tribals satisfied our hunger.We booked the loghouse and waited for the Tribal forest guard to come and lead us to the loghouse. The Loghouse at Chinnar.....Spectacular surroundings Mr.Kannan ariived at around 3pm and we immediately started our trek rowards the Loghouse.We kept only a few pieces of cloth and rest of the baggage remained in the car which we parked near the Checkpost. Chinnar boasts of certain wild animals which can be seen only here.Star Tortoise is one among them.The white Guar is another and this an extremely rare sighting.Only a few handful of people have seen it and very less number of photographs exists of the animal.The largest population of Mugger Crocodiles are living in Chinnar sanctuary. We started our 3km trek to the loghouse in right earnest.The heat here is unbearable.Chinnar is the "Rain shadow" region of the Western Ghats.Rain shadow region is where the rainfall is minimal.The temparature can raise upto 38degree celcius at times! I was expecting to sight elephants on the way to the loghouse and Kannann also gave me assuarance.We passed the watch tower(Didnt bother to climb as it was early afternoon) and continued to walk towards our destination.Yellow throated bulbul is one of the 245 or so species of birds that can be seen here. A Rock Agama has blended in with the surroundings In around 45 minutes we reached our loghouse which was built near the Pambar river bank.Chinnar is the other river and it becomes the Amaravathy river as it reaches Tamil Nadu. The log house is built with logs(of course) and thatched with asbestos sheets.The time was around 4:30pm and the heat was still on the higher side.Kannan informed us that the temperature will be cooler during night. After sitting in the loghouse for some time I headed to the river.I could see plenty of rock Agamas playing around.I photographed the agamas to my satisfaction and in between dipped myself in the Pambar river. Thommanam Waterfalls....Magnificient A few babblers were rustling at a distance and the sound of birds reinvigorated our souls.Since my lens can reach only up to 250 mm I decided against attempting to photograph them. I asked Kannan about the prospect of sighting a Star Tortoise.Kannan as usual was very optimistic.Darkness was approaching and we sat on the steps in front of the door and listened to the sound made by nature.Before reaching the loghouse we saw a few sambars standing and looking at us from a hill top opposite the trek path.(Of course well out of range for my lens!) A Hawk Eagle on the way At around 7:30 pm another guard arrived with our dinner.It was simple Parothas and vegetable curry.We can't complain about the food when you are in deep forst! The log house is comfortabel for 2 people.The guards said they would be comfortable sleeping on a rock face very close to the river.I saw some people moving in the opposite bank of the river.Kannan informed us that they are Tribals from Tamil Nadu laying nets for catching fish. We had a good nights sleep in the middle of the Chinnar foest.That is what I have been dreaming for over a number of years.Now it has been fulfilled.Just before we retired to the bed I heared Kannn calling me from outside.On opening the door I saw a Star Tortoise baby crawling towards the door.Immediately I took some pictres using flash. We got up early the next morning and went and sat near the river.It was a beautiful feeling to sit there just listening to the flow of water and chirping of birds.Far away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Amazing......A rock Agama changing colors.This happened in 10seconds! We started our trek back to the check post around 8am.I was very optimistic about the sighting of an elephant herd on our way back. We coudn't see any elephants but foot marks were aplenty.Kannan pointed out a particular set of foot prints which was of a tusker. We reached the check post around 9am.We thanked Kannan for the way he has taken care of us and asuured him that we would be back agian for a stay.After having breakfast at the tribal hotel we started our journey back. The famous Star Tortoise of Chinnar.....Head withdrawn Another view of the Loghouse.....Away from Hustle and Bustle The Watch Tower.... Chinnar........Get lost in this place!!!! Read More View Comments \| Post Comment
Travel Kinnaur Posted by Vikas Sharma on June 02, 2015 Kinnaur, surrounded by the Tibet to the east, is in the northeast corner of Himachal Pradesh, about 235 km (146 mi) from the state capital, Shimla. It has three high mountains ranges, namely, Zanskar, Himalayas and Dhauldhar that enclose valleys of Sutlej, Spiti, Baspa and their tributaries. The slopes are covered with thick wood, orchards, fields and picturesque hamlets. The much religious Shivling lies at the peak of Kinnaur Kailash mountainThe old Hindustan-Tibet Road passes through the Kinnaur valley along the bank of river Sutlej and finally enters Tibet at Shipki La pass. Most of Kinnaur enjoys a temperate climate due to its high elevation, with long winters from October to May, and short summers from June to September Kinnaur is a beautiful district to visit. Great natural scenes, rivers, valleys, high mountains, lakes and green pastures creates a mesmerizing scenes for tourists. Best time to visit the district is from April to October. Kinnaur is famous for its Handloom and Handicraft items like shawls, caps, mufflers, article of wood carving, metal work and silver & gold ornaments . Kinnaur is also famous for apples, almonds, chilgoza, ogla, apricots and grapes. There are many wholesale shops at Kalpa, Reckong Peo, Karchham, Tapri etc. Besides this the co-operative societies, small production-cum-training centres and Khadi gram udyog centres are looking after the local products like gudmas, shawls,wool, neoza, zira, etc. Also there are many retail price shops in every village. Local fairs, mela and festivals are the main source of shopping The district has the following wildlife sancutaries: 1. Lipa-Asrang Sanctuary 2. Rakchham-Chhitkul Sanctuary 3 .Rupi-Bhaba Sanctuary Read More View Comments \| Post Comment
Travel Apple Orchards Posted by Vikas Sharma on May 28, 2015 The beautiful appleorchards in Himachal Pradesh are a popular travel attraction of the state.While in HP a visit to these beautiful apple gardens is a must as here you canget to know more about the cultivation process along with enjoying thepanoramic view of the Himalayan ranges at the backdrop. Shimla isimportant for apple cultivation. This picture is of the hill slopes of Theogwhere apple cultivation is the most important activity. Also you can buy lotson apples from these orchards on your way back. Apple is one of the mostimportant commercial crops of the Himalayan region and Himachal Pradesh (HP) with 1.05 lakh ha area under apple cultivationwhich fetches livelihood for more than two lakh farmers. The wintertemperature and precipitation in the form of snow are rtant and sensitive climatic factors for induction of dormancy, bud break and also to ensure proper flowering in apples. Read More View Comments \| Post Comment

Posted by Pratap Singh on April 29, 2016

Me and my gand decided to share a story here at indianwildlifeclub.com that even is India's biggest urban city wildlife exists. Yes in New Delhi we might not have a big national park like Ranthambore Tiger Reserve but there are some green spaces which a wildlife lover might find attractive to visit.

So lets get started with Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary

At Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary one can escape the urbanest of New Delhi and see a large variety of birds and animals like 200+ species of birds, 100 butterflies species, jungle cat, jackals, blackbuck, nilgai and most popular & my favorite black-naped hare which is also referred as Indian hare.

Along with this there is CEC (Conservation Education Center) & Bombay Natural History Society has a small presentation for visitors which educate on Flora & Fauna of Arvalli and also teaches how to conserve it.

Most guests here which I noticed were families with small children and I also met with a family who run a nice hotel in south Delhi by the name of Hotel GTC who told us that this sanctuary is perfect for those who wants to educate their children about the importance of wildlife. Good thought.

We visited the Sanctuary in April which is pretty hot. So I will suggest that the best months to spend a day here is in Winters of New Delhi which are from the months of September to February. Plus I will also suggest to carry extra bottles of water as this is an eco-zone so you won't find much options of water bottles inside the park.

For travelers who are especially visiting Delhi to explore Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, accommodation option nearby are Greater Kailash or Noida. And if you want any extra information then feel free to comment of share this post on Twitter along with @jsc_999, I will love to assist.

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Travel

Jaisalmer Wildlife and tourism are going hand in hand

Posted by Pratap Singh on April 18, 2016

Since 2010 the government of Rajasthan has taken some actions to promote eco tourism in many cities which are famous for their wildlife like Ranthambore and now the government have also declared national parks as eco-sensitive zones which means that one can't construct permanent accommodation in jungle area.

This policy isn't just for national parks with green forest but also for the sand dunes of Jaisalmer which after this decision has implemented new ideas to promote tourism with innovative ideas. So in this post I would love to share a view of eco tourism of Jaisalmer which is attracting many to visit the sand dunes of Sam from October to March every year.

1. Desert Camps - More the 100 camps have been set in Sam region and not just Swiss tents, here we have small restaurants offering local food, musical program from local dancers and bonfire events. All those events are mostly seen in Jungle camps and now are available in desert camps too. A wise example is to check this site on Jaisalmer Desert Camps and Jaisalmer Desert Tents at Sam which offer desert camp accommodation, nice dinner and an awesome musical evening at Sam sand dunes.

Suggested site to view more on desert camping in Sam sand dunes, Jaisalmer is Jaisalmer desert tent, Dangri Jaisalmer desert camp and Khiri desert camp.

2. Desert Safari - Well as you have jungle safari in national parks we have desert safari in desert dune areas. One can either enjoy a 30 mins to 2 hour camel safari or an hour ride in Jeep safari. Plus if you are one of those travelers who love to walk then a trekking trip to the sand dunes will be a new experience.

3. Nearby attractions - Well Sam is just 45 kms away from Jaisalmer and I must say that the road conditions here are excellent. So one can either explore many tourist spots of Jaisalmer like Golden fort, Gadisar lake or visit the haunted city of Khuldhara which is in between Sam and Jaisalmer.

4. Best time to visit Sam - From the months of April to September the weather is very hot in Sam as it touches 55 and there are also some sand storms which no travelers wants to experience. So October to March are perfect for a Jaisalmer holiday.

For more information one can contact local desert camps sites as they can offer more details which one needs if they are planning to spend a holiday in Sam & Jaisalmer.

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Travel

Explore the luxury & wildlife of royal state of Rajasthan

Posted by Pratap Singh on April 13, 2016

Rajasthan, a term when someone speaks of we get ideas like Hawa Mahal, Amber fort and other royal castles. But not many know that Rajasthan also has a strong wildlife tourism which the state offers by its National Parks, State Zoo's and safari tours (elephant)

So today we (me and my friends from Chetarm Voyages who assist travelers in exploring Rajasthan with their tour packages) share some amazing destinations which a wildlife lover would love to see.

1. Ranthambore National Park tour

Open all year except the rainy days, Ranthambore national park is a heaven for wildlife travelers to explore the forest which has largest tiger population in India, Leopards, Nilgai, Sambar deer, Chinkara, Jackals, Black bucks and more more.

The national park very well connected with popular urban cities like New Delhi (a 4 hour train ride), Jaipur (a 2-3 hour train ride), Kota, Agra etc. As we can tell by experience that travelers who buytour packages to visit Jaipur from us are also interested to visit Ranthambore as they just require one extra day.

Ranthambore National Park also has some other tourist attractions like the Ranthambore Fort which got famous after a few documentaries done by Discovery channel and there also also some local famous temples of Ganpathi where one can visit for god’s blessing.

2. Desert National Park of Thar

Thar or thar desert is 18th largest oasis if the world and it comes in both Rajasthan (India) and Pakistan side. But the one in India has develop a unique national park which is a dry desert area but surprisingly contains vast variety of birds and fossils of dinosaurs dates almost 6 million years.

The Thar Desert National Park comes in Jaisalmer district which currently is a hot tourist destination (Hot weather and hot as per tourist numbers). The city of Jaisalmer offers such un-touched heritage like old havelies, massive forts that travelers love to explore Jaisalmer. We know as because as per our number 60% of people planning to visit Rajasthan wants to look at thedetails of our Jaisalmer holiday tour package.

3. Other National Parks of Rajasthan.

So of the major parks have been discussed but still Rajasthan has many other parks like -

Sariska National Park, Alwar
Sita Mata Sanctuary, Pratapgarh
Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary , Bharatpur
Keladevi Wildlife Sanctuary, Karauli
Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Kumbhalgarh
National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary, Kota
Darrah Sanctuary, Kota
Mount Abu Sanctuary, Mount Abu

Making a total of 10 wildlife national Parks in Rajasthan. And the best time to explore these attractions in September to March as they weather is quite calm in these months.

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Travel

A Trip to desert wildlife of Jaisalmer and Sam

Posted by Pratap Singh on April 13, 2016

Well the term wildlife mostly brings jungle and green regions in our mind as famous wildlife parks in India are Ranthambore National Park, Jim Corbett National park etc and they all have one thing in common. They are all forest area.

But today I want to share my experience of India's only desert wildlife national park. Its Desert National Park at Sam Jaisalmer.

The national park is like 20% of complete Sam sand dune area and thats comes to a figure of 3162 sq Km. The desert national park is mostly made up of craggy rocks and sand dunes but one will be surprised to see the type of birds visible in the park.

At the park one can see Short-toed eagles, falcons, vultures, buzzards and kestrel plus the park also have fossils of dinosaurs which ate almost 6-7 million year old and plants which are 180 million year old.

Sam regions nowadays has become a popular tourist destination for travelers seeking adventure activities like paragliding, quad bikes and all of these are offered by locals who have created many desert camps in Sam. Some notables ones are Royal Desert Camp, Rajputana Desert Tents Jaisalmer and Maharaja Camps.

Plus travelers can also enjoy musical programs in these camps like Rajasthani folk dance and also taste local prepared cuisine.

Just 45 kms from Sam we have the city of Jaisalmer which is also referred as the golden city of India as the Jaisalmer fort, which was once the home of Jaisalmer royalty is made up of yellow sand rocks and it shines when sunlight comes on it.

For more information of Jaisalmer once can check this list by https://www.tripadvisor.in/Attractions-g297667-Activities-Jaisalmer_Rajasthan.html

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Travel

Tiger Safari Tour in North India at Corbett

Posted by Uday on January 17, 2016

Corbett National Park was the first protected area to be declared as a Tiger Reserve. Named after the legendary hunter of man eating tigers Jim Corbett the region abounds with rich wilderness. The park is now a hub of tiger tourism and birding in India.

Situated at a height of six hundred MSL it is also known as the foothills of Himalayas. The towering mountains can be seen while on a game ride in the park. Divided into six zones namely:

Bijarani

Dhela
Jhirna
Dhikala
Sonanadi
Durga Devi

The entry has to be booked in advance using the online facility or through a tour operator. All zones are equally good for a safari but I personally rate Dhikala and Bijarani as best. In Dhikala one can see plenty of birds apart from the tiger, wild elephant, sloth bear, gharial and marsh crocodile. For a game round Dhikala a stay in the complex is necessary. The booking is done in advance due to the heavy rush. Bijarani is good for tigers and other mammals found in the reserve.

There are more than five hundred avian species to be sighted here. Many of these are altitude migrants while some arrive from far but local migrants and residents abound.

The region is having affinity with Indo-China hence one can see the goral as well on the mountain slopes. Hod deer is another species worth looking for. There are more than six hundred wild elephants which cover an extensive area.

The reserve is top rated by bird watchers in Northern India. The best season is of course in winters. For tigers summers is the best season but they are visible throughout the year. The destination has more than 200 tigers hence the impressive sightings.

Joy rides on elephant back are also available which are conducted by the forest department in the zones. In the buffer region at Ramnagar one can hire privately managed elephants for ride in the forests adjacent to the Ramganga River.

For safari in other zones stay at Ramnagar is the best as there are many hotels and guest houses. One can avail any kind of accommodation depending upon one's budget.

Corbett is accessible from Delhi by road and a visit is often organized in a package tour. The itinerary often contains a visit to Bharatpur, Nainital and Corbett. While the first two are for bird watching the latter is for tiger tours apart from bird watching.

The destination is also accessible by train from Lucknow and New Delhi. Due to extreme cold one needs warm clothing and a cozy place to stay. If you are not in a package tour then hire a birding guide to hence the checklist.

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Travel

Mowgli Land - Pench Wilderness

Posted by Uday on August 22, 2015

Less known as tiger reserves since quiet late the park in India was made famous by the legendary Rudyard Kipling. It is said a British Officer (Lt.Moor) discovered Mowgli living among the wolves near the village of Sant Vavadi. The news got to Col.Sleeman and then to Kipling.

Using his imagination he carved playful but adventurous life of the child and his wild entourage of the Seoni Hills. The vivid spins of imagination and entailing story that emerged made the Jungle Book immortal. The escapades enthrall and enliven the minds of young and old. The Seoni Hills mostly under serve biotic stress harbor enchanting wildlife in small area untouched by the mauradaurs of the wild.

This is now known as Pench Tiger Reserve and National Park all over the world. Ensconced in Seoni and Chhindwara District of Madhya Pradesh in Central India the tiger-land is one of the choicest place to get to see the tiger in its natural home. A part of the reserve is under Maharashtra Forests but most of the tourism is in the belt that lies in Madhya Pradesh.

The park is about eighty km from Nagpur Airport while the distance from Jabalpur Airport is about 200 km. The distance from Kanha National Park is about 150 km. The long drives to the reserve takes a turn at Khawasa Township on the border to the two states. From here it is a ten km drive to Turia Gate of the reserve.

Both the long drives to the tiger reserve cut across some of the finest reserve forests creating a picturesque spectacle. The road to Turia Gate offers a chance to see the Indian wolf for those lucky enough. The big cats are encountered everywhere in the dense canopy besides the other animals. The reserve is home to many other mammals and antelopes like the Nilgai, four horned deer and Indian Gazelle.

Tourists on tiger safari preen their eyes and alert their sensory apparatus to get a sight of the sloth bear,leopard and the wild dog. The majestic gaur is striking in appearance due to its massive musculature and sheer grace. The coarse feeder thrives in the park thanks to excellent conservation efforts. Wild boar, spotted deer,sambar and langur are a common sight.
Pench River intersects the reserve and is dammed at Totlah Doh. This has created a large reservoir now frequented by various species of water birds. Hence the reserve is a good place to see both the wetland and forest species in Central India. The river is a perpetual source of water and hence acts as the lifeline of the park.

The ecosystem comprises of low lying mountains, dense mixed forests, grasslands, water bodies and rivers. These elements form an excellent habitat for the tigers and major mammals. Small nocturnal mammals can be seen on the night safari in the buffer zone of the park. Animals such as civets, mongoose, wolf, leopard, porcupine, pangolin, ratel and many more. The night safari is available throughout the year and can be booked on the MP Online Portal.

There are many resort hotels for accommodation in the buffer zone of the park near the Turia Village. The hotels at Pench National Park range from budget to star category offering accommodation at different tariff to suit the visitors.

The main tourism zone of the park is open from 1st October to end of June while the night safari is available throughout the year. Tourists visiting the park must carry warm clothed during the winter along with good set of binoculars and some bird books.

Since the gate entry is limited to set number of vehicles one should always book in advance before arrival.

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Travel

Magical Wildlife of Bandhavgarh

Posted by Uday on August 19, 2015

A four hour drive through picturesque Umaria Forests takes one to Bandhavgarh after landing at Jabalpur Airport. Albeit one comes across lot of denuded patches the remaining low lying hills with good forest cover create a pleasing picture. Once teeming with wilderness and forests the region has lost its sheen. Like every where else the reserve forests are slowly turning into green deserts. The wildlife is badly decimated thanks to indiscriminate poaching which still goes on sporadically.

The long continues stretch takes an abrupt turn at Shahpura township. This place hosts the famous Ghagua Fossil National Park. The plant fossil date back to 60 million years whence the tectonic plates became active. Another fifty km of drive takes you to Umaria rail head. Close to Bandhavgarh National Park the forests appear some distance from here. A good thirty two kilometer drive takes you to the Tala Gate. This is a premium tourism zone in the land of the tiger. The tiger landscape stretches to about 1100 sq.km an area under the Project Tiger.

Bandhavgarh is one of the most picturesque park in India. Small as compared to many it contains high density of tigers. It is also an excellent breeding ground for the big cats and other mammals. The stunning biodiversity encompasses all forms of wildlife from microbes to giant gaurs. The Indian bison as they are called had become locally extinct some years back due to disease prevalence.

Translocation of gaurs from nearby Kanha National Park is a major success story. The park is home to other mammals like the sambar, leopard, barking deer, sloth bear, spotted deer, four horned deer, langur, rhesus macaque, wild boar, dhole and many small nocturnal ones.

Excellent bird life prevails especially the forest species. Unfortunately bird watching is much neglected under the shadow of the majestic tiger. Reptiles, insects and many other forms of diverse life thrives in this magnificent ecosystem.

Bandhavgarh is home to some ancient relics of civilizations dating back to two thousand years. The fort complex is magnificent, a visit offers sight of Vishnu Idols in stone in zoomorphic forms. The large reservoirs, fort in ruins, Hindu temples and intervening forests and grasslands all create exotic ambiance. The low lying Bandhavgarh Mountain offers a view of the park. A panoramic grandeur which leaves the visitors spellbound. Midway up the ascent is Sesh Shaiyya esoteric and remote the pool is surrounded by ferns and grasses with springs. The dense canopy and the grove accord amazing serenity to the visitors. The reclining Vishnu is carved out of an igneous rock and is twenty feet long.

Jungle roads enable the tourists to cover a large cross section of the forests. This is the tiger safari that lets you seen the beast in the wild. A drive yields much more deer, wild boar and langur the ubiquitous fauna of the reserve. Three species of antelope can be seen here namely Nilgai, Four horned Deer and the Indian Gazelle.

For the more attentive plethora of avian species mesmerizes with their startling colors. More than two hundred and fifty species inhabit this National Park many of which are migrant.

The park is open throughout now but during the monsoon only buffer zone safaris are available. Post monsoon all the three core zones are open for tourism. While photographers tolerate the intense heat of the summers, International visitors keep to the cooler months. Hence October to March are busy months here. Visitors should avoid festival days in order to gain a positive experience of the resort.

During holiday periods the hotels in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve are nearly full. All type of accommodations are available near the Tala Gate. The park permits are also booked fully hence one should reserve much in advance for the busy period. Early Booking is possible on Internet at MP Online Portal.

About three day safari offers holistic experience of the wildlife heaven. Winter clothes are required as it gets very cold. In summers khakis will do. Carry binoculars, good cameras and bird books for better understanding of this magnificent ecosystem.

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Travel

Loghouse Stay at Chinnar

Posted by V S Sankar on June 07, 2015

Log House Stay At Chinnar........

I have visited the Chinnar WLS few times over the years and never had the opportunity of spending a night in the wilderness of the beautiful place.The idea of visitng Chinnar and staying for a night came up again in this May(2010), and we packed our bags and headed towards Munnar on a fine morning.

Chinnar is one of the 12 WLS that Kerala is proud of and is adjoined by Eravikulam Natonal park,Anaimali WLS and Kodaikkanal WLS.The highest peak of Kerala,The Anaimudi is just 23kms away from Chinnar.

We reached Munnar around 8pm and stayed for the night there.The climate was pleasant and we felt really good and at least for a few days escaping the gruelling heat down the plains.

The next day, our idea was to visit Eravikulam National Park and then proceed to Chinnar.But the tourist inflow was very high and we saw quite a number of them lining up to get to Eravikulam NP.We decided to skip the Nilgiri Tahrs for this vist and headed immediately towards Chinnar.

We have planned to stay at one of the Loghouses that Chinnar offers.We havn't planned which particular loghouse.Any one of them would do for us.All are inside the Chinar sanctuary.

We meandered our way towards Maraiyur(which is around 40kms from Munnar).Both sides were filled with tea plantations and we stopped at a few places to take some pictures.We reached Maraiyur and without stopping headed towards Chinnar which is a further 18 kms away.

We stopped on way to view the Thoomanam waterfalls which was cascading with all its splendour.I clicked a few photos with my Canon 400D and 55-250 IS lens.

From the tourist info center we came to know about the loghouse near the falls.But we have already made up our mind to be at Chinnar proper.

We finally reached Chinnar checkpost around 2pm.A quick vegetarian lunch at the hotel run by tribals satisfied our hunger.We booked the loghouse and waited for the Tribal forest guard to come and lead us to the loghouse.

The Loghouse at Chinnar.....Spectacular surroundings

Mr.Kannan ariived at around 3pm and we immediately started our trek rowards the Loghouse.We kept only a few pieces of cloth and rest of the baggage remained in the car which we parked near the Checkpost.

Chinnar boasts of certain wild animals which can be seen only here.Star Tortoise is one among them.The white Guar is another and this an extremely rare sighting.Only a few handful of people have seen it
and very less number of photographs exists of the animal.The largest population of Mugger Crocodiles are living in Chinnar sanctuary.

We started our 3km trek to the loghouse in right earnest.The heat here is unbearable.Chinnar is the "Rain shadow" region of the Western Ghats.Rain shadow region is where the rainfall is minimal.The temparature can raise upto 38degree celcius at times!

I was expecting to sight elephants on the way to the loghouse and Kannann also gave me assuarance.We passed the watch tower(Didnt bother to climb as it was early afternoon) and continued to walk towards our destination.Yellow throated bulbul is one of the 245 or so species of birds that can be seen here.

A Rock Agama has blended in with the surroundings

In around 45 minutes we reached our loghouse which was built near the Pambar river bank.Chinnar is the other river and it becomes the Amaravathy river as it reaches Tamil Nadu.

The log house is built with logs(of course) and thatched with asbestos sheets.The time was around 4:30pm and the heat was still on the higher side.Kannan informed us that the temperature will be cooler during night.

After sitting in the loghouse for some time I headed to the river.I could see plenty of rock Agamas playing around.I photographed the agamas to my satisfaction and in between dipped myself in the Pambar river.

Thommanam Waterfalls....Magnificient

A few babblers were rustling at a distance and the sound of birds reinvigorated our souls.Since my lens can reach only up to 250 mm I decided against attempting to photograph them.

I asked Kannan about the prospect of sighting a Star Tortoise.Kannan as usual was very optimistic.Darkness was approaching and we sat on the steps in front of the door and listened to the sound made by nature.Before reaching the loghouse we saw a few sambars standing and looking at us from a hill top opposite the trek path.(Of course well out of range for my lens!)

A Hawk Eagle on the way

At around 7:30 pm another guard arrived with our dinner.It was simple Parothas and vegetable curry.We can't complain about the food when you are in deep forst!

The log house is comfortabel for 2 people.The guards said they would be comfortable sleeping on a rock face very close to the river.I saw some people moving in the opposite bank of the river.Kannan informed us that they are Tribals from Tamil Nadu laying nets for catching fish.

We had a good nights sleep in the middle of the Chinnar foest.That is what I have been dreaming for over a number of years.Now it has been fulfilled.Just before we retired to the bed I heared Kannn calling me from outside.On opening the door I saw a Star Tortoise baby crawling towards the door.Immediately I took some pictres using flash.

We got up early the next morning and went and sat near the river.It was a beautiful feeling to sit there just listening to the flow of water and chirping of birds.Far away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Amazing......A rock Agama changing colors.This happened in 10seconds!

We started our trek back to the check post around 8am.I was very optimistic about the sighting of an elephant herd on our way back.

We coudn't see any elephants but foot marks were aplenty.Kannan pointed out a particular set of foot prints which was of a tusker.

We reached the check post around 9am.We thanked Kannan for the way he has taken care of us and asuured him that we would be back agian for a stay.After having breakfast at the tribal hotel we started our journey back.

The famous Star Tortoise of Chinnar.....Head withdrawn

Another view of the Loghouse.....Away from Hustle and Bustle

The Watch Tower....

Chinnar........Get lost in this place!!!!

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Travel

Kinnaur

Posted by Vikas Sharma on June 02, 2015

Kinnaur, surrounded by the Tibet to the east, is in the northeast corner of Himachal Pradesh, about 235 km (146 mi) from the state capital, Shimla. It has three high mountains ranges, namely, Zanskar, Himalayas and Dhauldhar that enclose valleys of Sutlej, Spiti, Baspa and their tributaries. The slopes are covered with thick wood, orchards, fields and picturesque hamlets. The much religious Shivling lies at the peak of Kinnaur Kailash mountainThe old Hindustan-Tibet Road passes through the Kinnaur valley along the bank of river Sutlej and finally enters Tibet at Shipki La pass. Most of Kinnaur enjoys a temperate climate due to its high elevation, with long winters from October to May, and short summers from June to September Kinnaur is a beautiful district to visit. Great natural scenes, rivers, valleys, high mountains, lakes and green pastures creates a mesmerizing scenes for tourists. Best time to visit the district is from April to October. Kinnaur is famous for its Handloom and Handicraft items like shawls, caps, mufflers, article of wood carving, metal work and silver & gold ornaments . Kinnaur is also famous for apples, almonds, chilgoza, ogla, apricots and grapes. There are many wholesale shops at Kalpa, Reckong Peo, Karchham, Tapri etc. Besides this the co-operative societies, small production-cum-training centres and Khadi gram udyog centres are looking after the local products like gudmas, shawls,wool, neoza, zira, etc. Also there are many retail price shops in every village. Local fairs, mela and festivals are the main source of shopping The district has the following wildlife sancutaries:
1. Lipa-Asrang Sanctuary
2. Rakchham-Chhitkul Sanctuary
3 .Rupi-Bhaba Sanctuary

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Travel

Apple Orchards

Posted by Vikas Sharma on May 28, 2015

The beautiful appleorchards in Himachal Pradesh are a popular travel attraction of the state.While in HP a visit to these beautiful apple gardens is a must as here you canget to know more about the cultivation process along with enjoying thepanoramic view of the Himalayan ranges at the backdrop. Shimla isimportant for apple cultivation. This picture is of the hill slopes of Theogwhere apple cultivation is the most important activity. Also you can buy lotson apples from these orchards on your way back. Apple is one of the mostimportant commercial crops of the Himalayan region and Himachal Pradesh (HP) with 1.05 lakh ha area under apple cultivationwhich fetches livelihood for more than two lakh farmers. The wintertemperature and precipitation in the form of snow are rtant and sensitive climatic factors for induction of dormancy, bud break and also to ensure proper flowering in apples.

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