Nagarahole National

Nagarahole is literally means ‘Serpent River’ (Nagara=Serpent; Hole=River) in Kannada language. Nagarahole, spread over Mysore and Kodagu is covering an area of 847.981 Sq km. Nagarahole is an important Tiger Reserve in Karnataka and is a major hub of conservation under Project Tiger and Project Elephant. The Protected Area supports large assemblages of carnivores and herbivores: Tiger, Leopard, Asiatic wild dog and Sloth bear, Asiatic Elephant, Gaur, Sambar, Chital, Muntjac, Four horned antelope, Wild pig, Mouse deer and South-western langur.

We have visited this national park in dec 21 luck by chance, truly speaking we don’t have a plan for it, we went to irrupu falls, where take direction from gurds we decide to go nagarhole, there is a short cut road from iruppu falls around 20 km, it was take 30- 35 mins to reach kutta, and 5 mints more to reach forest gate, Only bus safari is available and charges 450 Rs each, children below 10 yrs charges is half, and no camera charges taken. Safari time is only 1 and half hours, Morning safari timing 6 am to 7:30 am, and 7:30 to 9:00 am, Evening safari 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm, and 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm. We took 3:00 pm safari, once we cross park gate there was hundreds of spotted deer was found both side of road, after 10 km there was a forest guest house which I have enquired how to book but no proper reply we receive, the forest officers says book this online, at the gate there was two jeep available but they did not allow for jeep safari, when we asked for it, they have answer like to book in private. Bus safari is no where comparable to jeep safari, any how we have no other option, bus moves to the main roads only find spotted deer, sambar deer, barking dear, one elephant, jungle fowl, wild boar and dhole (wild dog), due to less open area in bus it is difficult for photography, wild dogs was found in action chasing deer for hunt, as the next safari start on 4:30, the return time is much punctual, Nagarhole has a potential to attract tourist, due to its variety and large numbers of wild life,

Marine national park narara

Marine national park narara is a unique place in India where you can walk on the sea bed during low tide. During the walk in knee deep water you have an experience of various kind of sea life, like sea anemone , sea cucumber, sea slag, octopus, star fish and much more, another attraction is mangrove forest around. The place is 1hrs 30 mins drive from Jamnagar, nearest hotel is hotel Tulsi residency 40 mints away from the place, we spend night there along with my family and kid for next day morning visit, we had started by 9am and reached there by 9:50, last 5-7 km was mud road both side seawater storage for salt making plant and numbers of migratory bird was found,

 Octopus

 wolf crab

moon star coral

Total entry fee parking fee and camera charges is 320 Rs, (for 2 person one kid). guide charge 300Rs, guide is must for this place as by your own it is difficult to find out sea animals from raw sea bed. The guide we booked was taking us inside the marine national park along with two more families, this is 5 km walk (2 km on the sand bed and rest three km in knee deep water), in side our guide introduced with sabir bhai (guide) who guide us in spotting the creatures, he is very knowledgeable person and explain each and every quarry of us.

 crab plover

 

whimbrel

 

I can say this is a life time experience for us, we have not only see but also taken in hand the majestic octopus, almost 2ft long, puffer fish, boxer crab, wolf crab, we were there 3 hrs find different kind of coral (moon star coral, pineapple coral, border coral, sponge coral), etc

 

Notes:

1.      To use rubber shoes to walk through water

2.      To use hat for sunlight

3.      Don’t collect any sea life for personal use

4.      No food facility available other than potato chips and soft drinks, so carry your food.

5.      One museum was there where all the eco system beautifully explained, so this is a must view place.

 pineapple star coral

sea anemore

 puffer fish

 fielder crab

In addition the place is good for bird lovers too, morning time is always preferable but check the low tide timing before you plan for it, best time to watch is two hours before and two hrs after low tide.

Khijadiya bird sanctuary

We travel from Ahmedabad and selected hotel van vihar tree resort which is nearest to the sanctuary (12 km, 20 mins), entry per person to sanctuary is 40 Rs, camera charge 200 Rs, vehicle charge 400 Rs (for zone 2), in case you pay for vehicle up to 4 person entry will be free,

 blacked necked stork (Juvenile)

Black headed bunting

 

Khizadiya divided in to two zones,

Zone one is the major zone, car entry is not allowed, to watch bird by walking only, two watch tower are there almost 2 and 4km away from entry gate, here sea water mangrove and forest like environment crates a natural habitat for birds, perfect place for bird watching, this a wide zone and difficult to cover in a single day.

 crested serpent eagle 

 

oriental white eye

Zone 2 is 1km far from zone 1, car is allowed, one watch tower at the end of this zone, here birds are a bit far, need binocular to watch them properly, spend two morning with some remarkable catch of crested serpent eagle, greater crested greb, marsh harrier, montagu’s harrier, bunting, sand plover, etc, but the record catch is juvenile black necked stork.

greater crested greb

Incredible leopard safari in jawai bandh

Jawai was a long term dream for us, it was delayed as weather condition not permits, but it was actually goes in our favour as we got a chance to make our trip in guidance of Mr.Pushpendra the owner of Varawal leopard camp (this was closed for few months for maintenance), and special thanks to Mr Bhanu Pratap to guide us for booking this camp. Jawai is known as a village of leopard. The caves of Lava Mountains (Aravalli range), offered natural habitat for leopard, at the same time villagers accepted the presence of this ghost of jungle in close vicinity of residential area.

 

It was a smooth long drive from ahemdabad through mahesana palanpur abu road, comfortably reach the camp by 6 hrs, last 25 km road condition was very poor through villages. This is 120 acres property surrounded by Aravalli range, the camp location, food, hospitality, staff behaviours and politeness all are excellent, above all the knowledge of Mr. Pushpendra is mind blowing, he is a naturist and works a lot on the habit and habitat of leopards.

 Leapord hill, territory of the female leopard neelam

They offered two types of safari; one is leopard safari and other jungle safari. Most of the leopards are near village, their main food is the cattle left behind, langur, peacock and street dog. Those are tracked by trackers and can be spotted easily in leopard safari. Another area of jungle where you can found chinkara, Indian fox, hyena, and leopard, but the chances of sighting is less.

 

We opted for two leopard safari, reached camp by 12pm, tent was ready for us, equipped with ac, attached bath with 24 hrs running hot water, room bathroom was very clean and specious, we had tasty veg lunch and move for safari at 4pm, we found female leopard Neelam and male leopard Shadewood, sighting was easy as Mr.Pushpendra appointed numbers of trackers and get the information about the movement of leopard.

Night stay was thrilling dark, enjoyed tasty nonveg diner with camp fire and presentation on jawai leopards, we came to know there was 60 leopards around this area, each leopard was having a definite territory if another one come in there will be chances of fight, we saw some fight clippings too.

It was raining at night so morning was cold, we went for morning safari at 5.30 am, where around was totally dark, we expecting the mating chances of Neelam and Shadewood, but no trace of both leopards were found, suddenly one tracker give us the news for another female leopard Blueeye entered in the territory of Neelam, we rushed to the spot and find the leopard. It offered some nice shots for almost 10 min before it disappeared in the den.

 

 pug mark

Again another news received for a male leopard calling from the hill of leopard Jia which having two cubs, we rushed to the place but no sign of leopard was found we found pug mark of leopard and one roar came suddenly behind the dense bushes. At that time we decide to back to the camp as it was almost 10am, and after that there was no chance to find a leopard, it goes to its den for the day.

Mr Pushpendra asked for our feedback once safari is over, we were so pleased on their hospitality and food we enquired for their cook, at that time we came to know owners mothers actually leading all cooking activity. We enjoyed the breakfast, freshen up and move for ahemdabad, keeping the sweet memories of 3 leopard sighting, friendly and homely atmosphere of varawal leopard camp. 

Some other camp was there in jawai which offering night tracking by using search light, this attracts the tourist no doubt but we must keep in mind as we are entering to the home of those big cats we should respect their privacy. Leopard will be scared by using search light in night and this activity is now illegal too. So it’s our duty not to entertain such offensive activity

Little rann of kutch, wild ass sanctuary

Little rann is the only place where you can find the world last survived wild ass, land scape is dry cracked, thorny bushes, ocean of dust, I had visited place with my family and small kid, I had booked little rann resort, which is more vicinity to the rann and nava talao ( famous for birds).

The place is only 2hrs 20 mints drive from ahmedabad, , I had visited place with my family and small kid, on they way visit becheraji temple. we drive through kadi thol road, and use kadi bypass take a right turn at vittahalapur to reach  bechuraji temple, the temple surrounding was too much crowded, take a quick view and start on the way to little rann resort. Check in time was 12pm, and we reached there at that time only, the room was ready, immediately attended and welcome us with welcome drink, there was a swimming pool, but no water, on my request too they not agree to fill it, but the same was filled by some others request next day at the time when we had checked out, this is the only sad part of our tour, except that I can say the rest everything was too good, behavior is polite, food is tasty, rooms & bathrooms was specious having a separate changing place, and I must admit everything is too clean,

We took evening safari, 3 families was sharing one vehicle,  found wild ass, some flamingoes & harrier, but personally I walk nearby areas where I found falcon, kestrel, shikra, different larks and shrikes, on the safari nose musk is the must, as the area is too much dusty, we had visited the salt making places too,

 

 

Night was cool dark and silent, little rann resort also provide nonveg diner on guests request,

Next day morning we visited nava talao, this is a part of little rann but in that place no permit is required, reached there by GPS, road was dusty and full of thorns, lucky enough that no puncture in our car, rann has a landscape where top layer of sand was dry and cracked, but there were water inside so some places your car may shrink, if you don’t have the experience, so don’t try without guide, I waked around the place, find desert wheatear, and vary rare lesser flamingoes flock,

Came back to resort at 10am, had our breakfast and leave the place at 12pm, over all experience was good,