Kanha, the best national park in Asia

Kanha is in Madhya Pradesh and is situated 165km away from Jabalpur. It is known as the best national park in Asia. It is one of the perfect weekend destination in India. The area covered by this wildlife sanctuary is 940 sq km and is home to tiger, leopard, hyena, buffalo and more than 200 avian species can be seen. One of the rarest found animals barasingha can be seen here. The trees here are bamboo and sal group all around the park.
Every person enjoys the nature walks here and the Bamni Dadar also known as sunset point is one of the most beautiful parts of the park from where a spectacular sunset can be seen. There are many animals which can be spotted here like Sambar, Barking Deer, Guar and many. Having species from Chital, chinkara, Indian Hare to squirrel, wolf, the beauty of the place and picturesque environment attracts most of the nature lovers. Kanha has more than 200 species of birds and the water birds can be seen near the park. It remains open from November to June.
Situated in the heart of Kanha National Park, Tuli resort is a wonderful place to visit. Set up in 22 acres of lush green land, it is situated near the Ganghar River in the western region of Kanha’s buffer zone. The resort is designed to match the rural beauty of India and welcomes all its visitors with majestic ambience and offers all modern amenities.

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Kabini, Pachyderm Palaces

Kabini is the place famous for the greatest elephant shows in Asia. This is an arena where you have 200 or 250 elephants doing the star run in just one evening. It has the existence of a mind-blowing 60 sq km of static water inside the forest precincts, the result of a dam build across the river at Beechanahalli. The water bifurcates the national parks of Nagarhole and Bandipur, but unites a spectacular on its shore. Kabini have all types of animals like mouse deer, chital, spottable tigers, and bear however then again Kabini is all about elephants and more elephants. And according to Project Elephant reports there are 5,500 to 6,000 of them in the contiguous stretches of forests comprising Nagarhole, Bandipur, Mudumalai and Biligirirangana sanctuaries.
To go on a safari in a jeep through the roads of Nagarhole we reach at the edge of the thick bamboo jungle and drive through a gargantuan collection of pachyderms, which according to me was one of the greatest wildlife experiences in Asia.

The jungles around have a primeval touch to them. Tall trees, huge bamboo brakes, remote ponds, hillocks and above all the backwaters. We hoped a jeep early morning the next day. We were able to see the jungle walking up, the leaves and shrubbery washed clean with dew. We were lucky to see the peacocks, the grey langur having their breakfast high up on the branches. Large herds of the chital were hanging around by the side of the game road. And in the evening the sun was busy playing a round of hide and seek from within the cluster of the trees. The elephants started to assemble by the backwaters including other animals also.

After that marvelous view we went to see the water source in the Sunkadakatte area named Tiger Tank for the frequent sightings. The beautiful Bisalwadi Kere Lake with its watchtower was another good point to spot both the spotted and striped varieties of big cats.
We also did a boat ride along the river with the thick jungles all around us, we were able to come close to various herbs of animals on the shores. We also drove over to the Sunkadakatte forest and ride at the top of an elephant.

We stayed at Sunkadakatte Guest House while there are other options also like Kabini River Lodge and Water woods.

Sariska National Park, ancient tiger lands.

Sariska wildlife sanctuary is green, serene and was the hunting preserve of the Alwar royals, and its palace has been privy to many of these shoots. There is the sight of first hill burnished with the rust leaves of dhok, as one crosses over the hill into Kalighati Valley. There is a leaf – fringed avenue of dhok that greets the visitor at the old gate leading to Kankwari, overgrown on both sides with old trees of guler and pilkhan. Then there is a site of an explosion of blue- breasted quail, of the deep pools of the Siliberi Nala flowing down from Pandupol and of Pallas fishing edges watching for prey from nearby evergreen trees. I still treasure these memories from my numerous visits to Sariska.

My last tiger sighting at Sariska, one hot April was in the grassland just beyond Kalighati. Sariska was established as a Tiger Reserve in 1978. Before independence, the reserve was part of the erstwhile Alwar state. There are 16 revenue villages and associated cattle camps inside its boundaries. Almost all of the Sariska is hilly terrain dominated by the Aravallis, which run north- south along the park. Two vast plateaus Kanwari and Keraska top the Aravalli. There are three large lakes within the boundary of the park: Mangalsar, Sillserh and Somasagar.

Early morning and evening are the best times to make trips into Sariska National Park, though chances of spotting the cat are few and far between. That’s just not on the account of the diminishing tiger population, but more on account of the terrain like the undulating low hills, wide valleys and hill plateaus are hardly ideal for tiger spotting.

You would be easily able to view the nilgai, chital, langur cavorting through the tree cover. And by luck you might also view the tigers, leopard, jackal, with dogs and hyena. However birdwatchers can spot the white- breasted kingfisher, serpent eagle, great Indian horned owl and other avian species quite easily.

The most enjoyable part is the drive through the park where paths are dip down into the valleys and sinister shadows cross the jungle. If you want to do a cross-country jungle safari, then book one of the authorized forest jeeps well in advance at one of the two hotels Tiger Den and Sariska Palace.

When you are done with the animals, drive down into the Sariska forests to the ruined fortress atop a solitary hillock at Kankwari. Here emperor Aurangzeb imprisoned his elder brother widely held to be the legitimate successor to the throne of Delhi. From Kankwari move on to Neelkanth, a temple town near Tehla builds by the Gurjar Partiharas. Neelkanth was mysteriously submerged under a deluge of sand and rocks centuries ago, and nobody around knows what made the town suffer such a fate. The Naldehwar shrine nearby attracts hordes of pilgrims and picnickers- the former to the natural shivaling formed within an old tree trunk in the higher reaches of the forest, the latter to the little brook and seasonal waterfall at the base of 364 steps you have to climb to reach the lingam.

Sariska has only two choices to stay, a heritage hotel and Rajasthan tourism property Sariska Palace and Tiger Den. There are no options to dine apart from your hotel. However a visit to one of Alwar’s most popular eateries, the Prem Pavitra Restaurant is a must.

Bheemeshwari, weekend destination from Bangalore

A barefoot walk along the river’s edge, sipping coffee on the verandah of your cabin overlooking the river, being woken up by monkey’s jumping on your tent, are the view here. Nature treks into the wilderness, coracle rides, kayaking, outdoor camping, amateur fishing and professional angling. You may catch glimpse of rare species of birds, wild elephants and sloth bears.

Bheemeshwari’s Cauvery Fishing camp and two more camps at Doddamakkalli and Galibore along the Cauvery are run by Jungle Lodges as wildlife retreats and adventure resorts.

Mahseer is the angler’s paradise as one of the best fishing Camps in the world. The camp also conducts amateur fishing with guides to help you learn the ropes. The camp allows 10 lines for the season for professionals, so book well in advance as the camp is in high demand from angler’s across the globe.

Wildlife Treks are conducted in three categories easy, medium and tough ranging from a 4- 30 km distance. The treks take you to the neighboring hills, full of wildlife and plants used in ayurveda. You can also view the rural life as you pass through some of the villages.

Boat rides in coracles and barbecues at sun down along the river’s edge are the extras here. Swimming is not allowed because of crocodiles in the water.

Doddamkkali is 7 km upstream from Bheemeshwari is deep in the forest in a valley ideal for lovers who are willing to rough it out. Galibore 16 km downstream however involves a more circuitous route by road which takes almost 1 ¼ hours. Both camps are similar to Bheemeshwari and offer similar activities, but on smaller scale as they not provide electricity.

In Bheemeshwari you can stay at The Cauvery Fishing Camp which has 9 Swiss tented cottages and long 8 huts. Galibore Fishing Camp has 10 Swiss twin-bedded cottages with attached loos and many more.

Jim Corbett National Park

Corbett, the first national park and tiger reserve in India, is located in the valley of the Ramganga River near the foothills of the Himalayas. Its proximity to Delhi and its wildlife make it a must visit destination for residents and guests tempted to go beyond the capital of India. While visiting Corbett you would be able to stay right within it at Dhikala and other forest rest house.
For birdwatchers, there are over 580 species to view; moreover you can also view reptiles such as turtles and gharial. All of which make Corbett one of the most complete wildlife experiences, besides being close enough to them without any hesitation.
Tourists are only allowed restricted entry by permit into about 100km of the tiger reserve area. You can enter them through Dhikala from the Dhangarhi gate, Bijrani from the Amdanda gate and Jhirna from the Dhela gate. Permission to enter the park are issued at the Tourist Reception Centre or the park’s entrance gate at Dhangarhi for Dhikala which is also the main center of activity in the park.
Visitors must move around in the park by car or jeep, accompanied by a licensed guide and most important walking is strictly prohibited and if found you will be arrested. There are few private resorts spread out and the forest department also provides few rest houses in the reserve area. Entry fee for Indians is Rs 30; foreigners Rs. 350, for elephant ride Indians Rs. 100, foreigners Rs 200 and a licensed guide Rs. 75 per trip.
You can also take a safari among the muddy tracks of Corbett lined with shoulder high grass on both the side or hire a vehicle from the forest Department or various tour organizers. You should carry a pair of binoculars, water and a heat gear. You might not be lucky enough to sight a tiger but you might certainly hear the roar of one or see the tiger’s pugmarks or his half eaten kill. Full jeep hire costs Rs700 from KMVN. Private jeeps are also available outside the park gates at Rs500-600 for the trip.
Clambering onto an elephant is the most promising way of tracking tigers. Plus you would also feel safe when you spot tiger while the elephant moves up closer to give you a better view. Also try the elephant safari at least once, preferably in the evening. Make your booking at the Forest Department well in advance as these rides are popular and get fully booked very soon. Fishing is not allowed inside the reserve.
Corbett also has many resorts in the area, which are full of vacationers on weekends for part of the year when the park is closed. So do book in advance.