The Missed Date with the Big Cat_Kanha Tiger Reserve

THRILL of the Road Trip

Finally, the Royal Bengal tiger had agreed- upon the date. Excited to meet the royalty as they are rare species, I drive 2000Km to and fro to meet him amidst the thick KANHA Reserve located some 1000 km away from Nasik and 250km from Nagpur. Personal travel in Vogue we weren’t to miss the date.

The Kanha reserve is a beautiful Jungle named after the quality of soil called the KANHAR found here. This thick dense, tall, and green SAL tree forest is very rich in FLORA and FAUNA. The Sal trees – a gift of nature, make you wonder as to who planted these for hundreds of kilometers.

Remembering RUDYARD KIPLING

Now I know how RUDYARD Kipling found his inspiration to write his short story – The JUNGLE BOOK.

GIFT OF NATURE

The forest area of some 950km was shared by the varied animals and tribes of the Gond and the Baigas. While I pass through these small hamlets, the mud and brick house painted in white and blue attract me. They are plastered with mud and painted with Gond art. They are a dying culture as many of the tribals are now rehabilitated to the outskirts of the jungle.

The temperature drops to 3 degrees on the day I am to visit, the previous day being cloudy with unseasonal showers. It seems that the jungle has washed itself of all the dust and is now wearing a new green, yellow and golden sheen in preparation for the Royal Date.

Being springtime, most of the foliage is on the ground with the first sun rays caressing the copper Sal leaves, they, in turn, emanating a silver glow, the forest dazzles in its full glory with its woody scent. It is a dance of colors, smells, and serenity. Romance is in the air.

Much Loved Movie: The Jungle Book

Excitedly we stand at the jungle gates to board our safari jeep no 18. The Kanha National park around 100 Km from SEONI in Madhya Pradesh sparks memories of the movie ‘The jungle book’ set amidst the forest with anthropomorphic characters and the MAN CUB raised by “The Bagihra and the pack of WOLVES”.

Pictured in the beautiful locales of Kanha this natural landscape of highland with moist deciduous forest snuggled in the luxuriant arms of the Maikal range of the Satpuras in the central Indian highlands complete with lush meadows, along with tall dense Grass, woody trails with natural watering holes offer captivating moments to us throughout the safari.

As our jeep with the driver and our guide starts cruising through one of the many routes for the sighting, the sun peeks amidst the tall trees spreading a golden glow throughout the silent jungle. Along with our jeep, my eyes pierce through the foliage to spot my date with eagerness and excitement.

When on a jungle safari, anticipation is high and you always feel that the native residents might walk from anywhere to greet you. I was in the same state, even a little whoosh of the trees makes me alert and this happened frequently and I see the other residents, the spotted dear, the Neelgai, the barasingha, peacocks, and the golden jackal.

THE LONG WAIT

The Tiger today seems to be elusive. I keep scanning the jungles and straining my ears to the chirping, hooting, singing, shrieking trying to identify the calls made by various animals and birds, the guide confident of the presence of the big cat around.

Meeting the TIGER BIRD

I haven’t met the Tiger yet but did meet the tiger Bird, a sign of a sighting as this scavenger bird that survives on the flesh eaten by the tigers gives a signal of the tiger in the vicinity. With the body colors as similar to the Tigers, it camouflages in nature and plucks the flesh from the tiger’s teeth when they yawn. Isn’t that precision a sign of the almighty? I wonder what would happen if the bird misses or is caught in a split second and he is gone……but that’s the law of nature.

A FREAK ACCIDENT 

Now we are in the heart of the jungle at a watering hole, listening to the many calls. The guide says that we are sure to have a sighting and we too wait in anticipation with the vehicle slowly cruising inch by inch, each one looking at their sides as instructed, and there comes a bump in the road, and pop comes the sound and ohhhhh comes the sigh. My co-traveler realizes that the mobile from his jacket pocket has popped up and jumped in the clear waters of the lake.

Panicking we wait. I am more than happy to as the probability of meeting my date is at its highest. The guide a local of the jungles buckles up and dives into the pond and fetches it back. The lucky traveler gets his mobile back, the incident gives us enough time to observe the jungle and its surrounding. The herd of the spotted dear sunbathing gives us pleasure to be in their company.

Now my eyes become a pair of binoculars. I peer and see deep through the foliage. I enjoy being entertained by the peacocks with their rhythmic walk and dance with the background music of various other birds. The color pallet of the peacock feathers in full glory is a sight to behold, but today I am waiting only for my date.

The Algae Lake 

We waited in vain at the Water Hole and we decide to move further into the jungle, amidst the tall trees we come across another watering hole- a beautiful lake bearing the mirror image of the skies with crystal clear water Set amidst the tall golden grass surrounded by Green Sal trees this half lake bore RED color, the sight is eye-catching and just beautiful! On enquiring about the color the guide tells me it’s because of the presence of the algae.

In love with The Bengal Tiger

My date double-crossed me and was sighted in some other zone. Disappointed after two safaris and after missing my date, I was satisfied with my time spent amidst the jungle with a few residents and nature.

The jungle has its own law, the freedom to move and the struggle to survive. It is the survival of the fittest. I wasn’t lucky enough to meet the big Cat but the clear dose of oxygen was much needed to clear the muddled-up mind.

MAHINDRA HOLIDAY RESORT KANHA 

The need of the human being is so less understood, the need to be social. Sitting at home for a year was difficult for me and the break was much needed. KANHA, after a drive of about 14 hours and a super luxurious stay at MAHINDRA Holiday resorts – KANHA, set amongst the natural settings just 7 KM from the Kanha Gate with necessary protocols in place due to the pandemic was reassuring and refreshing.

Afterthoughts:

• While on a safari wear subtle Colors, mostly Black, grey, greens to not give a shock to animals.
• Maintain silence and do not try to get down from the vehicles.
• Remember you are going into their habitat, Let’s not disturb the residents.
• Do not litter.
• Speak to the locals you will love to hear their stories