Indian Resorts

Learn Photography on tiger safari

21st to 24th May 09

Photography workshop organized by Hotel Celebration at Kanha National Park. The workshop offers unique opportunity for budding wildlife and nature photographers to get first hand lesson in the art. The workshop will be conducted by acclaimed wildlife photographer Mr. Kalyan Verma.

Photo Sessions in the Park with Kalyan Verma.
Learn to photograph tigers and other wild animals.

Work shop in class room session by Kalyan Verma.
Get first hand knowledge techniques employed in Wildlife Photography.

Discussion with and demonstration by Kalyan Verma.
Discussions and demos of vast range of techniques.

Accommodation will be provided by Van Vilas Celebration Lodge at Kanha National Park at Mocha. The Cost for attending the workshop is Rs.12200 per person twin sharing basis. For single occupancy extra Rs.2000 has to be paid over Rs12200.

For queries contact:
kalyan@rtns.org

The recent translocation fo tigeresses from Kanha and Bandhavgarh to Panna tiger reserve is not a technological achievement but rather a sordid saga of our failure to protect the endangered species. In spite of all the resources spent, the conservation of tiger has not succeeded in India. 

To make matter worse there is no introspection at all of what has gone wrong - neither in case of Sariska nor in the case of Panna. The finger points at administrative ineptitude and pure neglect. A system immersed in beaurocratic entanglement cannot respond to the need of the hour. Political interference in administrative functioning cannot be ruled out at all. 
In fact it is the norm.   

In this populist democratic setup the tiger stands a poor chance as he cannot influence the electoral system in favor of.....

What was more imperative before translocation of tigresses from Bandhavgarh and Kanha was to find out the reason for demise of such large population of tigers. Forty perhaps as news papers report.   Will the translocated tigresses suffer the same fate along with the lone surviving male - if he is not dead already. 

Do the translocations have to take place for the sake of wildife safaris in India that depend on tiger conservation? If so why was the resident population not saved from the poachers trap or some invidious disease what ever the case may be?  Will Kanha Bandhavgarh and Ranthambhore become scapegoat for some one else

Bandhavgarh is not only famous for its tigers but has wonderful picturesque landscape and ancient history. The steep rocky hills and valleys and vast stretches of marshy grassland transform it into and enchanting paradise on Earth.

The ancient ruins which date back 2000 years add to the charisma that nurtures your eyes as far as they can see. Bandhavgarh Fort with stone carved reclining Vishnu or Sesh Shhaiyya and various zoomorphic forms carved in stone add to the pleasure of sighting seeing. Being in midst of ancient splendors while trekking tigers is a unique experience indeed. 

You can decipher history on the mountain slopes of Bandhavgarh National Park which are a witness to ancient civilizations. Civilizations that once thrived and flourished in this pristine wilderness. There are many man made caves, stables and small shelters for the army of yester years.  The Fort in ruins sits atop the plateau of the tallest mountain Bandhavgarh. It is a marvel of engineering with large reservoirs, temples, exquisitely carved gates and chhattris.    

The man made structures are now the domain of the tiger…for gone are the clattering horse hoofs of the ancient warriors and the majestic Kings and Queens that once ruled here. Now the tigers rule every nook and corner of Bandhavgarh resort as true masters of this little Kingdom.  

Yes tigers are the true masters they have overtaken humans in order to survive and perhaps save their species from looming extinction. Bandhavgarh is under the aegis of Project tiger a conservation program which though faltering is the only hope of saving the tigers in the wild in India.

These are two wonderful tiger heavens which naturally have become world famous. The popularity comes from tourism and successful tiger conservation programs. The density of tiger population is highest in  these National Parks or tiger reserves. 

Kanha and Bandhavgarh have shown what a tenacious and sincerely executed conservation measure can do for conservation of a species.  The benefit from Project Tiger to these preserves in India is obvious to add to it dedicated research carried out by wildlife  biologists as Schaller et.al. Some of the park directors and managers have done yeoman service in field of research and management excellence. Hence Mr.Panwar, Mr.Parihar and Mr. Rajesh Gopalan are names associated with Kanha not forgetting old hand Nagpure.

Similarly Mr. H.S.Pabla and Mr Rajesh Gopalan did lot for Bandhavgarh National Park in Central India. Inspite of the dismal scenario of shrinking tiger population elsewhere. On the contrary Bandhavgarh and Kanha tiger forests in India have shown a reverse trend where in the tiger populations in these tiger havens is consistently on increase.    

It is heartening to see tigers breeding so successfully here and rearing families and cubs which augurs best for this species. The species conservation programs have given succor to endangered swamp deer among many other species making a come back thanks to sincere protection and excellent management practices adopted in these parks.

I have been visiting these tiger havens when all that there was in name of hotels in Kanha and Bandhavgarh was a rest house at Kisli and one in Kanha core zone. Similary Bandhavgarh had one rest house for accommodation which any way was vacant most of the time as tourism had not picked up then.

Jabalpur is the best route by road to these havens. Flights now operate from Ahemedabad, Delhi and connectivity with some other towns.

Leopard Next Door

Leopard can be anywhere in dense forests, urban localities (periphery) and scrub, denuded forests. The big cat has remarkable ability to survive. Nevertheless man animal conflict is taking a heavy toll of the species which is now endangered.

Leopards are elusive ghost as they are nocturnal in tiger forests. To see a leopard one needs luck as well a keen eye and ears. They roam near villages and wildlife resorts at Kanha during the night time. The carnivore hounds for poultry, live stock and left over meat near human surroundings.

Since long, I knew of movement of a leopard at Mocha in the buffer near the resort in Kanha. I had often heard the rasping in the night during my stay as nature guide in a Jungle lodge nearby. There is an old jungle road at Mocha that leads to the forest tract. It was here that I had often come across leopard spoor.

Leopard Calling!

It was cold winter night we were exploring the surroundings for night safari on jeep that was being planned by the resort. Dusk had settled firm and all around us we could see spotted deer and an occasional porcupine. As a habit we would stop at forested spots and water holes. Here we would throw light on the surroundings to look for small game which are in plenty in the buffer zone.

It was while nearing the resort that I heard the rasping. In seconds, we came to a halt....the call was originating a few yards ahead of us.

"It is a leopard calling," I whispered to the manager and driver. I knew, if we kept a pin drop silence the leopard might surface. It did, after a few minutes of deathly silence and palpitating hearts.

I could see eyes shining in the adjacent bush..."Not a deer I am sure," I whispered. For the shining eyes were frontal as of carnivores and the call was certainly that of the leopard.

The animal was lightening fast, one quick glance towards the headlights and in a flash it was gone unto the shrubs across. We could see the whole stretch of the animal as it sprinted across the jungle road. That was it...a leopard on the road ....the ghost in the darkness.

Leopards are difficulty to see as they are shy and nocturnal. Hence we were all happy while returning back. One more notch on the memory card.

The latest in development before the opening of the parks in advance booking of park excursions in Madhya Pradesh National Parks.

Advance booking is important as the number of vehicles allowed to enter the parks has been limited. To avoid running into a closed gate bookings should be made in advance on the MP online portal of authorized kiosks which number about three hundred in MP state only.

For more info and link for booking park entry visit:

MP Online Park entry Booking

Applicabe to Kanha, Bandhavgarh National Park, Pench and Panna tiger reserves in Central Indian state Madhya Pradesh or MP.

I was able to blog these tiger pictures courtsey Mr.K.Hora whose talent, I could not resist to show case on my blog. All these images are taken in the wild at Kanha and Bandhavgarh National Parks in Central India.  These park are the best places for tiger photography in India.  

The images in the previous entry are that of Kanha Hotel - Van Vilas (one - veelas). Which is luxury resort well equipped for tiger tourism and wildlife safaris in India.

The accommodation food and luxuries compliment your stay at Kanha for wild tiger safari and birding.

The hotel provides all arrangements and amenities to make it a one stop point for enjoying wildlife watching at Kanha National Park in India.

For those seeking luxury in remote wilderness without loosing the ambiance of nature and tropical greenery then stay here. Contact: Booking Office for Kanha and Bandhavgarh Tours in India.

Email: info@celebrationworld.in

 Kanha Wildilfe Resort India - Luxury Hotel

Konda was one of the biggest tiger at Kanha who could bring down with

ease a one ton bison. He was master of a large territory of the reserve and slated to rule for a long time. No other tiger could match Konda's hunting prowess nor his power and strength. In his prime he sired many cubs.

He could have disseminated more of his prime genes had not tragedy befallen upon him.

In spite of being the best managed park in India, Kanha National Park is subjected to poaching incidence now an then. This time the victim was Konda who was trapped in a poacher's snare and injured. The snare damaged his paw but not so much that he could not hunt.

In the meantime two males probably sired by him had reached adulthood and separated from their mother, hence were keeping together for some time as young male tigers often do. They hunted together successfully and grew stronger.

Konda's presence in the area was not a welcome sign for the pair as he was a strong adversary and could come in their way of carving out their own respective territories. Tigers live a solitary life.

Eventually a territorial fight ensued with Konda alone in against the young but matured pair. The pair could have been no match for Konda but the injury took his toll and he was killed in a fierce fighting that terrified the forest guards in jungle camp nearby.

What is unfortunate is that territorial fight rarely lead to the death of the adversary as there is plenty of room to run away before a deadly injury results from the fight. But this could not be as his injured paw must have immobilized him after the exhaustive fight with pair.

A magnificent tiger in prime was later discovered as dead. Another tiger lost thanks to poaching that is causing the extinction of the species in India.