Tiger Reserves In IndiaStory and
Photos By Subhasis
Banerjee lives in Calcutta, India and knows his homeland well.The photographer
is a senior executive with HSBC (Hongkong Bank) in Calcutta, India.
Photography is his passion. A keen birdwatcher he enjoys photographing
nature. Monideepa Banerjee The author is a free lance travel writer
from Calcutta, India. She has done her masters in Journalism from Calcutta
University and instead of joining mainstream journalism has opted for
travel writing because that is where her heart is. She lives with her
photographer husband, Subhasis and two children Subhodeep and Manali.
She is associated with various travel magazines in India and is planning
to begin travel consultancy.
A glimpse of the magnificent black and yellow amidst swaying grass or peeping over a rock is enough to titillate one's heart with colourful cameos. You need not be a wildlife enthusiast to appreciate this graceful beauty. So exciting is it, that people abandon all material comforts and roam in the jungles ignoring scorching heat and severe cold. There is no better place on earth to encounter this fascinating beauty in its natural habitat than India. India today has around 80 National Parks and 441 Sanctuaries of which some have been conserved as Tiger reserves under the Project Tiger Scheme. The itinerary for the visit to this beautiful land of India should include a couple of tiger reserves. Being a land of diversity, the climate, vegetation and fauna of these reserves are widely varied and they have been placed in different quarters of the country. It may not be possible to cover all in a single visit. A concise report is prepared here for the visitor to choose their pick. We feel that it is the tourist who can act as the parks' best ambassador and introduce them to the rest of the world. The exposure at times may harm the ecological balance of the area but the constant flow of tourist help put an end to the poaching and plundering of this endangered species.
All these reserves are protected under 'Project Tiger' and bookings are generally done at state forest departments or through private operators. Sometimes the state even promotes a particular area as a part of its tourist attraction. Advance booking in accommodation is advisable. One should obtain necessary permits, where required, prior to entry. Corbett National Park In the Patlidun Valley at the base of the Himalayas in the state of Uttar Pradesh, on the banks of Ramganga river, Corbett was established in 1936, as the Hailey National Park. This is India's first national park and the first sanctuary to come under Project Tiger. It was renamed after the famous Jim Corbett, who spent many years in this area and was the author of the book 'The Man Eaters of Kumaon'. The park supports a variety of vegetation making it the ideal habitat for the Tiger and its prey. Area : 520 sq. km. Best time to visit : October to March Prominent Wildlife : Tiger, leopard, elephant, sloth bear, jungle cat, fishing cat, dhole, yellow throated marten, Himalayan palm civet, Indian grey mongoose. Climate : Summers from April to June are warm. During monsoon (July- August) the park remains closed. Winter months from October to March is the best time to visit the park with cool to very cold temperatures. Clothing : During the summer one can use cotton garments, but woolen to heavy woolen clothing is recommended in winter. How to get there : Road distance from Delhi is 290 km. Ramnagar is the nearest railway station, about 50 km from the Park. The nearest airport is Delhi. Where to stay : Adjoining the forest reserve - Quality Inn, Tiger Tops, Forest Rest Houses, Tented Camps and Tourist Huts. The budget traveller can find comfortable accommodation in and around the reserve, most of which are equipped with modern facilities. The biennial population estimations conducted in Corbett National Park indicate that the population of wild animals in the park has increased over the years. From 90 tigers and 39 panthers in 1995 the numbers have gone up to 91 and 40 respectively in 1998. The Elephant population has grown from 394 to 602 and Sambhar from 3778 to 3876 during the same period. For updated information please contact: The Field Director, Project Tiger Corbett National Park P.O Ramnagar, District: Nainital, Uttar Pradesh, India. Kanha National Park 'Tiger Land', Kanha is situated in a horse-shoe shaped valley in the central Indian State of Madhya Pradesh. Banjar and Halon are the two main rivers and the park's topography ranges from plateau about 300ft from mean sea level to low lying land where the clay like soil is known as Kanhar which probably gives the name. Tall Sal trees line the boundary and thick bamboo foliages form a deceptive curtain through which light can hardly penetrate. A morning jeep ride through the misty jungle is a memorable experience and one can see a number of species of wild life. Besides the Tiger, Kanha has the largest variety of fauna in the country that includes 22 species of mammals. Regular exposure to tourist has made the animals at Kanha bold and more confident. It is an excellent park for wildlife viewing and photography. Area: 940 sq. km Best time to visit: February to June Prominent Wildlife : Tiger, Leopard, Barasingha, Gaur, Sambar, Nilgai, Sloth bear, Dhole, Barking deer, Blackbuck, Wild-boar, Langur, Red jungle fowl. How to reach: The nearest town to Kanha is Mandla, 65 km by road. The nearest railway junction is Jabalpur about 160 km away while the nearest airport is in Nagpur about 266 km. Where to stay: There are plenty of places to stay at all budget ranges. Forest Lodge, MP Tourism Log Huts, Tourist Bungalow, Kipling Camps, Forest Rest Houses. For Additional and updated information contact: Field Director Project Tiger, Kanha P.O Mandla, Madhya Pradesh, India Bandavgarh National Park Bandhavgarh in the Vindhya Hills, in Madhya Pradesh encompasses 32 hills covered with a mixed forest of sal, dhobin and saga and large stretches of grasslands with bamboo grooves. A large fort said to have been built by Lord Rama the hero of the Indian epic Ramayana dominates the landscape. Bandhavgarh is famous for its tigers but is equally good for bird watching. Area : 448 sq. km. Best time to visit : March to June Prominent
Wildlife : Tiger, Nilgai, Chausingha, Jackal, Wild-boar, Fox,
Gaur, Sambhar, Chital, Rhesus monkey, Hyena. Climate : The summer months from April to June are usually warm followed by the monsoons between July and August. The winters from October to March are cool to chilly. Clothing : For summers, light cotton clothes would be comfortable. The winters require woolen clothes. How to get there: The nearest town to Bandhavgarh is Umaria,35 km by road which also happens to be the nearest railway junction. The nearest airport from the Park is in Khajuraho situated approximately 210 km away. Where to stay: Bandhavgarh Jungle Camp, White Tiger Lodge, Forest Rest Houses. Apart from these places there are economy hotels in and around the park. For Additional Information: Field Director, Project tiger Bandhavgarh National Park PO : Umaria, Dist : Shadol, Madhya Pradesh 484661, India Sariska Located in Rajasthan, the Sariska landscape is dominated by sharp cliffs of hills and narrow valleys of the Aravalli mountains. The forests are dry and deciduous. The ruins of Temple Garh-Rajor of the 10th and 11th centuries are scattered in the jungle. A 17th century castle on a sharp hilltop at Kankwari, provides a panoramic view of flying vultures and eagles. Area : 800 sq.km. Best time to visit : February to June Prominent Wildlife : Tiger, Nilgai, Wild-boar, Fox, Gaur, Sambhar, Chital, Hyena, four horned Antelope, Jungle Cat Climate : Summers last between the months of April and June followed by the monsoons from July to August. This entire period from April to August is warm and dry. With the arrival of the winters in October the climate changes and it become cool to chilly. These conditions last till March. Clothing : Summers are most comfortable in light cotton but for the winters woolen clothing is required. How to get there : By road Sariska is 200 kilometers from Delhi and 107 kilometers from Jaipur. Buses between Delhi and Jaipur go via Alwar and Sariska. Nearest railhead is Alwar, about 37 kilometers from the reserve. The nearest airport is located at Jaipur the capital of the state of Rajasthan Where to stay: There is comfortable accommodation in and around Sariska. Sariska Palace Hotel, RTDC Tiger Den Tourist Bungalow, Siliserh Palace Hotel, Forest Rest Houses and other boarding facilities are available. For Additional Information: Please contact Rajasthan Tourist Office Bikaner House, Near India Gate, New Delhi 110003, India Phone +91-33-383895 Ranthambore Ranthambore used to be the hunting grounds of the Maharajas. For the wildlife enthusiasts, Ranthambore today offers an intense diversity of flora and fauna. It is one of the best places in the country to observe Tigers in their full glory. Area : 392 sq.km. Best time to visit : October to June Prominent Wildlife : Tiger, nilgai, boar, sambar, chital, hyena, gazelle, chinkara, Indian hare, mongoose, leopard, jungle cats, sloth bear, marsh crocodile, jacanas, painted stork, black stork, peafowl, crested serpent eagle and many other exotic birds. Climate : The summers last from April to June followed by the monsoons from July to August. This period is quite warm and usually dry. The winters set in from October and the climatic conditions change turning the park into a pleasant paradise for tourist. Thus the best season is from October to March. Clothing : Summers are most comfortable in light cotton garments, but for the winters heavy woolen clothing is required. How to get there : The nearest town from Ranthambore, eleven kilometers away is Sawai Madhopur which is also the nearest railhead. The nearest airport is at Jaipur the capital city of Rajasthan, 145 kilometers from Ranthambore. Where to stay : There are excellent hotels at Sawai Madhopur including Maharaja Lodge (Taj Group). In the park, forest rest houses, Jogi Mahal, Hotel Kamdhenu, Jhoomer Baori Forest Lodge are the good ones. The last two are managed by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation. For further and updated information contact: Field Director Ranthambore National Park Sawai Madhopur Rajasthan, India. The Sunderbans Sundarban National Park, home of the Royal Bengal Tiger, covering an area of 2,585 sq. km is the largest mangrove forest in the world. It is the two great Indian rivers, Brahamaputra and the Ganges that form this alluvial archipelago of four islands in the Bay of Bengal. It is a world heritage site and is an unique example of the estuarine mangrove ecosystem. The forest is home to more than 400 tigers, all man-eaters. These animals have adapted themselves very well to the saline and aqueous environs and are excellent swimmers. Crocodiles are often seen along the muddy beaches of the intricately patterned creeks and canals. The name of this place has been derived from the 'Sundari' tree. This tree along with the russet-leafed hental palms offer a perfect camouflage for the black and yellow tigers. Area : 2,585 sq. km Best time to visit : September to May Prominent Wildlife : Royal Bengal Tiger, leopards, crocodiles, crabs, Ridley sea turtles, hundreds of species of marine wildlife, and many kinds of birds and snakes. Climate : Being very close to the sea, the Sundarban National Park enjoys moderate climate throughout the year. The summers are hot and humid. During the monsoon between June and August, it rains almost throughout the season. The winters are comfortable and pleasant. Clothing : For the summers light cotton garments are good enough, and for the winters moderate to heavy cotton garments would suffice. How to get there : The park can be approached by road from the nearest town of Gosaba about 50 km away. Canning is the nearest railhead 48kms away from the park. The nearest airport is at Calcutta, 112 km away. It is possible to travel this route on water and Motor launches are available from the tourist offices in Calcutta. Where to stay: Accommodation is available at Sajnakhali. Sajnakhali sanctuary is regarded as a part of the Sundarban National Park and is a bird watcher's paradise. There are forest Rest-houses and forest lodges available here. For Additional and updated information: Field Director Sundarban Tiger Reserve P.O Canning, District : 24 Parganas (South), West Bengal,India Or Tourist Bureau Govt. of West Bengal 3/2 B B D Bag (East) Calcutta 700 001 West Bengal,India Bandipur A Project Tiger Reserve with a core zone of 874.20 sq.km, Bandipur lies on a hilly plateau with an average elevation of 800 metres over the mean sea level. Nestling in the shadow of the Western Ghats, Bandipur is one of the finest habitats of the Asian Elephant also. After the park was brought under the Project Tiger Scheme, the number of tigers have increased at a steady pace. The easy availability of water in the area have resulted in thick evergreen vegetation in this park. In some zones of the park daylight is unable to penetrate through the thick foliages. Area : 874.20 sq. km Best time to visit : March to August Prominent Wildlife : Elephant, tiger, gaur, sambar, chital, barking deer, wild dog, wild boar, jackal, sloth bear, panther, chousingha, malabar squirrel, green pigeon, jungle fowl, the great Indian Bustard, a variety of other birds and insects, etc. Climate : The climate around this part of the country is usually pleasant throughout the year. Clothing : For the summers light cotton garments are enough while for the winters light woolen garments are recommended. How to get there : The park can be approached by road from the nearest town of Gundulpet, 20 km away. The nearest railhead 65 km away from the park is the beautiful city of Mysore. The nearest airport is at Bangalore, about 220 km from the park. Where to stay : Accommodation is available at Forest Houses, Forest Lodges and Rest Houses. Cottages are available at Kakanhalla, Mulehole, Kalkere and Gopalaswamy (Betta). These places are located in a around the park. For Additional Information: Field Director Bandipur Tiger Reserve Mysore, Karnataka-570004, India Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary This 800 sq. km sanctuary in the Idukki district of Kerala is near the border of Tamilnadu. A dam has been constructed on the Periyar river leading to the submersion of a vast forest area that was once the hunting ground of the Maharajas of Kerala. This has also formed a 55 sq. km lake from which juts out the stumps of the trees reminding the visitors of their existence. The sanctuary is spread on the undulating hills of the western ghats surrounding this lake. Sighting of wildlife is done here from boats gliding slowly through the serene lake. Though it is a Tiger Reserve, tourists come here to view the elephants in the act of ablution and playfulness by the lake. In the lap of the mountains, the sanctuary's environ is like a canvas of many shades. The fresh air of the moist deciduous forest gives one a chance to experience the peace and serenity. Area : 777 sq. km Best time to visit : December to May Prominent Wildlife : Elephant, Tiger, Sambar, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Nilgiri Tahr, Wild Dog, Porcupine, Lion- tailed Macaque, Malabar Squirrel, Flying Squirrel, Sloth Bear, Gaur, etc. Climate : The climate during summer (from April to June) and during monsoon (from July to August) is warm. Winter ranges from October to March which is cool and pleasant. Clothing : In the summers cotton dresses are very comfortable, and for the winters cottons and light woolens would be sufficient. How to get there : The National Park is 4 km from the nearest town, Kumily. The nearest railhead is 114 km, at Kottayam. The nearest airport is Kochi, 190 km and Madurai, only 145 km from the Park. Where to stay : Accommodation is available at Forest Rest House, Aranya Nivas, Lake Palace and Periyar House. These three places to stay are situated inside the sanctuary while there are plenty of accommodation available outside the Park in Kumily. For Additional Information: Field Director Project Tiger, Kanjikuzhi, Kottayam, Kerala, India. |
Many
of these tiger reserves are established in the former hunting grounds
of the former Indian and British aristocracy. Some parks do offer modern
styled guesthouses with electricity while others only have bungalows
with basic amenities. Jeep or Van ride is available everywhere and in
some, elephant or boat rides are organized to scan these areas more
discreetly. 