 |
| Bandhavgarh |
The forest talked.
It was passed dusk and the darkness was steadily creeping, engulfing Bandhavgarh. The forest afflicts you unlike the other wild life sanctuaries in India. Some sort of mist was setting in. There were ramblings, swish sounds as mystic creatures ran through bushes. Bandhavgarh came alive. I could sense the mocking by the forest. Then we heard the laughter, penetrating the gray and deep blue of the forest... hyna or jackal?
I went back to my resort. I felt it. Everything- History, mystry and a fear! Took 2 shots followed by my dinner of charcoal grilled chicken and potatos and went to sleep.
I was in Bandhavgarh for 3 days.
 |
| Elephant Safari |
After 3 attempts it was the 4th round that I saw her. She was walking on the hills as we were parked on the forest road. She was only visible while crossing the clearings when she was out of the shadows of the vegetation. The elephants followed her on the road. She was regal in the forest. We were anxious to create memories for a lifetime. She gave us the opportunity. The day we were preparing to return, she rewarded us. It was our last elephant ride into the forest. Then there she was, 100 feet from us, walking away from us, graceful, slow, haunting, magical. ‘The Miss Sripes’. We stopped, she walked on, in beauty, till close enough to touch. She was fluid, she was a poem, a creature of the myths, a being of God. A living legend. Four humans watched in complete silence as the forest whispered in our ears- “You are privileged."
Though Bhandhavgarh wild life sanctuary has the record of the largest population of tigers in India, often you fail to see them. They see you, always, behind the trees and bushes, hidden from mortal, cunning and polluted humans, grinning on their miseries.
The forest has a lot to offer. Flanked by the plateau that looks like Ira’s head on all sides, the forest offers a variety of sights. Savanna like grasslands where deer herds wander, water bodies where exotic birds congregate, thick vegetation through which ‘The Stripes’ see you.
I left on the 4th day for the hell where I live.
OTHER DETAILS:
How to reach?
Trains from Delhi: The bast option is by UTKAL EXPRESS from Nizamuddin Rly St. Dept 1205 reaching UMARIYA Arr next day 0530. The other option is by Amritsar- Vishakapatanam Exp. leaving Nizamudin(New Delhi) at 0900.
If coming from Mumbai, take Howrah mail via Allahabad and get down at KATNI or Jabalpur and take a bus or taxi.
The other option from Mumbai is to fly down to Bhopal, take a night train-Indore-Bhopal Bilaspur Narmada Express to UMARIYA, reaching next day at a good time of around 1000 hrs. It's just an hour drive from UMARIYA to Bhandhavgarh.
Where to stay?
HOTELS and RESORTS:(Please check rates)
- Infinity Resort, INR7,000 - 10,000
- Bagh Sarai Resorts, INR6,789($148)
- Nature Heritage Resort
- Jungle Mantra
- Tiger Trails Resort, INR128,436 - 266,045 ($2,800 - $5,800) Avg. price/night
- Wildhaven Resort
- Maharaja's Royal Retreat
- Jungle Inn Resort, INR700 - 1,500
- Baghela Resort
- Golbro Tiger View Resort, INR1,147 - 2,982 ($25 - $65)