All posts tagged: kanha

Tales from the jungle: Shergarh Tented Camp

Published by Anita

Walking down a narrow path, fringed by bushes and trees, I couldn’t see too far ahead. But the road did lead somewhere – to the most beautiful cosy house welcoming you after what seemed like a very long road journey. A little further ahead, the path leads you to a large courtyard with sofas and chairs strewn around; relief for a tired traveller. The house has a wide verandah running all the way through, reminiscent of a Kerala style house. On one side is a water body and to the right, a large pond, reflecting the lush greenery. It was right out of a novel. It was perfect. I felt like I’d come home. The main house with the large courtyard: A place to relax! But let’s go back in time. I met Katie and Jehan Bhujwala in Goa, one of my favorite places to head to when I want to “get away”. In this piece of paradise called Olaulim Backyards created by the delightful Savio and Pirrko Fernandes, over delicious fresh fruits and cashew …

Tryst with nature: The Kanha National Park

Published by Anita

In December 2013, I got the opportunity to spend a few days exploring the Kanha forests, and relaxing at the Kanha Earth Lodge, a comfortable haven for wildlife and nature lovers. A trip into the forests of Madhya Pradesh is incomplete without a tiger sighting. Or so they say. Though it was something that was on my mind, I wasn’t really too stressed about it. My guide, on the other hand, was. He tried his hardest to make sure we sighted a tiger, but unfortunately, the two times we went into the Mukki and the Kisli zones, the tiger wasn’t in a mood to come out in public. An early morning scene as we enter the Kanha National Park The tiger is one magnificent animal and there’s nothing as memorable as seeing one roaming free in the wild. But with the dwindling numbers and the poaching reports, I am not very hopeful of this animal’s future. We’re definitely bent upon eliminating this majestic creature from the Indian landscape and doing a good job of it …

Naturalist, Chinmay Deshpande, and his passion for all things wild

Published by Anita

Meet naturalist and snake expert, Chinmay Deshpande, who decided that pursuing his dreams was worth sacrificing a career in IT and a desk job. You only have one life, says this young man. And we agree! This is his story. He was hooked at a young age. A wildlife enthusiast and a naturalist at the Kanha Earth Lodge, Chinmay confesses he got interested in reptiles and snakes after watching a lot of Discovery and NG channel while growing up. He began to learn about handling snakes by watching and observing and soon in his hometown people started calling him whenever there was an issue. He began to learn and understand how to handle venomous and non venomous snakes. At the same time, he was also pursuing his studies and went into commerce, but his heart was always in wildlife and nature. He conducted workshops and camps to educate children and people, especially those of the poorer economic class, who face conflict on a regular basis. Chinmay took on a part-time job as a swimming coach …

A Kanha sunset

Published by Anita

Wherever I travel, I try and experience a sunset. Isn’t it just magical, watching the sun go down at the end of the day? Travelling in Madhya Pradesh, currently at the Kanha Earth Lodge, yesterday evening we ventured out to a point where we could enjoy the sunset. We packed ourselves some tea and coffee that we enjoyed as we witnessed the gorgeous sight. Around 20 minutes of climbing a small hillock, we were treated to some amazing views of the Kanha forests, the buffer zone and a peekaboo of some villages between the thick foliage. Around 20 minutes later, the sun began to go down into the horizon. Darkness falls quickly once the sun goes down, and we packed up and headed back. It’s just another sunset, but to me it’s always different and special. (This trip was made possible on an invitation from Pugdundee Safaris and the Kanha Earth Lodge.)