India - the land of the majestic Tiger and the graceful Elephant, boasts of an enchanting floral and faunal diversity, that accounts for the country’s emergence as one of the most sought after wildlife destinations in the world. Last year, I had availed of Wildlife Tour Packages in India to explore some of the most important wild life destinations in the country, which provide refuge to numerous species of wild animals and birds.
Home to over 390 species of mammals, 455 reptiles, 210 amphibians, 1,230 birds, and about 30,000 species of insects – the Wildlife Sanctuaries in India offer innumerable wildlife treasures that are bound to leave any spectator bedazzled! With numerous Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks scattered all over India, I was really confused about the important wildlife destinations to cover on my Indian Wildlife Tour. That is when I came across a Tour Operator called Wildlife India Tours on the Internet. They gave me a list of customized Wildlife Tour Packages to choose from, and their assistance really came handy in planning my Wildlife Tour of India.
These Wildlife Tours allowed numerous opportunities for me to watch numerous endemic as well as endangered species of wildlife in their natural habitat. Thus, on Wildlife Tour Packages in India, while I visited the Gir National Park in Gujarat which is famous for its Asiatic lions, I also went to Assam’s Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary, famous for its Indian rhinoceros species. Again, Periyar in Kerala is best known for the herds of elephants roaming about in wilderness, while Kanha and Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh are essentially associated with majestic tigers.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wildlife Sanctuaries in India – The Attraction Never Ceases
The call of the wild is not something I can ignore. Like every year in the past few years, this year too, I felt that unmistakable urge to ‘take cover’ in the wild. The daily grind had worn me thin; the forests were exercising their spell on me. So, off I went, backpack in tow, to add yet another name to my ever-growing list of wildlife sanctuaries visited in India.
Every wildlife expedition had taught me to expect the unexpected. And it was no different on my tour of wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala. I was carrying in my mind images of my earlier travels to the Ranthambore National Park and Sariska Wildlife National Park.
Both expeditions had been tremendously satisfying. Ranthambore was a breathtaking picture of streams crisscrossing islands of dense canopies of trees. In the middle of such lush vegetation, rose rocks in various shapes. My heart nearly stopped when I saw the unmistakable black and yellow stripes of the ‘Big Cat’ through my binoculars as it slouched its way through, behind a thicket of trees.
Sariska was a treat too. Taking the advice of our able guide, we booked ourselves a ‘hide’ from where we not only got splendid views of the undulating hills and valleys that form the topography of Sariska; but saw Chitals, Nilgai, and a host of jungle fowls, and wild birds, unwittingly posing as the perfect subjects of many a picture perfect snap.
The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala was a fresh experience. The sanctuary promised to be a kaleidoscope of colors, an orchestra of sounds – a stage that enacts the same play that never ceases to refresh you even if you were to take up the same perch day on day. I took an elephant safari through this sanctuary, and I was left asking for more…
I exhausted almost all the sanctuaries in Kerala – the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary and left with vows to return some time in the future. In my insane rush from one corner of Kerala to the other, I must thank my tour operator for getting me the best possible package. If you are a wildlife enthusiast, you would not want to travel with anyone else, trust me!
Every wildlife expedition had taught me to expect the unexpected. And it was no different on my tour of wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala. I was carrying in my mind images of my earlier travels to the Ranthambore National Park and Sariska Wildlife National Park.
Both expeditions had been tremendously satisfying. Ranthambore was a breathtaking picture of streams crisscrossing islands of dense canopies of trees. In the middle of such lush vegetation, rose rocks in various shapes. My heart nearly stopped when I saw the unmistakable black and yellow stripes of the ‘Big Cat’ through my binoculars as it slouched its way through, behind a thicket of trees.
Sariska was a treat too. Taking the advice of our able guide, we booked ourselves a ‘hide’ from where we not only got splendid views of the undulating hills and valleys that form the topography of Sariska; but saw Chitals, Nilgai, and a host of jungle fowls, and wild birds, unwittingly posing as the perfect subjects of many a picture perfect snap.
The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala was a fresh experience. The sanctuary promised to be a kaleidoscope of colors, an orchestra of sounds – a stage that enacts the same play that never ceases to refresh you even if you were to take up the same perch day on day. I took an elephant safari through this sanctuary, and I was left asking for more…
I exhausted almost all the sanctuaries in Kerala – the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary and left with vows to return some time in the future. In my insane rush from one corner of Kerala to the other, I must thank my tour operator for getting me the best possible package. If you are a wildlife enthusiast, you would not want to travel with anyone else, trust me!
Wildlife India Tour
For those who like the unusual and the unexplored thrill of the wild I highly recommend Wildlife India Tour. From warmth loving tropical mammal population to those who have made the Himalayas their natural habitat- India’s mammal and bird population can cover an entire spectrum. Recent government activities are slowly bearing fruits in reorganizing the wildlife sanctuaries in India. New schedule has been chalked out, new reserves opened in many parts of India, a stringent security system against poaching followed and breeding programs introduced.
If you have an adventurous bent of mind like me India wildlife tours are best. The journey though strenuous and risky is rewarding in ways more than one. Atleast it was rewarding for me! If you are considering a Wildlife India Tour don’t forget to include Namdhappa Wildlife Reserve, Nanda Devi Reserve, Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary and Corbett National Park. Topographically speaking the first three wildlife tours in India are located high up in the Himalayas and offer you ample scope for trekking and hiking. Towering mountains, the remnants of animal skeleton, rampant and wild scrublands, is what met my eyes after reaching those heights high up in the Himalayas. Changthang and Nanda Devi is home to the elusive snow leopard. I had to almost wait for two days before I came across this beautiful cat who has used up almost all its proverbial nine lives and is almost on the throes of extinction now.
If you are in love with greenery and want a less hectic wildlife tour packages try out Kaziranga Naional Park, Kanha National Park, Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, Sunderbans, Periyar Reserve and Ranthambore. I took a long vacation and visited these parks almost at the throes of winter. Not only are these Parks and Reserves rich in animal population but the surrounding area is going to mesmerize you too. For once let your lenses do the talking. With some measure of luck you can also view big animals like Royal Bengal Tigers, Elephants and rhinos. Ask the opinion of the expert guide if you want to stop your jeep and go down the trail. Remember to maintain silence while you are on a wildlife tour as animals get distracted by noise.
Personally I feel these wildlife tours should be taken by all and sundry as not only a travelers delight but they somehow elevate you from the trivialities of life and the vanity of human preoccupation in the modern world. So when ever you want to escape from the world weary world and strengthen your back and stomach muscles roll on your back pack and be on the move in search of wilderness.
If you have an adventurous bent of mind like me India wildlife tours are best. The journey though strenuous and risky is rewarding in ways more than one. Atleast it was rewarding for me! If you are considering a Wildlife India Tour don’t forget to include Namdhappa Wildlife Reserve, Nanda Devi Reserve, Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary and Corbett National Park. Topographically speaking the first three wildlife tours in India are located high up in the Himalayas and offer you ample scope for trekking and hiking. Towering mountains, the remnants of animal skeleton, rampant and wild scrublands, is what met my eyes after reaching those heights high up in the Himalayas. Changthang and Nanda Devi is home to the elusive snow leopard. I had to almost wait for two days before I came across this beautiful cat who has used up almost all its proverbial nine lives and is almost on the throes of extinction now.
If you are in love with greenery and want a less hectic wildlife tour packages try out Kaziranga Naional Park, Kanha National Park, Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, Sunderbans, Periyar Reserve and Ranthambore. I took a long vacation and visited these parks almost at the throes of winter. Not only are these Parks and Reserves rich in animal population but the surrounding area is going to mesmerize you too. For once let your lenses do the talking. With some measure of luck you can also view big animals like Royal Bengal Tigers, Elephants and rhinos. Ask the opinion of the expert guide if you want to stop your jeep and go down the trail. Remember to maintain silence while you are on a wildlife tour as animals get distracted by noise.
Personally I feel these wildlife tours should be taken by all and sundry as not only a travelers delight but they somehow elevate you from the trivialities of life and the vanity of human preoccupation in the modern world. So when ever you want to escape from the world weary world and strengthen your back and stomach muscles roll on your back pack and be on the move in search of wilderness.
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