Rousing Wildlife at Bhitarkanika Sanctuary, Orissa

When we are talking about wildlife, India holds the record of providing one of the best experiences of knowing the wildlife so closely. The country has many Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks. Most of the states like Orissa, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Tamil Nadu, Chattisgarh, etc. persuade the travellers to visit and investigate the deep secrets of their dense jungle. Indian government has also established many parks and sanctuaries to protect the affluence and diversity of the unique fauna. One must visit these parks to explore the uniqueness of these wild beasts.

Bhitarkanika Wildlife Santuary

Orissa is located in the East India and is a coastal region. The place is known to have an excellent wildlife and rich flora and fauna. Apart from the striking wildlife in various wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, the state also has distinct wildlife in its different tribal belts. That is why; there is not any question that the place is famous for the wildlife lovers. The different famous parks and wildlife sanctuaries in Orissa are Bhitarkanika, Nandankanan, Balpakram, Simlipal, Chilika, Kotgarh, Baisipalli and Sunabeda, etc.

Crocodile Enjoying In Water

Salt Water Crocodile in Bhitarkanika

The Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary is mainly famous for the huge crocodiles and Olive Ridley Turtles. It is situated on the mouth of Mahanadi River has a number of salt water crocodiles, and water monitor lizards. This land of lush green mangroves, ominous estuarine crocodiles, migratory birds and turtles, twisty water bodies, calm environment troubled by the chirping of birds is divided into three main regions, named as The Bhitarkanika National Park, The Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and The Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary. All these three areas are so spell bound that they invite their admirers from all places to gather the abundant and unique features which will act as the food for exploration. 

A Natural Mangrove In Bhitarkanika Sanctuary

It is the second largest Mangrove Eco system of India and spread over about 625 km of the area. The 55 different types of mangroves are the collection of Bamboo, Teak, Sal, Babul, Zizphus, Palas and many others, which serves as a home to the migratory birds coming from Central Asia and Europe. The other birds which can be seen here are the famous different eight varieties of Kingfisher, White Bellied Sea Eagle, Sea Gull, Waders, Woodpecker, Brahmany Ducks, Hornbill and Bar Headed Geese, etc.

Black Capped Kingfisher

It is a prime location for the giant salt water crocodile and serves as the appropriate breeding location for them as well as for the turtles. Every year, about seven million Olive Ridley Sea Turtles come at the Gahirmatha Beach from South America, on the coast of Bay of Bengal, and lay more than 60 million eggs. You can also spot the very rare white crocodile at Dangamala. 

Olive Ridley Sea Turtles 

The fauna of the park includes Leopards, Wild Dogs, Chinkara, Wild Boar, Flying Fox, Hyena, Bear and Blue Bull, etc. This place is an excellent ecological, biological and geomorphologic site due to its water bodies, backwaters and mud flats, etc. and considered to be as the best camping, trekking and picnic spot.

Hyena 

You can reach the place via motorboats as it is the only means of transportation to the island, and it is altogether a different fun. Watching these wonderful creatures in their natural pristine habitat is a new way of developing the ultimate fun. The park provides you the lodges and rest houses at Dangmal, Gupti and Ekakula for accommodation. The best time to visit the sanctuary is from November to February.

You can take information about wildlife tour from here:
http://www.wildlife-travel-india.com/plan-your-trip.html

Wild Vacations - Other Name of Tiger Safari, India

Nature is a wide entity to be explored. Apart from giving us all the basics to live, it gives more to relax, to thank, to think and to be within it. Just the way we get carried with the natural beauty of the places, some beautiful creations just makes us go mad over them. Incredible India – is a worthwhile name for our country. India is rich in not only beautiful destinations, but is also a land of beautiful flora and fauna.

A wide range of fauna could be seen and treasured in the wildlife sanctuaries or National Park of India. From Jammu & Kashmir till the Andaman and Nicobar Island, everywhere you can see these faunas in small zoos or big wildlife sanctuaries. While moving around these places, the trip itself becomes memorable if you see a Tiger.

Tiger

Tiger – the biggest cat, most grandiose and dominant creature, is even more fun to see when it’s Indian TIGER. Tigers of India are a symbol of power, royalty, rambling, enthralling and most handsome to look at. The experience of looking and feeling them so close to you is a possible task. 

Apart from vacations in beautiful places, people these days prefer to explore the wild angle of the faunas. Wild life tours and Safaris are no longer retained with Africa only. India is the destination for same. Tiger Safari – is the best name given to the ride in the national parks, where you get to see your loved creatures moving freely and happily in their own zones. Indian tigers are the most handsome tiger all around the world. A large number of tiger lovers book their safaris to see them every year.

The most famous Tiger Safaris and the Tiger watching tours in India, is amongst these national parks:

Tiger In  Ranthambore National Park

1. Ranthambore National Park : It is a National park of Rajasthan which contributes to the project Tiger and the state has most pleasing Tiger reserves.It is Named after the Ranthambore fort  and is well known for tiger safari in India.

Tiger Safari In Jim Corbett National Park

2. Corbett National Park  : Park is located in the foot hills of Himalayas, near Nainital, and covers the Sonanadi & Kalagarh wildlife sanctuaries. Currently, the park is a home of many creatures like bull elephant, spotted deer, leopard cat, barking sambar, Himalayan black bear, Indian pangolin, great mongoose  and many more. The Park is marked as a protection zone for endangered beasts.

White Tigers Of  Bandhavgarh National Park In Rest

3. Bandhavgarh National Park : This Park is well known as a home to famous white tiger of Rewathat. Apart from various safaris offered in the park, it is popular for the sandstones caves from 1st century. It’s located in Madhya Pradesh.

4. Sunderbans Tiger Reserves : Situated in West Bengal. The reserve is more popular for the handsome and Royal Bengal tigers. Reserves also offer adventures Tiger and elephant safaris.

One Horned Rhinoceros,Tiger and Elephant In Kaziranga National Park

5. Kaziranga National Park : Park is located in Assam and is a world heritage site. The park is well known for the best safety given to the sheltered animals. Is well known for protection of one horned Rhinoceros and the tigers.

Apart from these parks Kanha national park and Pench national park are also known for the tiger safaris. Tiger Safari, a ride that makes your vacation truly remarkable and memorable.

Here you can get information about Tiger Safari tour and packages:

http://www.wildlife-travel-india.com/tiger-tours-india/index.html

Elephant Safari Corbett Tour of Oldest National Park in India

Jim Corbett National Park is one of the oldest parks in our country. Corbett is that much famous between the nature lovers that it attracts more than 80,000 tourists in a year. It is a home to more than 55 species of mammals and 550 species of birds.

As the park is spread over 500 square kilometres, authorities have provided different options for the visitors to experience this amazing forest. One of it is Elephant Safari. Nothing can be much more exciting than experiencing the natural habitat of animals via an animal only. Elephant Safari in Corbett National Park is an experience of its own kind. Elephant not only lure the hearts of Asians, but it attracts the tourists throughout the world. Authorities have planned the Elephant Safari in such a way that it provides the maximum satisfaction and coverage to the tourists. When you are doing safari on an elephant, you cannot hold back yourself to feel like that you are living in this natural habitat of the animals. If you are adventurous enough, Elephant Safari is the perfect choice for you. Jungle provides the safari in the day time as well as in the night time. It is completely your choice that you want to start it in dusk or dawn.

Jim Corbett National Park Visit By Elephant Safari

Elephant Safari is very exciting and astonishing way of experiencing the nature. Why elephant safari is must to explore the jungle to the fullest is because elephant can go to any area of the jungle like dense reforest or profound valleys. Also, it won’t disturb the other animals as any other vehicle can do and in this way you can get a close look of the natural world. Elephant Safari will make your wild excursion more wild and natural as there will be long silence and only thing to hear will be the natural sounds of animals or wind or the elephant’s cadenced scuff-scuff. Where it will make you enjoy the ease and simplicity, there it will also thrill you by the thought of riding an animal and their sound when they produce to talk to another elephant.

Sometimes the terror will make you freeze and will give you an excited and delighted experience.

Tourist Enjoying Elephant Safari in Corbett National Park

Obviously, Elephant Safari is done under the supervision of experienced guides and officials at particular zones of the National Park. Some of the zones inside the park where you can be spell bound by unique and beautiful flora and fauna of the park are Dhikala, Durga Devi, Jhirna and Bijrani. Although, safaris are done under supervision and in the safe areas only, but still you yourself should take care and always listen and follow your official or guide.

An Adventurous Visit Of  Corbett National Park By Elephant Safari

So, if you are a nature lover and planning to explore the nature in its own way, you should definitely experience the Elephant Safari in Jim Corbett as you can get the closer look and experience. Jungle has a lot to offer to its visitors and the more you’ll experience it in natural way the more excited and awesome you will feel.

For more information  about Elephant Safari Tour please visit here:

http://www.wildlife-travel-india.com/tiger-tours-india/elephant-safari-corbett-tour.html 

http://www.northernindiatours.com/wildlife-tour-packages/index.html

The Protected Reserve of Periyar National Park

Periyar National Park in Kerala, India is both a National Park and a wildlife sanctuary. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Thekkady are the two other names by which it is referred. Over 950 square km of land is under protection out of which 350 square km is the core area. It is on the border with Tamil Nadu and lies in the middle of Cardamom Hills’ mountainous area. Periyar National Park (or PNP) is a well-known wildlife attraction of south India. Here are some interesting things to know about this park.

1. Periyar National Park was established in 1982 with the 350 km2 of the protected area as its core area.

2. The Cardamom Hills and Pandalam Hills surround the PNP which makes it a very picturesque place.

View inside Periyar National Park

3. The park derives its name from the Periyar River, which is one of the few perennial rivers in the region.

4. There is a beautiful lake inside the wildlife sanctuary, called the Periyar Lake, which came into existence after the construction of the Mullaperiyar Dam on Periyar River.

Mullaperiyar Dam

Submerged trees in Periyar Lake

5. PNP is a part of Project Tiger that aims to preserve the tiger population in India.

6. Besides tigers, dholes, gaur, sambar, wild pig, Indian giant squirrel, Travancore flying squirrel, jungle cat and sloth bear are some of the mammals of this park.

Dholes in Periyar National Park

7. This park was also taken under Project Elephant to ensure the safety of the elephants in this park.

8. Around 265 species of migratory and resident birds can be seen here. The tropical evergreen and moist deciduous forests provide an excellent habitat for the birds.

9. The best way to see wild creatures and birds in Periyar National Park is a boat cruise in Periyar Lake. Besides boat cruise, jungle safaris are also available to explore PNP.

Boat Cruise on Periyar Lake

10. The best time to visit Periyar National Park is from October to June (visit here for more information) when the weather is favourable.

Our Entry for ABC Wednesday - P is for Protected Reserve of Periyar National Park

Manas National Park - Home of Endangered Species

Manas National Park is located in Assam, India.  It spreads in an area of 360 square km. Name of the park is placed over the Manas River. The park is basically known for its rare & endangered wildlife species like Assam Roofed Turtle, Hispid Hare, Golden Langur and Pygmy Hog and is part of Project Tiger. Manas National Park was declared a wildlife sanctuary on October 1, 1928 and also listed in the UNESCO world heritage sites in 1985. Here, some of the best features of the park are given:-

Manas National Park

1. It is a perfect home for wild buffalo, elephant, tiger, rhino and for the thousands of endangered species that listed in the IUCN Red Book. Asiatic buffalo is one of the highlighted species of this park. It is a paradise for these species.

 

Elephants in Manas National Park

2. Flora of the park is gives it a picturesque view. The main vegetation of the park includes Sub-Himalayan light Alluvial Semi-Evergreen forests in the northern part; East Himalayan mixed Moist and Dry Deciduous forests, Low Alluvial Savanna Woodland and Assam Valley Semi-Evergreen Alluvial Grasslands. Assam Valley Semi-Evergreen Alluvial Grasslands covers around 50 % of the park.

View of the hills inside Manas National Park

3. Total 543 species of plants, 374 species of dicotyledons, 139 species of monocotyledons and 30 species of pteridophytes & gymnosperms are available there.

4. Fauna of the park include 55 species of mammals, 380 species of birds, 50 species of reptiles and 3 species of amphibians.

Langur in Manas National Park

5. The popular faunal species are Asian Elephants, Indian Rhinoceros, Gaurs, Asian Water Buffaloes, Indian Tigers, Leopards, Clouded Leopards, Capped Langurs, Asian Golden Cat, Slow Loris, Assamese Macaques, Barking Deer, Chital, Black Panther, etc.

6. Manas National Park has more than 450 species of birds and has the largest population of Bengal Florican that attracts most of the people towards it.

Bengal Florican - Image by NaveenGuruprasad on flickr.com

7. The major bird species include Giant Hornbils, Kalij Pheasants, Egrets, Pelicans, Brahminy Ducks, Scarlet Minivets, Fishing Eagles, Herons, Harriers, Mergansers, Magpie Robins, Bee-Eaters, etc.

8. More than 50 species of reptiles are available there. Jeep safari and an Elephant safari are available there to explore the park perfectly. It may be a thrilling experience to watch the animals from the open roofed jeeps and is great fun also.

Indian Rhinoceros

9. The climate of the park varies from season to season. The minimum temperature is approximately 15 degrees Celsius and approximately 37 degrees Celsius is the maximum temperature in all the seasons. Heavy rainfall also occurs during the summer season, i.e. from May to September.

10. Best season to visit Manas National Park (Source of information) is between November and April as during these seasons, one can see the local animal species as well as the migratory birds. Time to visit the park is from 9 to 12 AM and from 2 to 5 PM.

Our Entry for ABC Wednesday.

Kaziranga National Park – Home to Rhinoceros

Kaziranga National Park is located in Assam, India. It spreads on the area of 430 Sq kms along the river Brahmaputra on the north side and the Karbi on the south side. It is popular for the great one-horned rhinoceros and wild elephants. In 1974, it has been declared as a National Park. This is the only area which is least disturbed by the human beings. So, it is a paradise for both flora and fauna. Some of the best features of the national park are as follows:-

1. This national park is a world heritage site and is inhabited by the world’s largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses.

Great One-horned Rhinoceroses

2. It is also home to the largest population of wild water buffalo across the globe.

Wild Water Buffalos

3. Besides these, Wild Asiatic water buffalo, eastern swamp deer, elephants, gaur and sambar are also in a large number. So, many rare species are also found there.

4. Different species of birds can also be seen chirping from one tree to another and makes the atmosphere more natural. Many migratory birds, water birds, predators, etc. are found there in a large number. Great Indian Hornbil, Marsh Babblers, Indian Roller, Bengal Florican, Indian Vulture, Hodgson’s Bushchat, etc. are some of the other species of the birds.

Indian Roller

5. The park can be seen in different ways like through Jeep Safari, Elephant Safari, Boat rides on the Brahmaputra River.

6. Small herbivores that found in the park are the Indian Muntjac, Wild Boar and Hog Deer.

Hog Deer

7. The large number of tigers, due to conservation efforts, is also a major achievement of this National Park. This park also comes under the Project Elephant.

8. Reptiles are also there in a large number. Two of the largest snakes in the world namely Reticulated Python and Rock Python found there. Others are King Cobra, Krait, Viper, Assam Roofed Turtle, Water Monitor, Bengal Monitor Lizard, tortoise, etc.

9. The climate of the place is another thing that keeps the park full of flora and fauna in every season of the year. It is moderate in summer while nights are chilly in winter. Rainfall is very heavy during the monsoon season.

View of Kaziranga National Park

10. A time of period between November to March (Information source) is the best to see the park in the best natural way.

Kanha National Park – Land of the Jungle Book

Kanha National Park is a tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh, central India. The forests of Kanha are spread over the Mandla and Balaghat districts, and the area of neighboring Phen Sanctuary adds-up to form the Kanha Tiger Reserve. In 1879, the jungles of Kanha became a forest reserve and in 1933, it gained the status of a wildlife sanctuary. Kanha National Park is often referred to as the land of the Jungle Book because Joseph Rudyard Kipling found his inspiration for his novel here. Here are some interesting things to know about this park.

1. Kanha National Park was established on the 1st of June in 1955.

Bengal Tiger - Kanha National Park

2. Kanha’s core area covers about 940 km² with 1,067 km² of surrounding buffer zone. This makes Kanha the largest National Park in central India. The core area of the Kanha tiger reserve is protected under the Project Tiger initiative.

3. Jungle Book, written by the famous English writer Joseph Rudyard Kipling, was inspired by the wild creatures and dense forests of Kanha.

Joseph Rudyard Kipling

4. Many of the wild creatures of Kanha National Park are depicted as characters in the Jungle Book like Baloo the bear, Bagheera the black panther and Shere Khan the tiger.

5. It is among the best places in central India for wildlife safaris and watching tigers in the open wilds.

Bengal Tiger 

6. Bengal Tigers dominate the forests of Kanha. Foxes, jackals, leopards and wild dogs are the other carnivores in the reserve.

7. The grasslands of the Kanha National Park are vital for the survival of the swamp deer population as many important species of grass grows there. Sambhar, Chital and Gaur are other commonly seen creatures inside the park.

Swamp Deer - Image by David Schenfeld on flickr.com

8. Over 1000 species of flowering plants can be found in this park. Sal and bamboo trees are also found in abundance.

9. Except from July to mid November, this park remains open for tourist activities throughout the year.

10. Bamni Dadar is a sunset point where tourists can easily spot sambar, barking deer, gaur and four horned antelope in the evening. Kanha Museum is another interesting place to go and have more knowledge about the park. Kanha National Park is counted among the must visit destinations in Madhya Pradesh.

Kanha Museum

Our Entry for ABC Wednesday.