Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve

January 2017

Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve

A four day trip, from the 28th of December to the 1st of January, our family went to Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) for the Christmas vacations.

Day 1

About an hour and a half of plane journey and three hours of car ride it took us to reach the Serai tiger camp. The fresh air filled the place and the trees swayed and their leaves danced. A nice tent named ‘Shivaji’, we stayed in. A humble tent but a comfortable and satisfying place it was. After lunch and some rest, it was safari time.

From two to six, was the safari. We saw a couple of birds at first and later saw a few motionless jeeps at a distance. We finally saw what we were looking for.

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Choti Tara of Tadoba- the star of the sky

Majestically striving out of the bushes and drooping branches, tigress Choti Tara, also known as Gauri, crosses the road before us and settles down. Posing for the photographers and onlookers, she glances at her two cubs, shy to show themselves. She rises to lead her young ones, a male and a female. Her royal fur coat glistens in the bright rays of the afternoon sun. Her sleek body strides again to cross the road. Her cubs emerge from the bushes when they see their guardian approaching. Walking side by side, they follow their mother, who glances at us sternly. She takes them away and leads them near a water body where she tutors them to hunt deer. A blessing, you’d call it, to watch the majestic Bengal tigress and her adorable little cubs from Tadoba.

The tigress came along the road, walking very close to our jeep. The rest of our ride was just about a few minutes that we spent looking at the tigress. Soon it was time to go home.

Hot ginger tea was served along with some biscuits. We sat near the open fire and warmed our hands.

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Campfire

With hot tea and soaked biscuits, we at under the stars, surrounded the crackling fire warming us. Years, it had been since I had spotted the white sparkling dots in the sky, all shining above our heads and inspiring us. The cold breeze chilled my bones but the campfire kept me warm. All this place lacked was some delicious marshmallows. Crickets chirped and mosquitoes buzzed around. Dad took photos with different settings to remember the shining stars that encouraged us just by gleaming in the dark sky.

Soon, it was time for dinner. A grand buffet was waiting for us. Delicious food filled our stomachs. Going back to the room, we slept.

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Night

After a tiresome day, I collapsed into bed. The lights off, doors closed but curtains open, letting the radiance of the moon and stars pass though. The darkness bewitches my consciousness and lures me into shutting my eyes. My watch ticking steadily soothes my every sense. Cold, the air is from the tiny spaces and holes in the tent, chills my bones. I snuggle into the sheets that keep me warm. The air carries sleepiness, causing me to drift off into a good night’s sleep.

Day 2

I woke up in the morning only to find a surprise. The cold was piercing into my skin till my bones. How cold it was, I shuddered.

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An Early Morning

Waking up in the morning was surprising. The cold pricked me and I shuddered. No one would want to get up in that chilly morning. I hugged onto the sheets and eventually had to get up as we were to go for a safari at 5:30. A hot wash of the face helped my sleepiness and I somehow made my way to the jeep.

Hastily making my way to the jeep, I sat there scanning the area. Out of nowhere, a sloth bear appeared, slowly crossing the road and taking its own time. We could capture a couple shots of the bear before it slowly made its way to the other side of the bushes that ran along the roadside. When I thought the day could get better, it just did. A couple jeeps were parked together and some whispers where heard around. The leaves of a bush above a small water body rustled and an orange stripe was seen. Suddenly, the same tigress we had come across walked towards us. She strode towards the water and gave a soft growl. Down came tumbling two of her cubs, splashing into the water. They took turns jumping and licking their mother. The mother usually leaves her cubs in a bush during the evenings to guard her territory and comes back only in the mornings. The cubs played in the water as Tara waded in it. How wonderful the family looks, reunited after a long night. The spotting was amazing and it was time for breakfast from a hot box in the jeep and took another round after the meal.   

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The Morning Spotting

A rare sloth bear, we saw crossing the road. It looked just like a large teddy bear ready for a cuddle. It looked harmless as it slowly took its time, paying no heed to us. When the day couldn’t get better after the rare sightings, we saw the mother caring for her cubs once again, after leaving them for the night while she marked her territory. They happily tumble out from the bushes as they hear their mom’s low grumble and come out to embrace her. Joy, you feel when you look at the loving mother caring for her cubs in the middle of the picturesque forest. And joy was what I felt.

We then ate some parathas and samosas for breakfast when we stopped at a gate. We went on for a while, spotting some birds and deer. We went back to the tiger camp, had some delicious lunch and left again. Just a flock of yellow footed green pigeons, the national animal of Maharashtra, we saw along with a crocodile but observed the old pillars on the sides of a road that had ancient designs and writings on it. It was served as street lights for tribal king. When he passed by the road in the night, deepas (lamps) were kept on the grooves, illuminating the path of the palanquin carriers and the king himself. The day was well spent and after some tea, scrumptious dinner and campfire, I dosed off quickly.

Day 3

 After feeling the same shuddering feeling as I did the day before, I hopped in the jeep and after a while, we went near a grassy area and a small cave like area. Surprisingly, we found a rare sight. A wild dog stood firmly as a group of others fed on a samba deer. They took turns in eating their kill. In the tall grass they stood, almost out of our sight. They guarded and were loyal to the pack, eating equal shares. Loyalty, a rare quality, was shown even by the ferocious dogs. The guard stood steady, his ears perked up when he saw us. He stared at us and signalled his pack to move into the cave with the prey. They dragged it inside fed on it while the guard stood in front of the cave like area and kept looking around and sniffing the air. He soon went back inside for his share and another came out, doing the same. Some fish eagles, including a rare one, we saw soon after.

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Loyalty

How loyal, were the dogs in the pack, as faithful as could be. As we came, his ears perked up, signalling the rest to the rest of the dogs to hide themselves. He stood straight and still, no distractions bothering him. He sniffed the air and looked around, his ears up straight. He exchanged his role with another, who had finished his meal.

In the evening, we went to a different zone where the scenery was just out of a movie, but we saw absolutely nothing, but a bird or two.

Day 4

We had to leave after the morning safari and I hoped that we would get an absolutely fantastic sighting for we were visiting another zone.

My wishes came perfectly true. Our guide was absolutely amazing and knowledgeable and with his directions as he spotted the movement of the tigress Madhuri, it was a head-on spotting. We backed away when we saw her walking right toward us and then spotted her crossing the road with her four cubs, two of them lazily lying down and yawning and her walking in the direction of our jeep. Amazing shots we got of the grand tiger. 

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Madhuri and her cubs

Majestic Madhuri and her cubs cross by, two brave to show themselves and two scared, hiding in the bushes. The brave ones lay on the grassy land as they yawn and paw each other. They snarl at us and playfully push each other. Madhuri teaches the elder cub to hunt down a boar and the others watch, thinking that they must do the same soon. She crosses the road, her stripes signifying her pride and courage. Her well-shaped sleek body glides across the track made by the jeep’s tires. The cubs follow her. Another united family of the tigress and her cubs make you feel the bond between the tiger family.

A yawning cub amidst the tall plants

 Graceful tiger Madhuri approaching us

Sadness I felt, when I was to leave the place. My eyes had a tear or two in it, but wiped it off. We ate a hearty meal of some chapattis, subzi and gobi manchuri and some sweets to top it off. We left with a rented driver and paid Deeksha Bhoomi a visit. A peaceful place it was and on one side of the place, the life of Dr Ambedkar was depicted by pictures and some desriptions. After buying famous orange sweets, we went to the airport and flew back home.

It was the end of the journey, but it was a start to a new year,

2017!