As an amateur Astronomer I am very much fond of various activities like Star Gazing, Deep sky astronomy, Meteor Watch etc. which falls under observational astronomy. Being a trekker I have visited some fantastic destinations from the perspective of astronomy. TREKDI intend to conduct observational astronomy related activities at these destinations.
Following are some of the destinations from where I have seen maddening sky.
1. Pangong Lake - Ladakh, J & K
2. Prachitgad Fort -Maharashtra
3. Eco village, Warasgaon backwaters, Pune, Maharashtra
I was sitting in a Hotel room, searching for colder water than Tap water to have bath and get relief from the heat. It was a dreadfully hot day of July'09 in Jammu with slightly cloudy weather and a hot sun. Light Breeze was moving few tree leaves whose movement could be measured by a vernier caliper. It had rained heavily last night but hadn't helped in a slightest way to comfort us. I guess there was at least 50% share of sweat in the water which was running on the road. I had just completed the Ladakh Biking circuit starting from Ambala and ending at Jammu after covering entire Ladakh region. It is one of the most revered destinations for Motor bikers. The circuit covered 10 mountain passes from which 5 fall under top 10 highest passes of the world including Khardung La which is the highest motorable pass in the world. Previous day we had just arrived in Jammu from Sonmarg covering 405 mountain Kilometers and the weather shock was tremendous. We decided to continue on bikes to Pune and were planning accordingly. We had covered about 2500 Km and there was some bike maintenance to do. I was ready and was eager to cover few destinations more than others. Finally six of us decided that I would start early on my bike. I will visit Bagha border and then we would meet in Amritsar. We would together then proceed to Ambala and further to Delhi. Rather than sitting sweating in the dreadful Jammu, I thought it better to be on Bike with wind easing the discomfort. My day had began a 6am but I started riding around 11. After getting out of Jammu and riding rather under construction road with heavy traffic to Pathankot, I finally reached on Pathankot - Amritsar highway. And believe me I haven't seen more spectacular road till that day. Impeccable tar road with almost zero potholes. Extremely well marked with white paint. Light traffic with no people running here and there on the roads. Trees planted along the road on both sides and beyond that endless lush green farms. What more a rider can expect. To cut it short.. I had a wonderful ride to Amritsar and Bagha Border. Jammu to Amritsar is about 220Km and Bagha border is another 40 Km from there. By the time I reached Amritsar, I got a call from my friends that they lost lot of time in getting the bikes in shape and so they would not be coming to Amritsar but will be meeting me directly at Ludhiana/Jalandhar or Ambala as per convenience.
So there I was. Alone on bike in the fantastic city of Amritsar. I decided not to rush for return journey. Even if I had to ride in the nighttime I would spent time in Amritsar and enjoy it completely. After enjoying the view of Golden Temple and cherishing memories of Martyrs at Jaliawala Baug, I started my return journey. It was 7.30 in the evening when I left Golden temple premises and it took about an hour just to escape from Amritsar traffic and get on the highway. I had a talk with my friends and they were taking halt at a village named Khanna which was 80km before Ambala. So it was about 160 Km before I could reach my friends and relax.
I had already ate in Amritsar a lot - Paratha, Laccha kulfi, Lassi. I had a tea stop after escaping the traffic and then headed towards Jalandhar. As a trekker, I can control feeling of hunger, sleep, cold , heat etc. But with the fantastic heavy dinner in my belly and cool wind of the night took the necessary toll. I had started my day at 6 in the morning and till that hour I had continuously traveled. It was somewhere around 10pm and I was somewhere before Jalandhar where I got bit sleepy.
The key to the successful and safe night driving is that you should be constantly on alert and must be able to tackle the headlight of vehicles in opposite direction. To achieve both of these conditions you must not be sleepy. If these two conditions are not met then even if you are driving dead slow, you can get into serious trouble. In my experience it is best to take a small nap. Relax your eyes as well as brain and then start again. You can cover up more distance in alert 1.5 hrs than sleepy 2 hrs. Now this was the time to put my theory into the force.
The moment I felt that I am losing my alertness, I stopped on the road side. Parked my bike on the main stand just outside of the white line which marks main road and the roadside. I took off my backpack, using it as a pillow, within a minute I was looking at dark night sky dotted with millions of stars. I wasn't lying there to see the stars and so in another minute I was knocked out on a smooth, warm, tar road in Punjab.
It was a lovely 30 minutes power nap. At the end of that time, I heard some movement near my head. I opened my eyes and saw a Sardarji towering over me. He asked me whether I was alright and suggested me to travel few kilometers to Jalandhar and stay in Hotel. I told him that I must ride ahead and I had my power nap. Around 10.45, I started the ride again and by 12, I was sitting with my friends in Khanna.
It has been now several years, but I still remember the day where I slept on the road in a completely strange area. I still recall that good Sardarji who towered over me and gave a suggestion with absolute affection. That was a beginning for my True Roadies Life. I became more bolder and did more ambitious thing later on. The foundation of all that was in that one Nap on the roads of Punjab.
Spreading over 448 Sq Km area in the Vindhya hills in Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgad National Park is considered as one of the best Tiger Reserves in India from the tourist point of view. With somewhere between 65-75 Tigers, Bandhavgad has reputation of having highest concentration of Tigers per unit area.
Bandhavgad was former hunting preserve for Maharaja of Rewa. After independence when Government of India, under the leadership of Mrs. Indira Gandhi realised that Tiger population has drastically gone down and initiated project tiger, in year 1968, Bandhavgad was declared as Tiger Reserve. It is one of the earliest Tiger Reserves in India. After more than 40 years, Bandhavgad has managed to maintain a healthy population of Tigers in the reserve despite of black years when Poachers were strongly organized and taking toll of many Tiger lives all over India.
The forest is dominated by by central hill on which Bandhavgad fort is located. Surrounding forest is mostly composed of Deciduous forest with Saal and Crocodile bark trees are dominant. Mahua (madhuca longifolia) is also important tree of this forest. With excellent grassland among the forest allows good number of game to thrive and ultimately allows Tiger to thrive.
Of the total 448 Sq Km area, 105 Sq. Km area is declared as core zone and no tourist can go in there. Rest of the area has been divided into various zones. Zone 1 is known as "Tala", Zone 2 is known as "Magdhi" and Zone 3 is known as Khitouli. There are other zones too but these three zones are the zones which are mostly visited by tourist.
Bandhavgad, being an old reserve and being one of the favorite tourist destinations, has become one of the highly studied reserve. Many established tigers in this park are known by proper names. Many of them are photographed and documented. B2 Tiger which is named after the area which he dominates is one of the most photographed Tiger in the world. Many existing Tigers in Bandhavgad are descendants of B2.
TrekDi had planned this trek in April. After reaching Katni in the noon, it was almost evening by the time we reached and already time of Animal Activity. On the way itself we were able to see few Sambar, several dozens of Spotted Deers, a wild boar. We turned in to our resort and then after breifing about the next days schedule and tips about how to behave in the forest we went to bed. The next day will soon rise and we must be in the jungle when sun pops out from the horizon.
We had planned total 4 safaris in two days. The morning Safari starts at 6am and for that we had to reach the forest gate at 5.30am. To achieve this timing we had to start from our resort at 5.15am and to achieve this timing we had to wake up at 4.45am. So our day started at 4.45 in the morning. From 6 to 10am we explored the jungle and back to resort by 10.30am. After that we leave our resort again at 3pm and exit forest at 6.30pm. It was 7pm by the time we reach our resort and after having discussion about todays sightings and sharing photographs, we had early dinner at 8.30 and that was the end of 17 Hrs of the day.
Having a tip from some wild enthusiasts we selected Magdhi and Khitouli zones for our Safari. In the Magdhi zone, there were chances to see a tigress with 4 cubs, and two male tigers. Unfortunately during the ride 1 we weren't able to spot any tiger in Magdhi zone, though we saw fresh pugmarks of Tigress and cubs. Even if we didn't saw any tiger, we were lucky to spot many birds and other mammals. Peafowls were giving amazing shots and poses. The Changeable hawk eagle, White eyed buzzard, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Yellow footed green pigeons were some interesting sightings. We got to photograph Cheetal, Sambar, Wild boars. There was one solitary sighting of Chinkara. Some of us got to see the Indian Gaurs which are recently introduced in Bandhavgad from Kanha and are only 20 in number in entire reserve.
Ride 2 we planned in Khitouli zone which is little bit less interesting from the perspective of Deer sightings but this area has several Blue bulls (नीलगाय) which are usually not found in other parts of the reserve. But before we leave it rained cats and dogs and we were afraid that perhaps we may not able sight tiger on this ride too. But unlike many other forests, Bandhavgad has very limited sources of water, and because of rains the weather had cooled down. So it was possible that Tiger may end his noon siesta earlier than usual and hence higher chances of Tiger Sighting. It was a gamble, which always is when we go for Tiger. The rain which had stopped before started again in form of light drizzle. We were waiting at a waterhole in Khitouli zone where a Tigress with two cubs (1 male and 1 female) of age about 3 years were expected. We started getting alarm calls but Tigress didn't appeared at the waterhole. It was almost time to leave the reserve and we started return journey when suddenly two cubs were spotted just adjacent to the Road. Male cub was sitting just 10 ft from the road and female cub was sitting about 20 ft from the road. The last 10 Gypsies had excellent sighting of these two tigers which were extremely calm and gave full freedom to photographers. Unfortunately it was already sundown, the light was low, weather was cloudy and hence it was very difficult to photograph them. But sometime, even if you don't photograph Tiger, seeing it fully and storing it in the mind which will remain a precious memory forever is more important. We were back to resort by 7.30pm seeing the King of the Jungle. On the way back we spotted a Fox and a mongoose but couldn't manage to photograph it.
Ride 3 and 4 were again in Magdha and Khitouli zone in which we had excellent birding. TREKDI promotes that, Camp to the jungle is not just for Tigers, its for all kinds of Fauna. Sometime we may overlook a bird or an insect which might be rarer than Tiger himself. So overlook nothing and document everything. Since we started with this attitude and since we already had a tiger sighting we were not at all in rush and hence were able to have excellent photographs of White eyed buzzard, Shikra, King vulture and many more birds.
We ended this camp with sighting of 2 tigers and 70+ bird species, 15+ butterfly species in the short duration of two and a half day.
>> I will be publishing checklist soon in this same blog.
पश्चिम घाट, निसर्गाने भारताला दिलेले एक वरदान आहे. भारताच्या पश्चिमेला गुजरात पासून ते केरळ पर्यंत १६०० कि मी पसरलेली हि पर्वतरांग जगातील मोजक्या बायो डायव्हरसीटी हॉट स्पॉट पैकी एक आहे. पश्चिम घाटात अनेक असे प्राणी आहेत कि जे फक्त इथेच सापडतात आणि जगात इतरत्र कुठे नाही आणि या मुळेच पश्चिम घाटात असलेल्या विविध अभयारण्यांचे अतिशय महत्व आहे. भद्रा राष्ट्रीय उद्यान हे पश्चिम घाटातले असेच एक खास जंगल आहे.
कर्नाटकातील प्रसिद्ध तुंग व भद्रा या दोन नद्यांपैकी भद्रा या नदी च्या खोर्यामध्ये भद्रा राष्ट्रीय उद्यान वसलेले आहे. मध्यभागी भद्रा नदी चे खोरे आणि आजूबाजूने मुल्लैन्गिरी, हेब्बेगिरी, गंगेगिरी व बाबाबुन्दागिरी या पर्वतरांगा यांमध्ये अंदाजे ४९५ वर्ग कि मी परिसरात भद्रा चे जंगल पसरलेले आहे. परिसराची सर्वसाधारण उंची ७५० मी ते २१०० मी अशी असून कल्लाहाथीगिरी नावाचे १६७५ मी उंचीचे शिखर व हेब्बेगिरी नावाचे अंदाजे १८७६ मी उंचीचे शिखर हे अभयारण्य परिसरातील सर्वात उंच शिखरे आहेत. भद्रा नदीच्या अंदाजे २००० वर्ग कि मी जलसंधारणाच्या क्षेत्रफळापैकी एक चतुर्थांश क्षेत्र भद्रा अभयारण्याचे आहे. कर्नाटकातील लाखो लोकांची तहान व शेती या परिसरात पडणार्या पावसावर अवलंबून आहे.
भद्रा राष्ट्रीय उद्यानाचा १९९८ साली प्रोजेक्ट टायगर मध्ये २५ वा व्याघ्र प्रकल्प म्हणून समाविष्ट केला गेला. कमी जास्त होत होत आज अंदाजे ३० वाघ या अभयारण्यात आहेत. या जंगलाचे वैशिष्ठ्य म्हणजे हे जंगल फक्त वाघांसाठी प्रसिद्ध नसून हत्तींसाठी सुद्धा प्रसिद्ध आहे. ३० वाघांसोबत या जंगलात अंदाजे २०० हत्ती सुद्धा आढळून येतात. तसेच साधारण २० बिबटे, १८० गवे अन ५०० हून अधिक चितळ व सांबर या जंगलात नोदावले गेले आहेत. अस्वल, मलबारी शेकरू, पिसोरी हरीण, उडती खार असे काही इतर प्राणी सुद्धा सापडतात. अभयारण्य परिसरात अंदाजे ३५० पक्षी नोंदवले गेले आहेत. त्यातील काही फक्त पश्चिम घाटात आढळणारे असे आहेत. उत्तम वर्षावन असल्यामुळे येथे सापांच्या अनेक प्रजाती सापडतात व त्यांची संख्या सुद्धा भरपूर आहे. तसेच त्यांना खाऊन जगणारा नागराज किंवा किंग कोब्रा सुद्धा या जंगलात सापडतो. ह्या जंगलात १२० प्रकारचे वृक्ष प्रकार नोंदवले गेले आहेत त्यात प्रामुख्याने साग, किन्दल, माथी, होने, जांभूळ, आंबा या प्रकारची झाडे आहेत. या जंगलाचे अजून एक वैशिष्ठ्य म्हणजे उंचावरचा भागामध्ये थोड्या प्रमाणात शोला पद्धतीचे जंगल सुद्धा पहावयास मिळते.
हे जंगल मार्च ते मे या काळात बंद असते. जून ते सप्टेंबर या काळात भरपूर पाउस असतो. या काळात तुम्ही जंगलात जाऊ शकता पण ते कष्टदायक असते. खालून जळवा व वरून बेदम पाउस अशी स्थिती असते. या काळात सरीसृप व उभयचर प्राण्यांच्या अभ्यासासाठी जावे. नाहीतर या जंगलाचा सर्वोत्तम काल ऑक्टोबर ते फेब्रुवारी असा आहे. जंगलात फिरताना पटापट काही दिसेल अशी अपेक्षा ठेऊन जाऊ नये. सदाहरित व घनदाट जंगल असल्यामुळे प्राणी, अगदी हत्ती सुद्धा सहजतेने लपून जातो. पण जे जे समोर येईल ते बघत राहावे. नीट बघायला सुरु केल्यास मुंगी पासून हत्ती पर्यंत सर्वच गोष्टी थरारक वाटतील.
शाळेत असताना आपण सर्वजण एक प्रतिज्ञा म्हणतो "भारत माझा देश आहे" त्यातील एक ओळ आहे ती थोडीशी बदलून म्हणावसं वाटतं " भारतातील विविधतेने नटलेल्या जंगल संपदेचा मला अभिमान आहे , या समृद्धतेच्या वारसाची पाईक होण्याची पात्रता माझ्या अंगी यावी म्हणून मी सदैव प्रयत्न करीन"
एक काळ असा होता कि भारत देश हा वाघ आणि गारुड्यांचा (snake charmers) देश म्हणून ओळखला जायचा. खूप मोठ्या प्रमाणात आणि विविध प्रकारची जंगले यामुळे भारतात प्रचंड प्रमाणात जैववैविध्य वसत होते. गेल्या शंभर - दोनशे वर्षांचा विचार केल्यास ह्याचा प्रचंड प्रमाणात ह्रास झाला आहे. तरीपण आज देशाचा विविध भागांमध्ये उत्तम प्रतीचे जंगला टिकून आहे आणि त्यात जुन्या जंगल संपदेचा अंदाज येईल इतपत अजून शिल्लक आहे. अशाच काही खास जागांमध्ये गोव्यातील बोंडला अभयारण्य येते.
अनेकांना गोवा म्हणजे फक्त समुद्रकिनारे असा वाटते पण त्या पलीकडे जाऊन गोवा राज्यामध्ये प्रचंड प्रमाणात जैववैविध्य आढळून येते. जवळ जवळ १००० प्रकारच्या वनस्पती, ४०० प्रकारचे पक्षी, २०० हून अधिक फुलपाखरांचा प्रजाती, ४० हून अधिक सस्तन प्राण्यांच्या प्रजाती, साधारण तेवढ्याच प्रकारचे सरीसृप आणि असंख्य प्रकारचे इतर जीव. एवढे प्रचंड वैभव छोट्याशा गोवा राज्यात सामावले आहे. अर्थात समृद्ध जंगले असल्याशिवाय हे शक्य नाही. बोंडला अभयारण्य अशाच खास जंगलांमध्ये येते.
फक्त ८ वर्ग किमी. मध्ये वसलेल्या ह्या अभयारण्याकडे पणजी बेळगाव रस्त्यावरील पोंडा ह्या गावातून रस्ता जातो. पणजी पासून अंदाजे ४० किमी तर पोंडा गावापासून अंदाजे १० किमी वर ह्या अभयारण्याचे मुख्य ऑफिस आहे. पणजी पासून पोंडाला येण्याकरिता स्थानिक बसेस मिळतात. तसेच पोंडा पासून बोंडला ला पोहोचण्याकरिता खासगी गाड्या भाड्याने मिळू शकतात. बोंडला मध्ये गोवा वन विभागाचे रेस्ट हाउस आहे. सर्व व्यवस्था मिळून अंदाजे ४० ते ५० लोक राहू शकतील अशी व्यवस्था आहे. त्याची पूर्व परवानगी योग्य ते शुल्क भरून गोवा वनविभागाकडून घ्यावी लागते. रेस्ट हाउस पासून थोड्या अंतरावर एक उत्तम प्राणी संग्रहालय आहे. गोव्यात आढळून येणारे काही निवडक प्राणी व विविध प्रकारचे सरीसृप या प्राणी संग्रहालयामध्ये बघायला मिळतात.
बोंडला अभयारण्य हे सदाहरित वन ह्या प्रकारातील असून त्यामध्ये काही वैशिष्ठ्यपूर्ण प्राणी सापडतात. मलबार जायंट स्क्वीरल किंवा मराठीत ज्याला मलबारी शेकरू म्हणतात ते ह्या जंगलामध्ये सहजपणे आढळून येतात. रेस्ट हाउस चा पाठीमागे असलेल्या उंच वृक्षांच्या फांद्यांवर लक्ष ठेवल्यास पटकन दिसून जातो. आजू बाजूला चालत फिरताना चितळ, सांबर, भेकर सारखे प्राणी सहज दिसून जातात. ह्या जंगलामध्ये बिबट्याचा वावर आहे पण घनदाट जंगल असल्यामुळे त्याचे दर्शन अत्यंत दुर्मिळ आहे. एकदा प्राणी संग्रहालयातील मादी बिबट्याच्या वासाने एक नर बिबटा प्राणी संग्रहालयात घुसला होता व ते सांभाळताना वनविभागाची गडबड उडाली होती. ह्या जंगलामध्ये अशा गमती जमती होत असतात. तुम्ही जर रेस्ट हाउस मध्ये मुक्काम केलात तर जेवणाच्या जागेच्या आसपास पहाटे किंवा संध्याकाळी काही रानडुक्करे तुम्हाला घोटाळताना सापडतील. आजकाल जंगलातून दुर्मिळ झालेले पिसोरी हरीण म्हणजेच माउस डियर सुद्धा बोंडला मध्ये सापडते. फक्त ते अत्यंत लाजाळू असल्याकारणाने व फक्त रात्री बाहेर पडत असल्यामुळे बघायला मिळणे अवघड आहे. ओर्नेट फ्लाइंग स्नेक किवा उडता सर्प हा वैशिष्ठ्यपूर्ण व दुर्मिळ असा बिनविषारी साप ह्या जंगलात सापडतो. अंग चपटे करून एका झाडाच्या शेंड्यावरून दुसऱ्या झाडावर ग्लाईड करत जाणे हे ह्या सापाचे वैशिष्ठ्य. एका झेपेत जवळ जवळ ३० ते ५० मीटर अंतर हा साप कापू शकतो. ह्या शिवाय कित्येक प्रकारचे पक्षी व फुलपाखरे ह्यांचे हे अभयारण्य वसतीस्थान आहे.
तुम्ही खरे निसर्गप्रेमी असाल तर हे जंगल तुम्हाला कधीच निराश करणार नाही. कुठलाही ऋतू असो हे जंगल तुम्हाला सतत काहीतरी दाखवत राहील. दुर्बीण, कॅमेरा अशा वस्तू व प्राण्यांची माहिती देणारी विविध फिल्ड गाईड्स घेऊन जर तयारीने तुम्ही ह्या जंगलात शिरलात तर तुम्ही ह्या जंगलाचा अधिक चांगल्या प्रकाराने आनंद घेऊ शकता. गोव्याला जाऊन समुद्रकिनारे प्रत्येकजण बघून येतो. काहीतरी वेगळे करण्याची संधी हे जंगल तुम्हाला देते. तसेच निसर्ग वाचवा नुसते न बोलता जंगलाशी प्रत्यक्ष नाळ जोडल्यास काहीतरी कृती केल्यासारखे होईल.
Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve is a Second largest Tiger Reserve of Maharashtra after Melghat Tiger Reserve with a spread over approx 650 Sq. Km area. The last Tiger Sensus estimates it to have about 42 Tigers and 22 Leopards in the reserve. Along with these rulers of jungle, this reserve is teemed with Sloth Bears, Wild dogs, Hyenas, Jackals, Indian Gaurs, Porcupines, Ratels, mongoose, Wild boars, Sambar, Spooted Deers, Munjack (Barking deeps), Four horned antelope (Chowshinga) and many more birds and other Fauna.
This jungle is divided in mainly three parts. Tadoba range, Moharli Range and Kolsa Range. Moharli and Tadoba are more popular ranges amongst three. All three area have a beautiful lakes at the center of the zone which acts as lifeline of the jungle. Along with these lakes, there are several streams, artificial and Natural water holes which are manged by Forest Department. These all parameters combine together to create rich forest eco system and provides excellent sighting and photographing opportunities of various animals and most of all tiger.
TrekDi being specialized in Wildlife and Adventure Tourism, has a soft corner towards Tadoba WLS. It has rarely happened that we have taken wildlife enthusiasts to the sanctuary and jungle hasn't satisfied them. This year we conducted camp between 26th April to 1st of May 2011. There had been some rapid pre-monsoon rains, a week prior to the Camp dates but by the time we reach Tadoba, the sky was already spotless and the area was hot for atleast 2-3 days. This was good indication. For animal watch, hot temperatures always help. Its easy to find animals who come out of jungle to drink water on various water holes and Lakes. Otherwise its impossible to locate them.
We were traveling in Open Gypsies which are excellent for animal watch as well as birding activity. In the closed vehicle, though you are sheltered from sun and dust, your view angle is limited and hence it is hard to locate birds or follow their direction. Also it become very tough for photographers. We had 3 gypsies and 6 people in each vehicle. The timing to enter forest are 6 to 10.30 in the morning and 2.30 to 6.30 in the evening. Though all vehicles enter in the forest at the same time, routes taken by each vehicle is different. So depending on your luck and observation skills you can spot/photograph wildlife without any disturbance.
We had four consecutive rides in the Jungle of which 3 were conducted in Tadoba and Moharli zone and 1 was conducted in Moharli and Kolsa zone. The various destination we visited during these rides are as follows
1. Katezari 2. Jamunzari 3. Telia Dam 4. Vasant Bandhara 5. Tadoba Lake 6. Pandharpowni water hole 7. Water hole no 97 8. Kala Amba 9. Kolsa Lake 10. Vanarchuva 11. Ramsing Amba
We had tiger sightings at following location
1. Pandhar powni to waterhole 97 road : Adult male(Gender noted from secondary information, it wasn't noted on the field) a Glimpse of tiger for just 11 seconds, not everyone from vehicle could get a chance to see the tiger. Only 3 people among 6 spotted it.
2. Jamunzari water hole: Adult Male After crossing Vasant Bandhara and a small hill complex we descend down to the water hole of Jamun zari where a small stream bund under a huge Jamun tree has created a cool place, ideal for tiger resting. When we reached there around 4pm it was sitting under the tree and we could spot his belly, ears from the binoculars. After we waited for almost 1.30Hrs, around 5pm it moved from that resting point and came to the waterhole adjacent to that resting place. It walked majestically and sat in open in the waters of small stream outlet from the water hole. Since we had to catch the Gate timings we could enjoy it for just 10 minutes and then we had to leave. There were almost 6-7 gypsies which enjoyed the view of this tiger.
3. Pandharpowni water hole: 3 cubs about 4 months old We knew that there are 4 cubs and a female tigress in the area and they come out regularly in the morning for last several days to a water hole in pandhar powni area where the tigress had a kill of Sambar. We after visiting several other areas reached for the waterhole at their timing. They made us wait for almost 75 minutes and then 3 cubs came out. Tigress and last cub didn't came out but we had excellent sighting of 3 cubs. Though we had a distance of about 70-80 m to the waterhole from where our vehicles stood, the light was good and hence no trouble in spotting the cubs. After having water and little fun in the water all three cubs one by one got out of the water and disappeared in the bamboo thicket.
4. Telia Dam Tiger: (Adult Male) This was our last ride of the trip and we had scheduled our visit to Kolsa region. After having some excellent birding spots and visiting the empty Kolsa lake we were returning to Moharli Gate. Just about a Km before we reach gates we spotted this tiger sitting under a bamboo thicket. We could see this tiger from just 15 ft distance. After 2-3 minutes, tiger started walking and got disappeared in the bush. It emerged again on the Telia dam road and gave some excellent photographs while doing salt licking and territory marking.
5. Chandrapur - Moharli Road : (Gender unknown) For little errands we went to Chandrapur and coming back to Moharli campsite around 9.30 in the night and suddenly we saw a car which its upper light ON. We got confused and stopped near that car to ask whether they have any problem. That car shifted a bit and in its light we could spot an Adult tiger just 10-15 ft from us. The tiger seemed very shy and immediately got irritated by the headlight and escaped in the jungle within minute.
6. Leopard on Moharli - Tadoba Road
Checklists
A] Checklist of the Birds we spotted during the trip 1. Black Shouldered Kite 2. Montagu's Harrier 3. Crested Serpent Eagle 4. Crested Hawk Eagle 5. Grey Headed Fishing Eagle 6. White Eyed Buzzards 7. Oriental Honey Buzzard 8. Osprey 9. Shikra 10. Spotted Owlet 11. Common Myna 12. Brahmny Stirling 13. Pied Stirling 14. Rufous Treepie 15. Greater Racket Tailed Drongo 16. Black Drongo 17. White bellied drongo 18. Koel 19. Eurasian Hawk Cuckoo 20. Indian Pitta 21. Brown Headed barbet 22. Coppersmit Barbet 23. Golden Oriole 24. Black Hooded oriole 25. Sirkeer Malkoha 26. Spotted Dove 27. Eurasian collard Dove 28. Laughing Dove 29. Oriental Turtle Dove 30.Yellow Footed green pigeon 31. Jungle Babbler 32. Malabar Whistling Thrush 33. Orange Bellied Ground Thrush 34. White Browed Fantail Flycatcher 35. Paradise Flycatcher 36. Black Naped Monarch 37. Black Naped Flameback woodpecker 38. Green Bee eater 39. Red Vented Bulbul 40. Red Whiskered Bulbul 41. Rose ringed Parakeet 42. Plum headed parakeet 43. Purple sunbird 44. Yellow Throated Sparrow 45. House Sparrow 46. Junge crow 47. Common Crow 48. Grey Jungle Fowl 49. Indian Peafowl (Peacock) 50. Jungle Bush Quail 51. Mapie Robin 52. Indian Robin 53. Yellow Wagtail 54. Ashy Prinia 55. Ashy crowned Fish Lark 56. Common Crested Lark 57. Small blue Kingfisher 58. White throated Kingfisher 59. Pied Kingfisher 60. Indian Roller 61. Bronzed Winged Jacana 62. River Tern 62. Lesser Whistling ducks 63. Cotton Pygmy goose 64. Black ibis 65. White Ibis (Black headed ibis) 66. Open billed Stork 67. Pond Heron 68. Purple Heron 69. Cattle Egret 70. Little Egret 71. Greater Egret 72. Purple moorhen 73. Coot 74. Indian cormorant 75. Red wattled Lapwing 76. Greater Coucal 77. Pied Bushchat 78. Savanna Nightjar
B] Butterfly Checklist 1. Spot Swordtail 2. Crimson Rose 3. Common rose 4. Common mormon 5. Baronet 6. Tawny Coster 7. Common Baron 8. Common Leopard 9. Plain tiger 10. Stripped Tiger 11. Blue Tiger 12. Lemon Pansy 13. Blue Pansy 14. Peacock Pansy 15. Grey Pansy 16. Dark Grass Blue 17. Gram Blue 18. plain Cupid 19. Common grass Yellow 20. Common Emmigrant 21. Common Lime 22. Common Gull 23. Psyche
C] Check list of Mammals 1. Indian tiger 2. Indian Leopard 3. Spotted Deer 4. Sambar 5. Munjack (Barking Deer) 6. Blue bull 7. Wild boar 8. Wild dogs 9. Sloth bear 10. Common Mongoose 11. Black Naped Hare 12. Five stripped Squirrel 13. Tree Shrew 14. Field Rats
