1411 + me!

Hunt for dhoni’s endorsed and aircel’s not so right count 1411 tigers began when i set for Ranthambore sanctuary, Rajasthan!

The journey for many wasnt just an attempt for tiger watch but an excuse from Delhi hustle bustle . I had left the city with a distant dream of being clicked with the tiger in the backdrop.and volla d dream did come true..though partially! What i came back with was a picture of me and Tiger’s favorite food Sambhar in the backdrop. J

I made friends pay extra for an additional safari the next morning of a failed afternoon. Zone 5 on day one showed us nothing more than rough patches and clothes hanging on tree trunks. Wondering what would humans be doing in a tiger dominant area??? I am clueless tooo but it irked me completely coz there was no sign of tiger’s pugmarks or tiger!:( The only source of hope in the sanctuary’s safari is the trained expression on the driver’s face when he signs of an “alarm call” by a koel or the langoors! The saving grace and saving memories from day 1 came from Indian Treepie, birds that exuded vibrancy with their colours and brought excitement on dead faces by hopping in our palms with hope of getting food.

The next morning promised a better start in ZONE3, the same zone that spotted a tiger day before! The zone with 3 lakes is tiger active and spotting zone. Early morning offered amazing views for my camera , the rising sun, bird over the lake, spotted owl, tiger eagle, wounded sambhar, amazing landscape and much more. The sleep deprived yet hopeful faces made good subjects too. The journey was in similar fashion through a maze of paths and stopping at points to click and shoot! Of course, 1411 of the them had resolved not to meet us and we gradually accepted it. The morning in the sanctuary still was a fresh episode in my life coz it gave me lots to click and register in mind. I realise the life of the 1411 isnt easy when we keep popping in their habitats time and again. Think how would one feel if neighbours keep coming to ones house everyday! Not so great na!!! J

Ranthambore sanctuary ,located in Sawai Madhopur has become a rich tourist spot. We thought of using the remaining day not by wasting on another 1411 luck by chance hunt, but on a drive to 30 kms away situated desert cum beach called amli! The real adventure was shortlived but made our weekend trip to sawai madhopur a success.

Hired 4 jeeps with professioanl desert drivers to sail us through to the point we heard much about. Reached at 5 in the evening to a place that didnt just look true. Lake infront of you, sun setting on one side, mud mountains like a dark wall shutting you from the world on other..... all that you see till the end of sight is sand..and impression of your steps that metaphorically state the long route to undertakeJ As the night beckons and bids adieu to the sun, we light a little bonfire away from the lake. They say, crocodiles in the lake hate being disturbed and so we make less noise and gather together . The girls get to a little makeshift tent with the only man taking care of visitors in the area to cook some food and serve in 2 hours ,made on clay pans and pots, bajara roti, garlic chutney and daal. The taste of any roadside dhaba or five star hotel can never match upto what we had there!! Hunger, darkness and a long train journey to Delhi waiting, we ate like never before!

The drive back to railway station was faster and spotless for the dark that encompassed us was unusually serene and quiet. This trip would have been a failed venture if trains would have been boarded successfully. But, God planned another “JAB WE MET” plot with us messing up the train timings and finally lazing around the platform trying to figure out how to reach back!! Some train chases and 20 people running after every train to jaipur and agra was a sight to laugh at!

1411 tigers didn’t show up...i count myself as one now taking the count to 1412!