Tiger Tiger Burning Bright!! (Cont'd)

The train departed just as we hopped on to one of the compartments…we had made it by a hair’s breadth. It took some time to recover and pull our luggage under our berth. The rest of the three and half our journey was eventless except for the regular snacks/beverage servings, hallmark of services offered on all Rajdhani trains. At about 8.40 p.m. the train halted at Sawai Madhopur station and we alighted on to the well-lit platform. The weather was much cooler here. As advised, we took an auto rickshaw to the hotel. As we moved towards the forest and away from the main town area, the air suddenly turned chilly. The 20 minute ride amidst the silent roads and dark surrounding sent a strange feeling of excitement and fear of the unknown.

Once at the hotel we completed the formalities and were shown our room on the first floor. It was a last room in an open corridor beyond which, through the darkness, appeared to look like a terrace. Being a little exhausted and not quite hungry, we retired for the night.

Peacock calls greeted us early the next morning…what a pretty sight it was from our well-netted and grilled windows. 4 to 5 peacocks were moving about amidst large trees and   thick grass. The soft chirping of various birds and other typical sounds of a forest had a very soothing effect on the mind…an ideal way to begin the holiday!! The hotel had a huge well maintained garden on the front side, where we spent most of the morning.

 



The expansive lawns

In the meantime I also checked out with the reception to make a booking for the safari…to my disappointment I was informed that chances of a gypsy are next to impossible and considering the holiday rush, I would be lucky to even get a canter. Adding to the woes, I was informed that this was not a good time to visit since the enormous crowds would normally deter tigers from coming out in the open and it was preferable to stay 4-5 days and make atleast 10 safaris to be fortunate enough to sight a tiger. I went back with fingers crossed, once again cursing my procrastination at not having made online bookings earlier.

The air had turned very hot around 2.30 p.m. when we were informed by the hotel reception that seats had been confirmed and the canter was on its way. By the time we came down to the hotel lobby, the canter had come and we were ahoy!! Every bone, muscle and tissue in my body was bubbling with excitement at the very thought of what lay ahead. Very soon we had entered the Ranthambore National Park and the canter was making its way though rugged roads. The large trees protected us from the scorching sun. The first animals that we could spot were deer – chital, barasingha, spotted etc. Next were various species of monkeys. As we neared water bodies, everyone on the canter was on the lookout for some elusive movement but even after an hour, we could spot turtles, crocodiles, fish etc. As the afternoon sun severely beat down upon us, the initial enthusiasm slowly began to subside. Another hour passed and all we saw were some more varieties of birds. Alas! our driver parked the canter on the edge of the huge water body where a tiger had been spotted in the morning. Everyone on board kept looking out, once to the left and then to the right and then behind; the hush hush tones gradually changed to murmuring which slowly got louder. From a distance loud forest calls could be heard…birds and monkey alerts, I was told later on, signals that a big cat was around.



The Majestic Entry

Cantering on the Jungle Trail!

It's a green world!

Barasingha cooling off!



Lone Chital

Finally a Monkey...

Can you spot the alligator?




















The Croc is almost not there...




A Spot Where We Would Return










Water's Edge - Where We Waited

 The Old Fort Entrance 

And then with a jerk the driver yanked the canter out of hibernation and scampered towards the thicket. Other canters could also be seen rushing in. This rush continued for the next few minutes without any particular direction. Finally our canter settled at a place where all other vehicles had congregated. There were shouts and loud calls for spotting a big cat. Since everyone was looking and pointing in a fixed direction our eyes followed only to see the vaguely see the wall beside the entrance of the dilapidated fort. The chattering reached its crescendo soon when apparently the cat was sighted again. We could now make out that it was a leopard that was being referred to. My eyes furiously hunted for a sighting but even after standing on the seat nothing seemed to be there. With a feeling of despair I got off and sat down. However, there were again loud sounds from the crowds and with hope in my heart, I stood up. And this time the foliage could not block my vision. The leopard was right here...but we were at a distance! At a distance I could clearly see the furtive movements of the spotted cat with its tail swishing gingerly on the broken fort wall. The sighting, though momentary and not capable of being captured on camera, was the first feeling of contentment that I felt on having made this trip. By now everyone in the canter had had their share of ‘glory’!





The desert plant!

The sun was no more beating down now and with the time approaching for the end of the safari, did make my heart heavy. After all, whether you spotted a leopard or not, the honour lay in sighting our national animal. The driver slowly pulled out of the spot and began to move towards the exit. After moving for a few minutes on a now familiar stretch, it stopped beside a huge cactus tree and cut the ignition. I was wondering what he was upto when the guard announced that they would wait a few more minutes here to check out a last time if there is any possibility of a sighting. Once again hope kindled in my heart…in the silence. And then it happened…

 

(To be continued....)