On Tiger Safari at Ranthambhore Stay in Absolute Luxury

The fun of tiger safaris in India is not only animal and bird watching it is the stay that counts as well. Yes the safaris can be exciting but without a memorable stay experience the excitement will wash down the drain.

Tiger Reserve like Ranthambore is reputed to have the finest hotels and resorts in India. Situated in Sawai Madhopur a short distance from the park these resorts subscribe to various categories the prominent being budget, luxury and heritage. There may be some home stays as well but they are not very popular though the concept is growing. There are some resorts which offer accommodation in luxurious tents but the tariff is very high.

The hotel tarrif ranges from low to high to very high being close to New Delhi and Jaipur highend clientele prefers to stay in posh properties. The heritage resorts are the ones most popular with highend clientele in peak season they may be fully booked.

Done up like the maharajahs  palaces the fabulous interiors, well furnished exquisitly done up rooms, and classic Rajasthani archtecture of yore are the hallmark of these properties. These characterstics sets heritage properties apart from the regular five star hotels in Ranthambhore.

In highend properties at tiger reserves the space and the surroundings make a major difference the generous spread and panoramic surroundings are simply exhilerating. This ambiance is next to impossible in the urban surroundings.

 

At Ranthambhore the backdrop of Aravalli hill ranges makes the settings extremely picturesque. The forests and the rivers add more splendour to the settings and create a sublime ambiance which accords serenity and peace. These aspects make a stay at a highend hotel in Ranthambore amazingly memorable.

If you are planning a safari in the tiger reserve book your accommodation now. You can book online or contact a travel agent. Sites like tripadvisor will offer reviews which will make it easy to choose the right accommodation.

 

Bandhavgarh Resort Hotels and Tiger Tourism

In the early seventies and eighties tourism at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve was limited. It was then an unknown paradise frequented by few who wished for a wild retreat. Tiger  sightings were the motive then as is it is now. Unlike Kanha, tourism at Bandhavgarh picked up late, the only accommodation then was the forest rest house (FRH) at Tala.  But very soon White Tiger lodge owned by MPTDC came into picture with fours rooms.

Accommodation was easily available at the Rest house in Tala and the White Tiger Lodge. But the nature preserve was getting its due share of publicity with photos of magnificent tigers here and there in newspapers and magazines.  The place was also known for white tiger that was discovered in the neighboring forests By HH Maharaja of Rewa.

It was the wildlife films made by BBC, National Geographic, Partridge Films etc that drew major attention towards this pristine tiger heaven in Madhya Pradesh in India. Tourists started to trickle in albeit slowly. Though many see tiger tourism with disdain and concern it has benefited the locals most.  It has also benefited the tigers and other animals by creating awareness and knowledge of our wonderful ecosystems. Tiger Tourism has aided in conservation and income generation for people who had no resource for making the lively hood except very poor agrarian practices.

The jobs came as park guide thanks to their knowledge of the forest and its animals. They found placement as beat guards in the forest department as conservation practices grew. Every one benefited from the safaris and hotel industry that was set to bloom.

Though trans location of human population did take place from the core zone  it was necessary. Paradoxically this has been the finest example of empowerment of  local communities especially the tribal.  The profit sharing and labor brought them sustenance and changed their mindset in favor of the heritage that we all have inherited. The tiger population as well as the prey species grew rapidly and the ecosystem become less fragile as floral density increased.

Bandhavgarh is one such example among many that was enriched by right policies. Up till now these forests were looked upon as hunting preserve and no benefit ever passed on to the locals. The tourism is much less damaging than modern industries which would have created havoc here if they were set up for employment generation here. One need not argue on this matter since it is obvious.

In spite of the brighter side tourism needs to be controlled such that it is less disturbing to nature. Proper steps have already been taken by the government by curbing vehicle entry to a limited number. The division of core  has also benefited by disbursing the safari jeeps into a wider area.

Many hotels and lodges offering accommodation in Bandhavgarh follow responsible tourism guidelines. This has helped lot on generating income for the locals. Although the number of hotels has increased dramatically the curb will naturally set as competition increases.

Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the best tiger conservation center in Central India or MP.  It is a preserve that supports  impressive fauna and floral biodiversity which aids in balancing our environment for better.  Hopefully with constant protection measure such ecosystems will survive for posterity in India,

MP Wildlife

If you are on an elephant back with a tiger right next to you than you are in MP or Madhya Pradesh in Central India. Madhya Pradesh is the best place to see tigers in India.  Not only tigers, the state has enchanting wildlife and bird species. The state was known since long for its magnificent forest cover, and tigers that roamed freely in large numbers.

The Central Indian State boasts of many National Parks, tiger reserves and sanctuaries. It has many reserve forests, hill resorts as well places for sightseeing besides eco tourism. The National Parks like Kanha, Pench and Bandhavgarh are World famous. They are famous for tiger safaris and elephant rides. Now the elephant rides are limited to tiger shows now but nevertheless it is an exciting experience.

The tiger like everywhere is losing numbers in MP as well. But in some preserve they are well protected including Satpura Tiger Reserve in India. The preserve is part of Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve which is biodiversity rich area. It is good for birding as well. The state is also emerging as a good birding destinations. Some of the future trips will take place in places like Pachmarhi, and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary.

Pench is an emerging destination as wildlife resort in MP India. Besides tiger tourism the state has much to offer especially in bird watching tourism. Birding is on the increase in India hence the industry offers lots of potential tours here.  There has been a surge in tourism in MP recently. Many wildlife tour operators are offering affordable packages for safaris in the state.

Kanha Wildlife

Kanha is the best wildlife park in India. It is designated as National Park and tiger reserve the latter as it comes under the Project Tiger.

Kanha like Bandhavgarh National Park is a hotbed for tiger tourism and hence receives a lot of visitors. Kanha National Park is a World famous National Park and is renowned for its wild tiger safari and wildlife watching.

Kanha tiger are famous all over the World as is the Hard Ground Barasingha which is a successful conservation history.  Gaur or Indian bison is again a very popular species among tourists and the massive bovine never fails to impress. The main prey base of the Bengal tigers in India is the spotted deer which is found in wide abundance at Kanha.

Wildlife watching at Kanha holds an element of surprise as animals peek out of nowhere in what appears to be a land without wild animals on a cursory visit. A birding tour too is a exciting trek at Kanha tiger reserve especially in winters when large number of winter migrants arrive.

Kanha is a few  hours drive from Jabalpur town and there are lot of wildlife resorts at Kanha which offer luxury and budget accommodation. The resorts at Kanha provide full scale amenities and excel in Indian cuisine. This wildlife haven is frequented by tourists from all the over the World not only India. Hence the Kanha hotels and jungle camps are equipped with amenities, service and cuisine preferred by foreign guests.

Best time to visit Kanha is whence the holiday rush is over that is after February. For wildlife photography peak summers is the best but provided if one can stand the heat. The concentration of tigers and other wildlife is the highest in the core zone in the summer as water dries up elsewhere. This the time whence tigers are most active near the water holes and hence can be located easily.

Wildlife of Chattisgarh

The state of Chattisgarh was carved out of the state of Madhya Pradesh (MP) in Central India. The state is uniquely tribal with rich deposits of mineral ores. The state is also rich in flora and fauna and holds number of wildlife sanctuary and a  National Park.

Though the park does not have a National Park like Kanha in MP, but there are number of places that are excellent for wildlife viewing and birding. More popular  though a lesser known destination is Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary which is about 85 kilometers from Raipur, an industrial town and an airport.  Like the Achanakmar sanctuary, Barnawapara is rich in wildlife and is worth visiting to see the majestic tiger and other major mammals. There are number of resorts at Barnawapara to have a comfortable stay.

To reach the sanctuary there are rail, air and bus connections available to Raipur from which one can drive to Barnawapara in Mahasamund district.  Best time for wildlife viewing is from the month of November to the hot months of May and June.

Hotel accommodation at Indian National Parks

For the visitors interested in tiger safari, Indian tiger reserves as Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench offer accommodation of various type. The hotels of Kanha offer rates which are suitable for the economy class and the luxury traveler as well.

There are three star resorts and lodges which offer luxurious amenities and varied cuisine. Though the economy hotels in Bandhavgarh, Kanha and Pench charge lower rates they are by no means lacking in facilities.

Most of the resorts are well maintained jungle lodges among green and verdant forest tracts which deliver suitable surroundings. The service is good and ambiance is adequate. To an economy ecotourist luxury matters little for he seeks comfort, cleanliness and good food which the budget resorts and lodges offer here.

The hotels in Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench National Parks can be booked online or booked through a land based travel agent in India.

The popular packages offered by these jungle resorts are :

Jungle Plan: JP includes lodging and boarding and also the park safari.

American Plan:AP includes lodging and boarding but excludes jungle safari.

Some lodges charge on room only basis.

It is up to the ecotourists to go for the accommodation that suits them the best.

For more information contact me: Uday Patel