Tiger Tales from Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh
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The Pug Mark of a Tiger, Kanha National Park, MadhyaPradesh
Tiger Tale 1: I was having a conversation with one of the naturalists at the Taj Safaris BanjaarTola resort and he told me an interesting tale. One day the resort vehicle was in the park and the elephant riders of the parks told the naturalists, “There is a Tiger sitting in the grass just 30 feet from the road.” The naturalist stopped the jeep for an outside chance that there might be some movement from the tiger. The guests started telling the naturalists, “Let us walk and go see the tiger.” You cannot get out of the vehicle in the park apart from designated areas. The naturalist kept quite for some time. When they kept on chanting the same old tune he told them, “Aappaidaljaatousaktehain tiger ke pass per vapisaayengekinahinuskekoeguaranteenahinhai.” (You may go walking near the tiger but there is no guarantee that you would come back.)
The 4WDTata Mobile, Kanha National Park, MadhyaPradesh
Tiger Tale 2: We were moving in the Mukki Zone of the Kanha National Park. We met a jeep that had seen the tiger in the same zone but it has given us a miss. We stopped for the breakfast at the point in the picture above (where you can get down of the jeep) and the naturalist remarked, “You guys would have declared me useless by now. Happens all the time with the guests. There are three resort vehicles moving and one of them spots a tiger. Later the guests meet in the dining area and compare notes. Now those who didn’t see the tiger are pulling really long faces. They all would want the tiger spotting naturalist for the next ride and declare everyone else useless.”
12 thoughts on “Tiger Tales from Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh”
Read your article in Gonomad. It was nice. Feeling jealous about your experiences. Reading about someone's frustration of not seeing the tiger reminded me of my experience in Rajaji NP, Chila. Even after two consequtive 3 hr Safarfis inside the Park, we didnt see even a baby elephant! (forget about the tiger and leopard they say that lives there) Our disappointment and frustration was evident on our faces. After dropping us at the guest house, our driver Suresh said, "I think you guys are not happy about the safari. Is it because you didnt see the elephant or the tiger? If seeing the tiger or elephant was your idea, then you could have seen them in the Delhi Zoo itself. Right??? It all depends on one's luck and patience. However, if you had kept an open mind and tried to enjoy the jungle around you, you would have been a lot more happier!"What could we say? We knew well that he was right!
Praveen thank you so much for sharing your experience. We have been to Rajaji NP and we also did not see even a baby elephant as you say 😀 And yet the jungle itself is so breathtaking!Mindspace that is not me, that is another guest who was there on the same ride. The new job still feels new!
Tigers are rare, and even rarer now. So better luck next time.But the "pug mark" picture is quite cool. Can create a panic if you are walking in the forests. Had one such experience when we went camping and rafting last year
That dialog was too good….Aap paidal jaa tou sakte hain tiger ke pass per vapis aayenge ki nahin uske koe guarantee nahin hai…What I like about your blog is that you always have something to share..
My tiger tale: During the second jeep safari in the Bandavgarh National Park, we sighted a tiger!A little later when another jeep from the opposite direction slowed down and the drivers were exchanging some friendly words, when inquired by the occupants of the other jeep, I coolly mentioned that we did sight a tiger. As soon as the other jeep passed by, our guide gently warned us all not to mention it to anyone while in the park. When asked why by someone, he said otherwise the occupants of the other jeeps that did not sight the tiger would make their guide 'crazy' with their insistence to show them a tiger too! PS: I've never got around to writing a post on my experiences at Bandavgarh. I must someday.
Megha and it was told with a twinkle in the eye and some relish!Celine do write that tige story and thanks for sharing parts of it here. I knew people were tiger crazed but not the extent 😀
Megha and it was told with a twinkle in the eye and some relish!Celine do write that tige story and thanks for sharing parts of it here. I knew people were tiger crazed but not the extent
Read your article in Gonomad. It was nice. Feeling jealous about your experiences. Reading about someone's frustration of not seeing the tiger reminded me of my experience in Rajaji NP, Chila. Even after two consequtive 3 hr Safarfis inside the Park, we didnt see even a baby elephant! (forget about the tiger and leopard they say that lives there) Our disappointment and frustration was evident on our faces. After dropping us at the guest house, our driver Suresh said, "I think you guys are not happy about the safari. Is it because you didnt see the elephant or the tiger? If seeing the tiger or elephant was your idea, then you could have seen them in the Delhi Zoo itself. Right??? It all depends on one's luck and patience. However, if you had kept an open mind and tried to enjoy the jungle around you, you would have been a lot more happier!"What could we say? We knew well that he was right!
is that you in the second pic?hows the new job going?
Praveen thank you so much for sharing your experience. We have been to Rajaji NP and we also did not see even a baby elephant as you say 😀 And yet the jungle itself is so breathtaking!Mindspace that is not me, that is another guest who was there on the same ride. The new job still feels new!
Tigers are rare, and even rarer now. So better luck next time.But the "pug mark" picture is quite cool. Can create a panic if you are walking in the forests. Had one such experience when we went camping and rafting last year
Yes, I was busy. It is always next time….but yes, the footsteps are nice. Great to see someone clicked steps. :)Tiger
Thanks Tarun and Hobo, if not the Tiger then at least the pug marks, that is the philosophy I was operating with.
That dialog was too good….Aap paidal jaa tou sakte hain tiger ke pass per vapis aayenge ki nahin uske koe guarantee nahin hai…What I like about your blog is that you always have something to share..
My tiger tale: During the second jeep safari in the Bandavgarh National Park, we sighted a tiger!A little later when another jeep from the opposite direction slowed down and the drivers were exchanging some friendly words, when inquired by the occupants of the other jeep, I coolly mentioned that we did sight a tiger. As soon as the other jeep passed by, our guide gently warned us all not to mention it to anyone while in the park. When asked why by someone, he said otherwise the occupants of the other jeeps that did not sight the tiger would make their guide 'crazy' with their insistence to show them a tiger too! PS: I've never got around to writing a post on my experiences at Bandavgarh. I must someday.
Megha and it was told with a twinkle in the eye and some relish!Celine do write that tige story and thanks for sharing parts of it here. I knew people were tiger crazed but not the extent 😀
I also have a tiger tale from a recent trip to Mexico. But I got to touch it AND I came back! http://www.gonomad.com/theerfiles/2009/07/taming-el-tigre-in-nuevo-vallarta.html#links
Both of you make such a pretty picture! Thanks for sharing Kelly.
Megha and it was told with a twinkle in the eye and some relish!Celine do write that tige story and thanks for sharing parts of it here. I knew people were tiger crazed but not the extent