THE GREAT INDIAN SAFARI

“I started going to Forests at a very young age where you could walk, cycle or even go on a scooter Tiger Reserves, National Parks into Corbett/Rajaji National Park etc.

Have been visiting almost all the Tiger Reserves in India almost on a weekly/fortnightly basis. This kept me in close interaction with wild animals, understanding the intricate relationship with and between the various species at the planet.

This also helped me to contribute into Tiger rehabilitation experiments and also dealing with man eaters as well as rogue elephants. Hope you will enjoy reading stories and watching wildlife films.”  - Navin M Raheja

THE GREAT INDIAN SAFARI

Ever since my childhood, I was fascinated by trains. The big, black steam engine spewing coal-dust in my eyes, the chugh-chugh-chugh of the train music-hitting the ears at regular intervals — have left impressions which cannot be described in words. To this day, these journeys remain as fresh in my mind as today’s breakfast.
But one cannot always live in the past. And certainly not the Indian Railways, which over the years has abandoned its black steam engines for the sake of high-speed diesel and electric locomotives. Now, here is a secret not known to many. The Railways today, is one of the best medium in the country that connects the people with the beauty and splendour of nature. For somebody driven to natural wonders of India and its rich wildlife — the train is the best travel connect.
Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan is one of the most-happening wildlife destinations in India. Millions of wildlife enthusiasts and travellers from all over the world throng here to have   close encounter with the tiger. But did you know that Delhi-Ranthambore route can be covered the fastest if one boards the Mumbai-bound Rajdhani Express at 5 pm? One can reach Ranthambore by train in three-and-a half hours as compared to over nine hours that it takes to cover the same distance by road!

This journey to Ranthambore is never an exercise in futility. Nine times out of 10, you likely to keep the date with the king of the Indian jungles. Ranthambore is the place where history and wildlife complement each other. The imposing fort casting its giant shadow on the vast forest stretch leaves an unforgettable impression on the mind.

The majestic Ranthambore Fort — one of the biggest forts in North India — is the stuff folklores are made of. Some 700 years ago, when Ranthambore’s ruler Hammir lost his final battle to Alauddin Khilji, the Sultan of Delhi, thousands of women in the fort committed ‘jauhar’ (mass suicide) by jumping into fire.

For those who find Rajdhani Express a trifle expensive, taking Delhi-Kota Janshatabdi is the next best option. It takes you to Ranthambore in six hours flat!

Madhya Pradesh, in Central India, commands unmatched experiences when it comes to observing nature from close quarters. But most shirk from taking the leap because MP seems too far away from our comfort zones (whether from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai or Kolkata). Again, Indian Railways offer the best possible solution to the travel enthusiasts. An overnight rail journey from any of these metropolitan cities can bring you to the doorsteps of its natural wonders.

Two of the best national parks in India are situated in Madhya Pradesh — Bandhavgarh and Kanha. And it is no coincidence that Rudyard Kipling chose Madhya Pradesh as the canvas for his classic Jungle Book. Want to be real up-close to nature? Come to Madhya Pradesh and come by a train — it is bound to be a magical experience.

The Tala range of Bandhavgarh boasts of the highest tiger density in India. Equally impressive are sprawling grasslands of Kanha National Park with its abundant wildlife. Both these places are best approached by a train.

The same holds true of the most famous — and arguably the finest — national park of India — Jim Corbett National Park in the terai area of Uttarakhand. Thanks to the railways, the national park has become really approachable.

An early morning or an overnight train from Delhi — take your pick — will bring you to Corbett’s nearest railhead, Ramnagar, in less than seven hours. The same distance (of about 250 km), should take roughly the same time by road, but there is always a possibility of getting stuck in a crazy traffic-snarl at Garh-Mukteshwar for two, four, or maybe five hours at times. For those with a civilised driver and a penchant for playing solitaire during long traffic-jams, a car journey is fine. Others should reach the Old Delhi Railway Station in time to board the Kathgodam-bound train.

Every nook and corner of Corbett National Park is steeped in beauty. The stunning landscape of sal forests, lush grasslands and rolling hills with the charming Ramganga river flowing through its tourist zone — all these have made Corbett the masterpiece that it is. While enjoying the train journey, it won’t be a bad idea to carry a copy of Jim Corbett’s all-time classic The Man-Eaters of Kumaon — if only to savour its description of the region.

Situated in Garhwal and not too far from Corbett Park, the beautiful but little-known hill station of Lansdowne can be approached from Delhi by taking a train to Kotdwar.

Even Places like Assam and Kaziranga in the North-East and Bandipur and Nagarhole in the South have become approachable, thanks to the fast trains introduced by the Indian Railways on these routes.

So all you nature lovers keen to experience a tiger’s roar or an elephant’s trumpet, hop on to a train. And don’t forget to put the camera in the hand-bag!

And while you do that, keep a copy of this magazine with you. From next issue onwards, I shall be taking you around in interesting trains journeys to various tiger reserves, forts and tourist destinations spread all over India. I hope you would find these monthly photo-journeys worthwhile.

 “Looking out of a railway window can be quite a revelation in terms of the natural beauty of the Indian subcontinent. It’s an experience worth undertaking”

(For already published stories/articles and films on wildlife which have been aired on National Geographic channel, Doordarshan National channel, DD International and ABP News, please log on to www.raheja.com/wildlife.asp or www.rahejaproductions.com)