Friday, January 30, 2015

TADOBA - ANDHARI TIGER RESERVE, Maharashtra (17th April to 19th April'15)

Dates : 17th April, 2015 to 19th April, 2015 (excluding travel days)
The bookings for one of the best known bio-diverse Tiger park in Maharashtra, The Tadoba - Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) trip is on…..book your seats fast, because this is something which you should not miss... (For all the detail including charges, itinerary etc see at the end).....

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The ABODE OF TIGER - TADOBA

There was this small waterhole called “Katezhari”, where our jeep was stationed one early morning, when we suddenly heard the alarm calls of atleast 2 Barking deers coming from the north-west valley…..as minutes passed, the calls seemed closer and were with more intensity, surely the Big cat was coming towards the waterhole....Meanwhile another contrasting drama was unfolding in front of us .....a Brown fish-Owl was coolly hunting the myriad frogs from the pool; a superb male Paradise flycatcher was bathing leisurely wetting his dangling long ribbon-like tail streamers. An Indian Pitta was rummaging amongst the forest litter near-by, unmindful of the approaching alarm calls …..The atmosphere was both thrilling, chilling and happening.....our anticipation was at its peak……. We were experiencing this right inside the heart of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR)……..















Tadoba National Park is situated in the district of Chandrapur in the north-eastern part of Maharashtra, often referred to as “The Jewel of Vidarbha”. It is the oldest national park of the State of Maharahtra and since 1995, a Project Tiger Reserve. It derives its name from the local God, "Taru". The legend goes that the village chief "Taru" was killed in an epic fight with the tiger. He is worshipped by all the local villagers as the deity of "Tadoba".















Tadoba-andhari Tiger reserve was established in 1995. The area of the Reserve is 625.40 sq. km. This includes Tadoba National Park, created in 1955 with an area of 116.55 sq. km. and andhari Wildlife Sanctuary created in 1986 with an area of 508.85 sq. km. Thickly clad hills form the northern and western boundary of the Tiger Reserve. To the southwest is a huge lake which acts as a buffer between the park's forest and the extensive farmland which extends up toIrai Lake.

A marvelous site for the wild life enthusiasts, Tadoba has rich collections of flora and fauna. Tiger, Panther and Wild dogs are the major carnivores in this area which feed on the herbivores. Sambar is the most preferred food of the Tiger and Chital comes second in preference. Wild boars and Gaurs are also hunted by the Tiger. Panther hunts common langur, female chital, Sambar fawns, Wild boar etc. Wild dogs hunt in packs feed on Wild boar, Chital, Sambar. Sloth bear is an omnivorous animal that feeds on fruits of mango, jamun, bel, tendu, mahuwa flowers, honey and termites. The common herbivores like Chital, Sambar, Gaur, Chausinga feed on Grasses, young shoots and leaves of Bamboo and other species like Ghoti, Apta, Ber, Khair and fruits of many species. There are 29 natural saltlicks in the Tiger Reserve. The mesmerizing trails of Tadoba could be a treasured experience of a lifetime.
















Flora : The land vegetation according to Champion and Seth's classification belongs to the sub group Southern tropical Dry Deciduous Forest with teak as dominant species. The main associates of teak are Ain, Bija, Dhauda, Haldu, Salai, Semal, Tendu and Bamboo. Almost 40% area is covered with bamboo. Trees of Jamun, Mango, Arjun are found in the moist area.
Fauna : Mammals - Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Gaur or Indian Bison, Barking Deer, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Wild Boar, Four-Horned Antelope, Wild Dog , Langoor, Nilgai, Marsh Crocodile are commonly sighted in the Tiger Reserve by the tourists.Ratel, Flying Squirrel, Palm Civet, Indian Civet, Leopard Cat, Rusty Spotted Cat, Pangolin and Jackal are also reported.


Fauna : Birds - Oriental Honey & White-eyed Buzzard, Indian Pitta, Paradise Flycatcher, Indian Roller, Orange-headed Ground Thrush, Common Hawk Cuckoo, Changeable Hawk eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Savana Nightjar, Painted Sandgrouse, Black-hooded Oriole, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Monarch Flycatcher, racket-tailed and White-bellied Drongo, Large Cuckooshrike, Oriental White eye, grey Hornbill, Grey Jungle-fowl, Golden Oriole, Large green barbet.





Click here to see some old reports & a photo blog of Vivek Kale (our previous participant)














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Travel Itinerary

Day 1 (Thursday 16th April'15) :
Board 12139 Sewagram Express at 15.00 hrs from Mumbai CST
OR
Board the 12289 Nagpur Duranto Exp at 20:15 Hrs from Mumbai CST to Nagpur

Day 2 (Friday 17th April'15) :
 Reach Chandrapur at 9.36 hrs / Nagpur at 07:15 Hrs....Breakfast..... Proceed to resort, Moharli gate, Tadoba at 11:00 hrs – Lunch - Evening Safari (3 pm to 7 pm) - dinner - Discussion about day's sightings - Night halt in resort 

Day 3 (Saturday 18th April'15) :
 Morning Safari (6am to 10 am) – Return for Lunch – Rest / Birdwatching at the lake - Evening safari (3 pm to 7 pm) – Before dinner, discussion and revision of the day's sightings -Dinner - Night Stay in Resort

Day 4 (Sunday 19th April'15) : Morning Safari in the Park (6 am to 10 am) – Return for Lunch –  Proceed to Nagpur station to board the 12290 Nagpur-CSTM Duranto Express to Mumbai at 20:50

Day 5 (Monday 20th April'15): Reach Mumbai CSTM by 07:50 am 

Trip Charges:
 
Rs.13800/--only (Includes AC rooms on Twin Sharing Basis in Hornbill Resort, 1 kms from Moharli Gate, Pick-up & drop at Nagpur in A/C vehicle, Local travel by 4x4 open jeeps, Total 4 Safaris inside the park in main zones, Veg. meals, Breakfast, Park Permits, Park entry charges, Guide charges, Information articles & on board snacks and mineral water....(excluding your Lens surcharge as per the latest guidelines)…….

This does not include Travel charges from Mumbai-Nagpur-Mumbai, Individual Lens surcharge or any charges other than the above. However, Assistance for train booking will be given ....

Registration: You can register by sending a confirmation mail to natureindiatours@gmail.com with contact details and by paying a non refundable Advance of  Rs.9000/- after our confirmation mail…..The remaining amount will be collected on the day of travel in cash only.

Kindly register soon to avoid the rush for train bookings……….

Group Size: Max 12 Pax only

Stay Arrangement: Hornbill Resort, 1 kms from Moharli Gate, Tadoba on a twin sharing basis in A/C rooms. .


Resource Persons: Mr.Adesh Shivkar, Mr.Mandar Khadilkar & Mr.Manish Verma

Mode of Payment: You can either
1) Transfer the advance money directly to our HDFC A/c (Please send a mail for details).. please mention your name, date and other details…. OR
2) Courier a cheque of Rs.9000/- as advance amount to the following address
Name: Mr.Mandar Khadilkar
Address: Flat No.2, Blossom Apartments, LM Road, Below Shantighan hospital, Kandarpada, Dahisar-West, Mumbai - 400068.

Please Note:
1) Once registered, the advance amount of Rs. 9000/- is strictly non-refundable
2) Alcohol & Smoking is strictly prohibited on Nature India tours
3) Nesting photography is prohibited.
4) Kindly register on this trip only if you agree with  Nature India's rules and policies
http://natureindiapolicies.blogspot.in/2012/08/nature-india-policies.html 

Please revert on natureindiatours@gmail.com ID, in case you need any clarification. For any other queries we are available on 9869071091 / 9820455713(Adesh) or 9930318665 / 9967518665 (Mandar)....



Hope to see you for this wonderful trip Thanks for your patience.

Warm Regards,

Adesh Shivkar & Mandar Khadilkar
Nature India 
Appreciate, Respect & Conserve



Thursday, January 22, 2015

Bhigwan - For Ducks & Waterfowl - 31st Jan to 1st Feb, 2015


Dates: 31st Jan, 2015 (Saturday) to 1st Feb, 2015 (Sunday) - Mumbai to Bhigwan & back. The bookings for Bhigwan trip is on…..register NOW to get your seats, before it gets Houseful as usual ....... Please See complete details (Itinerary, Logistics, Charges etc) at the end of this Blog.....
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BHIGWAN - The Big One for Waterbirds

Imagine a water body full of ducks, waders, storks & other waterbirds, and not just one but many such water bodies!! This amazing place is called "Bhigwan". Bhigwan is known among bird-watchers with many nick-names like, "Mini-Bharatpur of Maharashtra", "Big-one for waterfowls", "Waterfall of waterfowls" (indicating abundance of water birds) etc..

North Indian wetlands like, Bharatpur, Sultanpur etc. are known for huge influx of waterfowls, especially ducks, as compared to South India. But Bhigwan is an exception. This place is "One of the largest wetlands in South Central India" that offers immensely satisfying birding with absolutely huge congregations of waterfowl..... It has become a ritual of sorts now for birdwatchers to visit this amazing place every year.

Bhigwan is a small town approx. 110 kms from Pune on the Pune – Solapur road (NH-9) and is surrounded by the backwaters of the mighty Ujjani Dam on the river Bhima. It is a proposed sanctuary for migratory birds, an area of about 18000 hectares. The backwater area is spread across and around the town of Bhigwan……..This is probably the best spot in South Central India to see ducks in enormous numbers.














Bhigwan is a heaven for wintering waterfowl like the Spoonbills, Gulls, Ducks, Storks, Herons, Egrets, Coots, Pochards, Harriers, Osprey and a huge variety of waders and birds like Pratincoles, Pipits,  Larks, Chats etc that abound in the surrounding dry countryside…..a small population of Greater flamingos, also winter here regularly and can be presently seen.....Being an open habitat, it is also very easy to spot the birds and for photography.

With most of the waterbodies drying up elsewhere, Bhigwan remains as a stronghold for wintering migrants till the end of March. It is one of the best places in Maharashtra to see Comb Ducks, Painted Storks, Brahminy Ducks, Cotton Pigmy Goose, Eurasian Spoonbills, Small Pratincoles, Eurasian Wigeons, Common Teals, Northern Shovellers, Northern Pintails, Common Pochards etc. A weekend trip to this "now famous" wetland is highly recommended to view and learn about birds.



For more information on this site and for some delightful trip reports of last year, please click the links below;


http://green-indians.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html



http://www.travelwithacouple.com/?p=1234 

http://alokbhave.blogspot.com/2008/01/bhigwan-jan-2007.html





Nature India has meticulously planned a weekend trip to this amazing place – Bhigwan, from 31st Jan to 1st Feb, 2015 the details are given below.
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Tour Iterinary & Other Details:


Dates:31st Jan 2015 (Saturday) Morning 6.30 AM to 1st Feb 2015 (Sunday) 10.00 PM.

Mode of Travel: Non AC Minibus

Stay on 31st Jan'15 Night: Decent Hotel in Baramati, MIDC road, 22kms from Bhigwan, for staying on twin sharing basis……

Route & Itinerary:

31st Jan'15: 
Mor. 6.30 AM departure from Mumbai (Dadar or Bandra) – Sion - Chembur -- Vashi (Breakfast @Hotel Navratna) – Belapur -- Pune – Solapur Road – Lunch at Bhigwan @ 2.30 pm - Birdwatching in evening at Diksal, Bhigwan – Eve. proceed to Hotel – Revision and discussion on Birds – Delicious dinner- Overnight Stay

1st Feb'15: Early morning (6.00 AM) checkout from Hotel and departure to Bhigwan – Birdwatching at Kumbhargaon, Bhigwan – "Mouth watering" Lunch at Hotel Sagar, Bhigwan at 2.00 pm (a-la-carte) – Start at 3.00 pm to return back to Mumbai – reach Mumbai at approx. 10.00 PM.

Important Note: This trip involves long bus travel, so be prepared

Trip charges: Rs. 5500 /- only (Includes non- A/C room stay Hotel in Baramati, on twin sharing basis, Travel charges from Mumbai to Bhigwan & back in a non-AC minibus, Veg / non-veg meals & Breakfast, Information articles, Entry charges, Guide fees & on board snacks and mineral water)

This does not include any charges other than the above.

Registration: You can register by sending a confirmation mail to natureindiatours@gmail.com and by paying a full amount of Rs.5500/- (50% amount is non-refundable) after our registration confirmation by email only.

Resource Persons: Mr. Adesh Shivkar / Mr. Mandar Khadilkar

Mode of Payment: You can either
1) Transfer the advance money directly to HDFC A/c (Please call Adesh @ 9820455713 for A/c No.).. please mention your name, date and other details….

2) Courier a cheque of Rs.5500/- as full amount (Please call Adesh @ 9820455713 for postal address)

Please Note:
1) Once registered, 50% amount of Rs. 5500/- is strictly non-refunadable
2) Alcohol & Smoking is strictly prohibited on Nature India Tours
3) Nesting photography is prohibited.
4) Kindly register on this trip only if you agree with  Nature India's rules and policies
http://natureindiapolicies.blogspot.in/2012/08/nature-india-policies.html 

Please revert on natureindiatours@gmail.com ID, in case you need any clarification ......

For any other queries we are available on 9869071091 or 9820455713 (Adesh) and 9930318665 or 9967518665 (Mandar)

Thanks for your patience.

Looking forward for a very rewarding trip with you all !!

Warm Regards,

Adesh Shivkar & Mandar Khadilkar
Nature India
Appreciate, Respect & Conserve


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