Ranthambore, or Sawai Madhopur (as it is commonly known among the locals) is one of the best places in India for tiger sighting and enjoying nature and jungle. City dwellers flock to this tiny laid- back town in Rajasthan to experience the jungle.
We decided to travel to Ranthambore in the month of January, it is not considered as the best time to view tigers, but we went anyway, reason the climate was good. It was on one of those cold Delhi winter mornings, when we started our trip. Our aim was to reach Ranthambore before noon. It is an eleven-hour drive and we knew we will be taking breaks in between. Husband being passionate about driving is a boon, he drives, and I get to read watch the scenes on the road, also also ...... take breaks or stop and take pictures where ever you want. This is one thing I thoroughly enjoy when we go for these trips as we can take detours and stops as we fancy.
We did not take the usual route to Ranthambore, we took the road less travelled, the advantage was that we were able to cover a great distance in no time and reach our destination much before than we anticipated. The other thing best thing was getting to hog on delicious food from road side dhabas. The aaloo(potato) and pyass (onion) parathas were to die for.
We had booked our stay at Ranthambore Heritage Haveli. Although a bit far from the main Ranthambore town, the hotel is situated just within a km from the entrance to the safari gates of the jungle.
After a sumptuous lunch and afternoon siesta, we decided to venture out to the Ranthambore Fort on our own. It was around sunset when we reached the Fort, you have to climb a lot of steps to reach the top, there is an old Temple here, many devotees pay their respect to the Deity here and take back the prasad (blessings), only to be snatched away by the monkeys on the way back. (A piece of advice- if a monkey comes up front and looks up at you make sure that you show put up both the hands and show them that you have nothing with you, trust me it understands and will go away, never run).
After taking a few pictures of the stunning sunset and the view from the Fort we decided to head back to the hotel as we had to attend the Rajasthani folk dance and bonfire arranged by the hotel.
On the way back, soon after we crossed the Fort gates, hubby dear began to slow down the car, and I asked him to go fast, but he would not. Perplexed me looked at him and he was like, Did you hear that call of the monkey? I said, yes, to which he replied that is the warning call (he learned from his recent trip to Jim Corbett) which they give when there is a tiger or a leopard in the vicinity. So, we slowed down and parked the car on the side of the road, to our astonishment a leopard crossed the road, it was like a lightning…. But what a view, we loved it and were thrilled to the core. Expectations were over the roof…. As we were to have our first safari trip (the only one which we booked for that matter) the next day early morning.
Once back at the hotel the bonfire and cultural show rich, vibrant and full of dance and music.
Next day we were up even before the alarm went off and were ready on time for the safari. We had booked a Jeep safari, so it was four of us and two other tourists from another hotel. Once we picked them up, off we went on our safari.
We saw deer, jungle hen, sparrows and a peacock on the first part of the trip. On the way back we saw a leopard, again it was just a flash, we are still sure that it was the same leopard, which we saw the day before and the hotel staff too said that a leopard was spotted and it had taken away a sheep from the nearby village the night before. We thought that we had ran out of luck, but the driver said we still have to go the other way and there was the warning call of the monkey still far away, from the direction that we were to go.
So, we were again looking around and heading ahead….
And all of a sudden, we spotted the tiger standing regal, by the banks of the river. It was just an amazing experience.
We were very close to the tiger; but it did not give a damn for us. But for all of us on the safari vehicles it was a jackpot. We got a good twenty minute, up close photo session with the big cat, where in it growled, it ran, it drank and it made us understand that if not poked it will just do its business and head back to its cave. Even now when I think of it, i feel that the whole experience was surreal and every bit amazing.
On the way back our guide also stopped the jeep to show us crocodiles, lazing out on the sand banks by the river.
We headed back to the hotel thrilled and happy, had a sumptuous breakfast and then slept like babies, by the pool benches, under the warm winter sun. As it was our last evening in Ranthambore we decided to head to the town, and when we came out of the hotel there was a camel ready to take us on a camel safari.
How can you say no to a camel safari on a trip to Rajasthan? So off we went on the camel to the near-by museum, the museum is dedicated to the history of Sawai Madhopur, it is worth a visit only if you have time to kill.
We reached back in a hour and headed to the town and went to Dastakar Village, it is a must visit place, you can buy souvenirs of Ranthambore, and all the stuff made there depicts the jungle, you can even try your hands on block printing here.
Back at the hotel we just sat around and reminisced the adventurous encounter that we had with the tiger and the accidental spotting of the leopard. In all it was a trip worth the twenty-two hours of journey that we undertook to and from Ranthambore.
A note on the hotel: Ranthanbore Heritage Haveli; it is an old haveli restored. The rooms are spacious and airy. Clean washrooms with hot and cold water. Amazing hotel staff. Please note that as the hotel is away from the main town. The food was amazing, all local delicacies. We enjoyed our stay much and will be choosing the same one if we plan to go again.
Happy Musings
Tina.
Good.