“This is a good spot I’ll tell you the story here” said our guide at the Ranthambore fort as our group stood aside to listen.
He spoke for about 10 minutes. Some laughed, some tried to control it and almost everyone was giggly the whole time. He indeed did tell a story, actually tell would be a small word as he narrated the story in fashion of some theatre artist’s monologue. He was really good at it but sadly I doubt if there was even one fact in the whole fancy speech!
Like me if you have been to many forts in Maharashtra, Ranthambore fort can be a disappointment as there isn’t a rock patch, a difficult pathway to climb and all. Having said that, the fort does give a magnificent feel though I was shocked to meet the current rulers!
Langoors rule the Ranthambore fort now, there is a beautiful history to the fort, read books on it as the guides and Wikipedia are a waste, but hey, trust me langoors rule them now. They are all over the place and live definitely like the Maharajas!
I kept thinking that night what will happen if the other wild animals start behaving like the langoors and depend on humans for food. I definitely didn’t sleep well that night but little did I know what was in store on the first safari next morning!
There were around 20 of us in the safari canter and suddenly we spot a sambar deer in alert position signalling that the ruler of the jungle is around. And then for the next 20mins slowly I disappeared into a whole new world.
Yes, I was fortunate enough to spot a tiger and also for so long. It was magical. I for moments was lost into a world where it was only the tiger, me and my lens and I was happy there.
But my bubble would break and I would realize I am with humans around and many jeeps too which were freaking the tiger, I did see the kind of angst in her eyes, the one that you feel for those uninvited cheesy guests at your home!
Since the very first safari gave such a beautiful feeling all the other safaris felt what we have as kids felt when the neighbour kid tops the class! Many around me kept comparing the first safari experience to the rest and obviously felt sad.
I was sure of not being able to see the tiger in the next few safaris that were planned because I knew it that my luck was kind once and I shouldn’t expect much of it. I was therefore keen on spotting and clicking more birds, trying to figure out name of trees and actually live my moments in the jungle.
When we got to Bharatpur we visisted the Bird Sanctuary and this time the experience with the guide was totally different. We walked about good 5kms and back again so around 10kms early in the morning. There were many human noises, a constant creaky sound of the parrot yet our guide Sanjay ji was able to figure out bird calls.
The best moment was when he said I heard a hornbill call and walked swift ahead I followed him and bang we saw the hornbill, and as the rest of the group approached we all saw it fly by, yes I luckily did manage to get a click of it.
Sanjay ji wasn’t the best at communication by which I mean he couldn’t at once communicate to the entire group but he was good talking one on one about birds, recognizing bird calls. He definitely had a lot of knowledge and his active sensory organs made me feel guilty of losing my good eye sight to tech and my ears to have lived so much in chaotic voices that it can’t pick up sweet bird calls!
And so, overall my five day trip to Ranthambore and Bharatpur was beautiful and definitely had a wonderful end to my year. If you are even a percent lover of birds, please visit Bharatpur once.
Also, if you need any guidance on how to be good orators and grab attention please visit Ranthambore fort. Check my Instagram @nishanavgire for photo updates of this trip.