Home away from home

Making the best use of time, I thought of breaking my blogging hiatus and wanted to share some experiences from one such place that gives me solace. Using my memory as a palette & keystrokes as a brush, I attempt to paint my experience of My Home away from Home - Bandipur Tiger Reserve!

Bandipur, once a private hunting reserve for the Maharaja of Mysore, is today a protected Tiger reserve under Project Tiger. The national park spans an area of 874 square kilometres with vivid Flora & Fauna for us to experience. Bandipur is located 80 kilometres [50 miles] from the city of Mysore and experiences a lot of foot fall from nature lovers from all over the world. The national park is supported by Kabini River in the north, the Moyar River from the south and Nugu river running through the park resulting in a healthy habitat for the herbivores and carnivores. The National park is a home to Gaurs [Indian Bison] and the Sambar, which is one of the preferred meal of the enchanting Tiger. With the adjoining Mudhumalai Tiger Reserve, it provides an ample area for the wildlife to migrate between the States of Karnataka & Tamil Nadu.

With the year of the leopards jinx and from being nick named the “Leopard Man” in 2019, I set out with my family and friends in a hope to sight the tiger in the wild in 2020. At the break of dawn in March, my friend and I set out with the goal of making this a good break from the monotony and reached the safari lodge by noon. Post a quick catch up with my friends & naturalists, we set out in the hope to see the stripped beauty into the jungles of Bandipur. Guided by a very good naturalist and my friend, Nagendra, we drove into the ever beautiful Bandipur Tiger Reserve. After a 20 minute drive into the tiger reserve, the instinct of Nagendra, took us towards the direction of one of the water holes. The jungle unlikely any other day was quiet with no signs of any warning calls or activity. With no sounds and signs in sight, we drove down quietly turning off the engine of our safari ride. As we approached the water hole and no other vehicles in sight, I was staring at yet another no show of the stripped beauty.

Just as I was about to give up, Nagendra pointed out at the direction of the far end of the water hole… excited I stood up to see, a golden light shining on the body of the stripped beauty… I had finally broken the jinx in the second safari outing of 2020. I realised that each sighting paints a new experience in my heart and mind with the excitement only growing by each such experience. The tiger was in deep slumber right at the edge of the waterhole, post a sumptuous meal of a Sambar deer. We had a treat of various tranquil behaviour of the tiger - swatting flies, lying on his back, stretching to show he was in absolute peace near the cool water hole. The majestic sighting lasted close to an hour before the tiger graciously walked off into the jungle for his evening stroll of his territory.

While he walked away, his sighting truly stood testimony to the rich & deciduous habitat in the jungle of Bandipur Tiger Reserve. Due to such promising & exciting experiences, I travel to this wonderful location at least twice in a month, making this my Home away from Home!!

Live Life Love Life

Prashanth Bharadwaj