In Search of Tiger at Corbett Tiger Reserve

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The different zones offer varied landscapes with opportunities to sight different floras and faunas. The presence of animals varies in accordance with the landscape suitable to their habitats. The landscape of Jhirna is drier than in Dhikala and vegetation is mostly scrub. Jhirna was a farming village until 1994 when it was successfully relocated under Project Tiger. The abandoned farmland is gradually reverting to a wild state and is being managed to develop grassland habitat. The nearby terrain consists of numerous sots and narrow gorges running through typically Shiwalik landscape. The hills to the north of Jhirna are covered with dense patches of bamboo. Apart from being a good habitat for tiger, leopard and deer, the place hosts other interesting mammals like sloth bear and wild boar. A variety of birds can also be enjoyed here.

were informed that a male tiger is also reported wandering in the area during the early morning. There is a defined route for every visitor to follow from the entry gate which ends at the FRH inside the jungle. On the way there is a watch tower alongside the river for watching animals reaching at the stream for drinking water and bathing. We tried it but in vain. The spotted deer, peacocks, variety of birds including the sparrows were a delight to watch. Suddenly, the driver stopped the vehicle and we found some fresh pug marks of a tiger on the sand beside the road. After a few meters we spotted some scratch marks on a tree probably made in the past. These proofs however, evidenced the truth of story we were told by the nature guide about the male tiger visited the place early morning. Elephant herd might have walked away leaving signs of crushed bushes and flattened shrubs. The dream of sighting the mighty RBT remained a dream but it was good to see the evidence of their presence that retained the hope to see the king in future also.

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Ghumakkar Editorial Monthly Digest – October 2013

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I am an year older and hopefully wiser when this digest goes for publication. But that is not a significant event in October. A little more scratching and you realise that the month almost starts with GandhiтАЩs birth anniversary. Someone who established тАШNon ViolenceтАЩ as a primary and only weapon to fight for greater cause. He once said, тАЬAn eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blindтАЭ. As you get old (and hopefully wiser) it becomes more important to introspect, to reflect and to course-correct. We also look back at our reasons behind Ghumakkar. Through travel, one gets exposed to things which are alien to him, whether it is as simple as what one eats to the greater realms of spiritualism. When one sees more of what one doesnтАЩt know and follow, he slowly begins to accept the existence and more imporatntly starts appreciating the relevance of them. I am far more accepting to those scorpion, proudly displayed on wooden slates, ready to be consumed on my recent trip to Beijing then on my first trip and the constant feed of these small and little experiences gradually leads to greater tolerance. A tolerance towards something which is not you. Traveling builds tolerance and tolerance builds peace. QED.

And if this is making you jump off to other sections of this digest then let me dress this with something more appealing. Yeah, Okotber is a month of fest. The Dusshera and Durga Puja celebrations just finished, Bakra-Id followed soon after, Halloween is all around and we are all ganged up to make the most noise on Diwali. The card parties are in full swing, lights are out and the weather is at all time great. So one way or the other, October is a great begining and I prod you to make the most of it.

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Day trip to Mount St. Helens, Washington (USA)

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IтАЩve always had a fascination for volcanoes. The sheer power exuded by nature in itтАЩs form kept me awed and humbled whenever I watched volcanoes erupting on TV channels. Living in Seattle provided a wonderful opportunity to explore the volcanic mountains of the Pacific North West (like Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, and Mount St. Helens). The most interesting amongst these is Mount St. Helens that last erupted in 1980 (5.1 on Richter scale), scooping off the head of the mountain in the process and making it тАЬthe deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in the history of the United States.тАЭAs quoted in the wikipedia, тАЬThe volcano is located in the Cascade Range and is part of the Cascade Volcanic Arc, a segment of the Pacific Ring of Fire that includes over 160 active volcanoes. This volcano is well known for its ash explosions and pyroclastic flows.тАЭ

You can visit either the north face of the Helens or the South face (you canтАЩt do both in a day). I have been told that the north face has the best view of the crater (and is closer to Seattle as well). The southern face has interesting points like Ape Caves, but I am yet to visit it.

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рдЙрдЬреНрдЬреИрди рджрд░реНрд╢рди: рд╢реНрд░реА рдмрдбрд╝рд╛ рдЧрдгреЗрд╢ рдордВрджрд┐рд░, рдХреНрд╖рд┐рдкреНрд░рд╛ рдШрд╛рдЯ, рдЪрд╛рд░рдзрд╛рдо рдордВрджрд┐рд░ рд╡ рд╢реНрд░реА рд░рд╛рдо рдордВрджрд┐рд░ (рднрд╛рдЧ 6)

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рднрд╛рд░рдд рдХреЗ рд╣рд░ рдХреЛрдиреЗ рдореЗрдВ рднрдЧрд╡рд╛рди рдЧрдгреЗрд╢ рдЬреА рдХреЗ рдордВрджрд┐рд░реЛрдВ рдХреЛ рджреЗрдЦрд╛ рдЬрд╛ рд╕рдХрддрд╛ рд╣реИ рдФрд░ рдЙрдирдХреЗ рдкреНрд░рд╕рд┐рджреНрдз рдордВрджрд┐рд░реЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рд╕реЗ рдПрдХ рд╣реИ, рдмрдбреЗ рдЧрдгреЗрд╢ рдЬреА рдХрд╛ рдордВрджрд┐рд░, рдЬреЛ рдЙрдЬреНрдЬреИрди рдХреЗ рд╢реНрд░реА рдорд╣рд╛рдХрд╛рд▓реЗрд╢реНрд╡рд░ рдордВрджрд┐рд░ рдХреЗ рдирд┐рдХрдЯ рд╣рд░рд╕рд┐рдзреНрджрд┐ рдорд╛рд░реНрдЧ рдкрд░ рд╕реНрдерд┐рдд рд╣реИред рдЗрд╕ рдордВрджрд┐рд░ рдореЗрдВ рднрдЧрд╡рд╛рди рдЧрдгреЗрд╢ рдЬреА рдХреЛ рдмрдбреЗ рдЧрдгреЗрд╢ рдЬреА рдХреЗ рдирд╛рдо рд╕реЗ рдЬрд╛рдирд╛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИред

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рдбрд╛рдХрд┐рдиреНрдпрд╛рдВ рднреАрдорд╢рдВрдХрд░рдо ………..рднреАрдорд╛рд╢рдВрдХрд░ рдЬреНрдпреЛрддрд┐рд░реНрд▓рд┐рдВрдЧ рдпрд╛рддреНрд░рд╛.

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рдкрд┐рдЫреНрд▓реА рдкреЛрд╕реНрдЯ рдореЗрдВ рдЖрдк рд▓реЛрдЧреЛрдВ рдиреЗ рдкрдврд╛ рдХрд┐ рд╣рдо рд▓реЛрдЧ рднреАрдорд╛рд╢рдВрдХрд░ рдЬреНрдпреЛрддрд┐рд░реНрд▓рд┐рдВрдЧ рдпрд╛рддреНрд░рд╛ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдпреЗ рдЗрдиреНрджреМрд░ рд╕реЗ рдкреБрдгреЗ рдкрд╣реБрдВрдЪреЗ, рд╡рд╣рд╛рдВ рд░рд╛рддреНрд░реА рд╡рд┐рд╢реНрд░рд╛рдо рдХрд░рдХреЗ рдЕрдЧрд▓реЗ…

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рд░рд╛рдЬрд╛ рднрд░реНрддреГрд╣рд░рд┐ рдЧреБрдлрд╛ (рднрд╛рдЧ 5)

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рддрднреА рдЙрдиреНрд╣реЛрдиреЗ рдЭреЛрд▓реЗ рдореЗрдВ рд╕реЗ рдПрдХ рдлрд▓ рдирд┐рдХрд╛рд▓ рдХрд░ рд░рд╛рдЬрд╛ рдХреЛ рджрд┐рдпрд╛ рдФрд░ рдХрд╣рд╛ рдпрд╣ рдЕрдорд░рдлрд▓ рд╣реИред рдЬреЛ рдЗрд╕реЗ рдЦрд╛ рд▓реЗрдЧрд╛, рд╡рд╣ рдХрднреА рдмреВрдврд╝рд╛ рдирд╣реА рд╣реЛрдЧрд╛, рдХрднреА рд░реЛрдЧреА рдирд╣реА рд╣реЛрдЧрд╛, рд╣рдореЗрд╢рд╛ рдЬрд╡рд╛рди рд╡ рд╕реБрдиреНрджрд░ рд░рд╣реЗрдЧрд╛ред рдЗрд╕рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рдж рдЧреБрд░реБ рдЧреЛрд░рдЦрдирд╛рде рддреЛ рдЕрд▓рдЦ рдирд┐рд░рдВрдЬрди рдХрд╣рддреЗ рд╣реБрдП рдЕрдЬреНрдЮрд╛рдд рдкреНрд░рджреЗрд╢реЛрдВ рдХреА рдпрд╛рддреНрд░рд╛ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдЖрдЧреЗ рдмрдврд╝ рдЧрдПред
рдЙрдирдХреЗ рдЬрд╛рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рдж рд░рд╛рдЬрд╛ рдиреЗ рдЕрдорд░рдлрд▓ рдХреЛ рдПрдХ рдЯрдХ рджреЗрдЦрд╛, рдЙрдиреНрд╣реЗрдВ рдЕрдкрдиреА рдкрддреНрдиреА рд╕реЗ рд╡рд┐рд╢реЗрд╖ рдкреНрд░реЗрдо рдерд╛, рдЗрд╕рд▓рд┐рдП рд░рд╛рдЬрд╛ рдиреЗ рд╡рд┐рдЪрд╛рд░ рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рдХрд┐ рдпрд╣ рдлрд▓ рдореИрдВ рдЕрдкрдиреА рдкрддреНрдиреА рдХреЛ рдЦрд┐рд▓рд╛ рджреВрдВ рддреЛ рд╡рд╣ рд╕реБрдВрджрд░ рдФрд░ рд╕рджрд╛ рдЬрд╡рд╛рди рд░рд╣реЗрдЧреАред

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Charming Chanderi тАУ of Baiju Bawra, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya and 1200 Baoli

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The road stretch from Lalitpur to MP border will unhinge your joints. You cross into Ashoknagar district of MP over the downstream water channel of the Rajghat Dam. In rains water flows over the causeway. The landscape turns pretty with Vindhyachal hills and intermittent lakes making their entry. The early rains have made the hills lush with greenery. The beauty was enough for Babur to go ga-ga in his memoirs Babur Nama. The road after crossing into MP is a breeze and soon you see signs of the local Municipal Corporation welcoming you to the historic city of Chanderi. You are surprised to find the town clean with good roads and amazing signs for the tourists. Just looking at the densely packed attractions on the map confirms that Chanderi indeed is brimming with all kinds of monuments тАУ tombs, mosques, gateways, palaces, temples and innumerable baolis.

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Five great reasons to visit Portugal

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This was my main reason of visiting Portugal. The sheer beauty of it is amazing. Of the very little time I spent in Portugal, I experienced a little bit of everything. It is like eating a fancy buffet, where you get to taste everything you have wanted to eat. Coastal Portugal has some of the most amazing sights of the Atlantic Ocean. The little fishing villages, the churches, the bell towers, and the winding streets were a welcome relief from the predictable big cities and the monotonous freeways of America. There is history written all over Portugal. There is a great balance of city beauty coupled with rustic country beauty. There are beautiful churches, castles and palaces. The view of the bay from Lisbon is amazing. If you can endure the heat, the weather is awesome. Portugal is easily one of the most beautiful countries I have visited.

Travel tip: The westernmost point of continental Europe is located in Portugal, and is must see.

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рд╣рд░рд╕рд┐рджреНрдзрд┐ рд╢рдХреНрддрд┐рдкреАрда рджрд░реНрд╢рди (рднрд╛рдЧ 4)

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рд╢рд┐рд╡ рдкреБрд░рд╛рдг рдХреЗ рдорд╛рдиреНрдпрддрд╛ рдХреЗ рдЕрдиреБрд╕рд╛рд░ рдЬрдм рд╕рддреА рдмрд┐рди рдмреБрд▓рд╛рдП рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рдкрд┐рддрд╛ рдХреЗ рдШрд░ рдЧрдИ рдФрд░ рд╡рд╣рд╛рдВ рдкрд░ рд░рд╛рдЬрд╛ рджрдХреНрд╖ рдХреЗ рджреНрд╡рд╛рд░рд╛ рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рдкрддрд┐ рдХрд╛ рдЕрдкрдорд╛рди рд╕рд╣ рди рд╕рдХрдиреЗ рдкрд░ рдЙрдиреНрд╣реЛрдВрдиреЗ рдЕрдкрдиреА рдХрд╛рдпрд╛ рдХреЛ рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рд╣реА рддреЗрдЬ рд╕реЗ рднрд╕реНрдо рдХрд░ рджрд┐рдпрд╛ред рднрдЧрд╡рд╛рди рд╢рдВрдХрд░ рдпрд╣ рд╢реЛрдХ рд╕рд╣ рдирд╣реАрдВ рдкрд╛рдП рдФрд░ рдЙрдирдХрд╛ рддреАрд╕рд░рд╛ рдиреЗрддреНрд░ рдЦреБрд▓ рдЧрдпрд╛ред рдЬрд┐рд╕рд╕реЗ рддрдмрд╛рд╣реА рдордЪ рдЧрдИред рднрдЧрд╡рд╛рди рд╢рдВрдХрд░ рдиреЗ рдорд╛рддрд╛ рд╕рддреА рдХреЗ рдкрд╛рд░реНрдерд┐рд╡ рд╢рд░реАрд░ рдХреЛ рдХрдВрдзреЗ рдкрд░ рдЙрдард╛ рд▓рд┐рдпрд╛ рдФрд░ рдЬрдм рд╢рд┐рд╡ рдЕрдкрдиреА рдкрддреНрдиреА рд╕рддреА рдХреА рдЬрд▓рддреА рдкрд╛рд░реНрдерд┐рд╡ рджреЗрд╣ рдХреЛ рджрдХреНрд╖ рдкреНрд░рдЬрд╛рдкрддрд┐ рдХреА рдпрдЬреНрдЮ рд╡реЗрджреА рд╕реЗ рдЙрдард╛рдХрд░ рд▓реЗ рдЬрд╛ рд░рд╣реЗ рдереЗ рд╢реНрд░реА рд╡рд┐рд╖реНрдгреБ рдиреЗ рд╕рддреА рдХреЗ рдЕрдВрдЧреЛрдВ рдХреЛ рдмрд╛рд╡рди рднрд╛рдЧреЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рдмрд╛рдВрдЯ рджрд┐рдпрд╛ ред рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ рд╕рддреА рдХреА рдХреЛрд╣рдиреА рдХрд╛ рдкрддрди рд╣реБрдЖ рдерд╛ред рдЕрддрдГ рд╡рд╣рд╛рдБ рдХреЛрд╣рдиреА рдХреА рдкреВрдЬрд╛ рд╣реЛрддреА рд╣реИред рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ рдХреА рд╢рдХреНрддрд┐ ‘рдордВрдЧрд▓ рдЪрдгреНрдбрд┐рдХрд╛’ рддрдерд╛ рднреИрд░рд╡ ‘рдорд╛рдВрдЧрд▓реНрдп рдХрдкрд┐рд▓рд╛рдВрдмрд░ рд╣реИрдВ

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рдордорд▓реЗрд╢реНрд╡рд░ рджрд░реНрд╢рди (рднрд╛рдЧ 3)

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рдЗрд╕рдХрд╛ рд╕рд╣реА рдирд╛рдо рдЕрдорд░реЗрд╢реНрд╡рд░ рдордВрджрд┐рд░ рд╣реИред рдордорд▓реЗрд╢реНрд╡рд░ рдордВрджрд┐рд░ рдирд░реНрдорджрд╛ рдирджреА рдХреЗ рджрдХреНрд╖рд┐рдгреА рддрдЯ рдкрд░ 10 рд╡реАрдВ рд╕рджреА рдореЗрдВ рдмрдирд╛рдпрд╛ рдЧрдпрд╛ рдерд╛ред рдпрд╣ рдордВрджрд┐рд░реЛрдВ рдХрд╛ рдПрдХ рдЫреЛрдЯрд╛ рд╕рд╛ рд╕рдореВрд╣ рд╣реИред рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рд╕реБрдирд╣рд░реЗ рджрд┐рдиреЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рдЗрд╕рдореЗрдВ рджреЛ рдореБрдЦреНрдп рдордВрджрд┐рд░ рдереЗ рд▓реЗрдХрд┐рди рдЖрдЬрдХрд▓ рдХреЗрд╡рд▓ рдПрдХ рдмрдбрд╝реЗ рдордВрджрд┐рд░ рдХреЛ рд╣реА рднрдХреНрддреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдЦреЛрд▓рд╛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИред рдордВрджрд┐рд░реЛрдВ рдХрд╛ рдпрд╣ рд╕рдореВрд╣ рдПрдХ рд╕рдВрд░рдХреНрд╖рд┐рдд рдкреНрд░рд╛рдЪреАрди рд╕реНрдорд╛рд░рдХ рд╣реИред

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Reaching Manali and drive back to Delhi

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We reached Rohtang at or around 4 PM and passing through the beautiful pass and its valleys amidst dense fog reached Manali at or around 5 PM. Since, Manali was visited many times by all of us and also due to the exertion of the long drive, we preferred heading towards our home without stopping. Steadily, we reached Sunder Nagar via Mandi in Himachal Pradesh covering another 140 km to reach as closer as possible for the return journey, on the following day. On the way we had some apples straight from the trees by courtesy of one of the owners of the orchard. We stayed in a road side Motel situated a few kilometers away from the town of Sunder Nagar, constructed alongside the river Beas at a bargain price of Rs. 1000/- for an excellent room equivalent to a super deluxe room of a 3 start hotel, with excellent facilities and river view balcony.

Lethargically, we started for the journey back to home and reached Delhi by evening with enormous sweet memories forgetting all hardships of the way. A total journey of 2200 kms in 9 days is the most memorable travel I have ever made in my life so far. My car has never betrayed even in the most adverse situations. Next day when we showed the photographs to our friends and relatives, the astonishing remarks filled the heart with joy and smile on the face. I still remember the journey while browsing the photographs and recall each event clearly one by one. My laptop has a screen saver of the picture of Taglang La and my office computer is loaded with the desktop picture of the landscape at Drass. Not many believe, it to be conquered by driving a small car all the way without a professional driver, the photos however, leaves them in awe. Many of my friends are now planning for the trip and insisting me to join them but honestly, I donтАЩt have the dare to repeat this road journey again. Moreover, a lot more destinations are still on my list and want to cover them all one by one and share with all esteemed readers in future. Your valuable comment is most sought on the write up.

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