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Vacation Tour in India, Indian Wildlife , Vacation Tour in India India is set apart from the rest of Asia by the Himalaya, the
highest, youngest and still evolving mountain chain on the planet. The
subcontinent as it is rightly called, touches three large bodies of water and is
immediately recognizable on any world map. This thick, roughly triangular
peninsula defines the Bay of Bengal to the east, the Arabian sea to the west,
and the India Ocean to the south.
India holds virtually every kind of landscape imaginable. An abundance of
mountain ranges and national parks provide ample opportunity for eco-tourism and
trekking, and its sheer size promises something for everyone. From north to
south India extends a good 2000 miles (3200 km), where the island nation of Sri
Lanka seems to be squeezed out of India like a great tear, the synapse forming
the Gulf of Mannar.
Mostly the Himalaya, the world's highest mountain chain and Nepal as the
Neighbouring country dominate India's northern border. Following the sweeping
mountains to the northeast, its borders narrow to a small channel that passes
between Nepal, Tibet, Bangladesh, and Bhutan, then spreads out again to meet
Burma in the "eastern triangle." Apart from the Arabian Sea, its western border
is defined exclusively by Pakistan.
North India is the country's largest region begins with Jammu and Kashmir, with
terrain varying from arid mountains in the far north to the lake country and
forests near Srinagar and Jammu. Moving south along the Indus river, the North
becomes flatter and more hospitable, widening into the fertile plains of Punjab
to the west and the Himalayan foothills of Uttar Pradesh and the Ganges river
valley to the East. Cramped between these two states is the capital city, Delhi.
The states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, and part of the massive, central state
of Madhya Pradesh constitute West India. Extends from the Gujarat peninsula down
to Goa, the west coast is lined with some of India's best beaches. The land
along the coast is typically lush with rainforests. The Western Ghats separate
the verdant coast from the Vindya Mountains and the dry Deccan plateau further
inland.
Home of the sacred Ganges river and the majority of Himalayan foothills, East
India begins with the states of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, which comprise
the westernmost part of the region. East India also contains an area known as
the eastern triangle, which is entirely distinct. This is the last gulp of land
that extends beyond Bangladesh, culminating in the Naga Hills along the Burmese
border.
India reaches its peninsular tip with South India, which begins with the Deccan
in the north and ends with Cape Comorin. The states in South India are
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, a favourite leisure
destination. The southeast coast, mirroring the west, also rests snugly beneath
a mountain range---the Eastern Ghats.
India is home to a rich diversity of wildlife supplemented by
an equally rich variety of flora and fauna. The sight and sounds of a majestic
elephant, a peacock?s dance, the stride of a camel, the roar of a tiger are
unparalleled experiences in themselves. Watching birds and animals in their
natural habitats is an experience in itself.
The country offers immense opportunities for wildlife tourism.
The immense heritage of wildlife in India comprises of more than 70 national
parks and about 400 wildlife sanctuaries including the bird sanctuaries.
A paradise for the nature lovers, these forest areas are also
crucial for the conversation of the endangered species like the Leopard, Lion,
Asiatic Elephant, the Bengal tiger and Siberian Crane. Spread across the length
and breadth of India, these reserves and forest areas, right from the
Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan to the Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary in
Bihar, from the foothills of Himalayas, the Jim Corbett National Park to six
national parks in Andaman; the Indian Wildlife circuit is an Incredible treat,
unmatched by any other experience.
Elephant, Deer, Panther, Wild buffalo, Wild ass, the one
horned Rhinoceros, Porcupine, Snow leopards etc are some of the animals you can
sport in The Himalayan region.
India harbours eighty percent of the entire population of the
one horned rhinoceros in the world. The Kaziranga Game Sanctuary is an ideal
habitat for the rhino and a popular destination with the naturalists and
environmentalists as well as the wildlife traveller.
The Great Indian Bustard and blackbuck of the Karera Sanctuary
also attract a lot of tourists. The Madhav National Park originally called the
Shivpuri National Park is another rich habitat for the wildlife in close
proximity to the historical town of Gwalior and being close to a often visited
cultural and heritage destination enjoys its fare share of tourism inflow. The
Corbett National Park one of the most popular National Parks in the northern
region for the wildlife enthusiast as well as the holiday makers is changing the
way wildlife tourism. These National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries are
promoters of wildlife tourism in India.
India has its fair share of Tiger Reserves. Indias National
Animal, the tiger happens to be a symbol of strength and speed. India boasts of
two-dozen Tiger Reserves. The fastest mammal on Earth, the tiger happens to be
the joy and pride of India. The Royal Bengal tiger is amongst the most majestic
species of the tiger. Sixty percent of the total population of the wild tigers
in the world resides in India. Amongst the best-known tiger reserves in India is
the Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh. It is often referred to as the crown in the
wildlife heritage of India. Tourists at Bandhavgarh can spot Royal Bengal
Tigers, cheetals, leopard, gaur, sambhar, and many more faunal species. The
highly successful Project Tiger has shown once again that man can only undo in
small ways the loss and destruction of natural habitat due to continuous growth
and expansion of the population.
Indian wildlife has its share of native birds along with the
migratory birds. Several hundred species of birds can be spotted across India.
The Himalayan region is well known to be the natural habitat for the Pheasant,
griffon vulture and ravens. The Keoladeo Ghana National Park popularly known as
the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in the Indian state of Rajasthan, in close
proximity of Delhi, is home to indigenous water birds, waterside birds,
migratory water birds, land migratory birds, and domestic land species. Tourists
from far and wide are attracted to the Bird Sanctuary. At the Dudhwa wildlife
reserve migratory birds like Egrets, herons, storks and cormorants share space
with the ducks, gees and teals. The region of Andaman is home for the rare
species of birds like the Narcondum hornbill, Nicobar Pigeon and the Megapode.
Bandhavgarh National Park
Set amongst the Vindhyas, in Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh is a
small national park, but with the highest known density of tiger population in
India. This is also known as White Tiger territory. These have been found in the
old state of Rewa for many years. The other species found in abundance in
Bandhavgarh are The Gaur or Indian Bison, The Sambar, The Barking Deer and The
Nilgai.
The terrain is made of rocky hills, Sal forests and grazing
areas, formerly agricultural land. The finest of these hills is the Bandhavgarh
hill, and on its highest point stands Bandhavgarh Fort. Though no records remain
to show when the fort was constructed, it is believed to be about 2000years old.
Several dynasties have ruled the fort: for example, the Maghas from the 1st
century A.D, the Vakatakas from the 3rd century; the Sengars from the 5th
century, and the Kalachuris from the 10th century. The oldest signs of
habitation are the caves dug into the sandstone, near the fort. Several of these
contain Brahmin inscriptions dating from the 1st century B.C. Prior to becoming
a National Park, the forest range around the region had been maintained as a
Shikargarh, or game preserve, of the Maharajahs of Rewa. It was only in 1968,
that the area was declared as a National Park. Since then, stringent steps have
been taken to retain it as an unspoilt natural habitat.
Kanha: Madhya Pradesh
The Kanha National Park, in Madhya Pradesh, forms the core of
the Kanha Tiger Reserve created in 1974, under Project Tiger. Stretching over
940sq km, the vegetation, chiefly made of Sal and bamboo forests, grasslands and
streams, this park is the sole habitat of the rare hard ground barasingha.
The forests of the Banjar valley and Halon valley,
respectively forming Kanha's western and eastern halves, had even, at the turn
of the century, been famous for their deer and tiger population. By a special
statute in 1955, Kanha National Park came into being. Since then, a string of
stringent conservation programmes have been launched, for the overall protection
of the park's fauna and flora. It is one of the most well maintained National
Parks in Asia, and a major attraction for avid wildlife buffs all over the
world.
Fauna: Kanha boasts of about 22 species of mammals. Some of
the inhabitants of this park are the gaur, the largest of the world's cattle;
The Sambar, The Largest Indian Deer; And The Chausingha, The Only Four-Horned
Antelope in the world. Other frequent visitors include the Nilgai Antelope, The
Sloth Bear, The Dhole, Or Indian Wild Dog, and an occasional Panther. Some 200
species of birds inhabit the park that includes the Cattle Egret, Black Ibis,
Hawk Eagle and The Red-Wattled Lapwing. Shravantal is an old, earthen bound tank
in the central Kanha meadows, which happens to be an important watering hole,
for a large number of waterfowl in winter. Bamni Dadar, known as Sunset Point,
is the most beautiful section of the park, and the view of the sunset from this
spot is absolutely mesmerising. Quite a few animals can be sighted around this
area, which include The Sambar, Gaur, The Four-Horned Antelope and The Barking
Deer.
The Barasingha is undoubtedly, the jewel of Kanha, and drastic
steps have been taken to rescue it from complete extinction. The enlargement of
the grasslands, through village reallocation, has been responsible for this
impressive achievement. Barasinghas exist almost totally on grass, and tall
grass meadows are essential for their security. At the height of winter, between
December and January, falls the rutting season of these animals, and huge groups
can be easily spotted in the Kanha and Sonph meadows. A small, but significant
number of Blackbucks also inhabit the central Kanha meado
But for all the astonishing diversity in its wildlife
population, Kanha is best known as the habitat of the Tiger. Sighting and
photographing this magnificent animal from Elephant back, is an unforgettable
experience
Footprint Handbooks To get the most out of your trip we
strongly recommend you find out as much as possible about your destination.
There is no better way to do this, than by reading a Footprint Handbook. You can
order direct from: Footprint Handbooks 6 Riverside Court Lower Bristol Road Bath
BA2 3DZ Tel: 01225 469141 Fax: 01225 469461 E mail: info@footprintbooks.com
India Handbook 9th edition Robert & Roma Bradnock ISBN 1 900949 41 5
£15.99
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