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Harshad Barve
01-27-2010, 10:05 PM
Dear all
I had my 600mm in dec 2008 and I was raring to go somewhere. So in quick time me and Kaustubh kale (BPN FP) decided to visit Pench & Bandhavgarh for few days.
Schedule was un-decided and as we were having holidys no worries about time. We started off from Aurangabad and in 10 hrs we were at gate of Pench.
Day-1
We hired a gypsy and entered park, We were welcomed by pair of changable Hawk eagles but it was pretty dark to photograph them. we decided to keep our eye on searching
tigers instead of wasting time in birdwatching. Morning was chilly one and no luck for stripes or spots. We had some wonderful time with woodpeckers and
collared scop owls. 10-30 in morning & we were out of park. Had a fabulous MP style Lunch and short nap which was no more short and at 2.30
our gypsy driver came with a wake up call
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/30/gypb.jpg (http://img97.imageshack.us/i/gypb.jpg/)

Afternoon was quite pleasant and we decided to search tiger around waterholes. Near one waterhole we found fresh and wet pugmarks of tigress.
After following pugmarks for 1/2 km on a curve , we found tigress walking infront of us. We all were overjoyed and Tigress was kind enough to offer
us few images. After looking back , she started her lone walk again. It was amazing experience to follow Tigress. Graceful walk , slender body &
majestic looks. She spray marked some trees and eneterd in bushes. After driving for some time we heard a call of Langoor for Leopard. We followed
calls but no luck. Time was ticking and we had to come out of park

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/793/tigerbw.jpg (http://img8.imageshack.us/i/tigerbw.jpg/)

Day-2
We decided to track leopard instead of tiger as it was lifer for me. We entered the park and were lucky to get Langoor calls for Leopard.
After tracking for some time we sighted Leopard in bushes and it was not at all possible to make any images. In desperacy I fired 10 frames
out of which two were good enough to make portraits. I was amazed to see beuty of Leopard in wild. Ten years in wildlife , countless visits
and zillions of prayers paid off that day as leaopard grants us the wish to see him in wild. After some time he just jumped inside the forest
leaving tears of joy in our eyes.After this ride we drove to Bandhavgarh and were welcomed by my old friend and super naturalist Rajiv Singh aka Pinku . We retired the day with delicuous MP food and nice beer

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/8778/leopardportrait.jpg (http://img10.imageshack.us/i/leopardportrait.jpg/)

Day-3
Pinku was ready in the morning & we went inside the park with wish to see Tiger in his own land and we were greeted by plauqe ,saying AAGE BAGHON KA
ELAKA HAI ( Tiger country ahead )

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/4733/tigerfun4.jpg (http://img714.imageshack.us/i/tigerfun4.jpg/)


We had a news of tigershow from elephant back and decided to grab the chance.She was waking along the lantana bushesh & I learned that
one small step for a big tigress can magically transform one small moment in Eternity to Eternity in one small moment! What an experience!
Afternoon ride was one best time I have ever spent with tigers. Two sub-adult male tigers we sighted and one was shooted with 18-200 at 100mm. The ultimate power of Tiger was realized by me and I fall in love
of these two hunks for ever.

Day-4
We were in park at 6am and were greeted by Changable hawk eagle. He was juvenile but with full grace and attitude. Morning had no luck with tigers
and we decided to visit fort. It started pouring rains at 10-30 and we enjoyed jungle in full rains. No question of sighting and photography.
Pinku was confident of sighting Two hunks in evening ride. As we entered the park and drove towards damnar nullah we sighted one tiger sitting
inside the bush. After wait of nearly one hr he came out and offered us photoshoot of 15mins. In those 15 mins, lots of memory was burnt
and I came back hotel with some real nice images

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/6518/tiggu.jpg (http://img8.imageshack.us/i/tiggu.jpg/)


Day-5
It was my long cherished dream to watch tiger walking in medows and this wish was fullfilled in evening
With phenomenal authority and magnetism she was waking in grass and grass blades were eager to hug the best ever creation of god , The TIGER
Wonderful light and beautiful Tigress made that evening amazing one. An experinece to last till my last breath and images which I can keep
under my pillow while I go to sleep

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/6523/jhurjhuramaa3.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/jhurjhuramaa3.jpg/)


Next morning we headed back and it was quite boring journey towards concrete jungles
All comments & suggations are welcome & much appreciated
Harshad

Chris Hansen
01-27-2010, 10:42 PM
Harshad,

What an incredible trip. One that you will remember for a long time. You got some beautiful images for both your mind and for your camera.
Thank you for sharing them with us. I hope someday that I can visit your country and see them for myself.

God bless,

chris

Indranil Sircar
01-27-2010, 11:44 PM
Great trip report... excellent images. TFS

Fabs Forns
01-27-2010, 11:46 PM
Terrific tale, I felt like I was there with you during the whole journey.

I hope this is the first of many long trips reports here

Thanks, Harshad :)

Gus Cobos
01-28-2010, 05:14 AM
Harshadbhai,
This is one fantastic adventure. I like the story and the images are first class superb. Thank you for sharing this wonderful experience with all of the brothers and sisters here at BPN. This is the beginning of many, many more to come...:):cool:

Myer Bornstein
01-28-2010, 09:55 AM
A wonderful experience Thanks for sharing

Katherine Enns
01-29-2010, 01:33 AM
Harshad, what an amazing story, and such stunning photographs. I have been chasing North American wildlife for 32 years as a professional, your story is incredible, your photos... I am speechless!!! Thanks for sharing this experience. Awesome!!!

kat

Alfred Forns
01-30-2010, 01:59 PM
Had to read it twice and still looking at the images !!! Sweet Big Congrats ... and thank you !!!

Dave Leroy
01-30-2010, 08:53 PM
Lots of emotion in the writing about all the animals you saw Harshad, and your photos show it. Good for you. Dave

Jackie Schuknecht
01-30-2010, 09:38 PM
Great series Harshad enjoyed them both. Your love of tigers is obvious. What an experience it must be to see them in the wild, and be free,

Steve Kaluski
01-31-2010, 03:03 PM
Harshad, if this promotes people to come and see Tigers then great. It would then perhaps change the mind set of poachers, to realise that they (the Tigers) are more valuable ALIVE than some trophy, rug or medicine!

TFS
Steve;)