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View Full Version : The Mukki angle of Kanha-An early winter visit Nov 2013



Shyamala Kumar
12-03-2014, 08:11 PM
1 Kanha is a vast 1900sq km of exquisite biodiversity spreading across the districts of Gondia and Mandla in Central India.Of this 900sq km is the core area It is the original setting for Rudyard Kiplings Jungle Book.So far we had only entered Kanha through the Kanha kisli gate,staying at our favourit place- Baghira lodge, which is within the forest boundary and located on a waterhole.This waterhole is visited by nearly all the forest denizens. Our route then was Nagpur-Seoni-Chiraidongri-Kisli.

2 Since Nagzira was one of our destination this time, we decided to viisit Kanha via the the Mukki gate and experience a different type of terrain.The route was Sakoli-Gondia-Balaghat-Baihar-Mukki .For this we had to leave the NH6 ahead of Sakoli and drive northwards along SH26 a distance of about 225km taking into account a minor digression at Baihar were the irrational monsoons this year had practically washed away about 30km stretch of state highway

3.It was a beautiful drive through forestland .Of course there were the inescapable crowded villages and a few polluted townships in between.One is learning to accept violation of nature has become part of the Indian psyche.Reaching Mukki around lunchtime we found that Mptdc run Mukki safari lodge located on the edge of the scenic Banjar river.

4 While I was there I heard that there was an attempt to re- introduce the Black Buck to Kanha.An earlier attempt to do so had not been successful

4.The very first safari confirmed my belief that the terrain was different from Kisli.Firstly there were the swamps and what was most heartening,frequent sightings of Barasinghas.It was cold during the early morning safaris, probably because of the large shallow waterbodiesThe forest roads were across bunds with the swamps stretching out on both sides .

5.There was also the dense tall forests of Sal the trademark of Kanha.The guide and the driver seem to think that our visit would be fruitless unless we sighted a tiger or a leopard.The most frustrating part of the safaris was that they kept zipping up and down in pursuit of the ever elusive tiger and leopard and refusing to stop for the lowly bird or herbivore .Only towards the end of safari time did they allow me to take shots of these lesser animals.By this time the sun was up and both the birds and hebivores had moved into the shade( during the morning safaris) or the light was too low to take a decent shot( during the evening safari).

Shyamala Kumar
12-03-2014, 08:19 PM
This river which is the largest tributary of the Narmada runs through the Mukki area of Kanha giving it both vitality and beauty.

Shyamala Kumar
12-03-2014, 08:24 PM
When the sun came up they moved to the edge of the swamp to dally and rest.

Shyamala Kumar
12-03-2014, 08:29 PM
The rivulets are an intrinsic part of the the Kanha landscape

Shyamala Kumar
12-03-2014, 08:33 PM
It is a heartening sight to see this herd composed solely of does.

Shyamala Kumar
12-03-2014, 09:10 PM
I saw that only the males were wading and grazing in the swamps.

Shyamala Kumar
13-03-2014, 11:01 AM
Wading with the Barasinghas ,busy fishing in the shallow depths among the bulrushes.

Roopak Gangadharan
16-03-2014, 12:00 PM
Nice brief on Kanha. Never been there....the scapes look lovely.Must be fantastic in the early winter mornings.

TFS
Roopak

Mrudul Godbole
18-03-2014, 04:49 PM
Lovely landscapes showing the habitat in Mukki (Kanha). The guides are same everywhere, they feel sighting a tiger or leopard will earn them some good tips :-(. Thanks for sharing the information regarding the travel.

Saktipada Panigrahi
19-03-2014, 06:41 AM
Lovely landscape(s). Prof. APJ Kalam said: 'The most beautiful things in the world are Free'. How fortunate I am when I think that I have stayed in Kanha FRH, Mukki and Kisli. I enjoyed all the places.

Roopak Bhai,
Here is a young man who used car as a hide and presented me a photograph of Barn Owl, considered so auspicious in W. Bengal; via IndiaWilds in the very evening of Laxmi Puja.
I was shocked to learn that you have not visited Kanha till date. And Kaziranga. Please make it a point,
We All will be very happy.
Kind regards,SaktiWild

Thanks for sharing.SaktiWild

Roopak Gangadharan
21-03-2014, 10:00 AM
Shakti da, in fact the whole of the North East and sunderbans is still only a dream. Hoping to make that a reality in June-July this year. In central India I have missed out on Kanha and Tadoba in particular. I know it is inexpiable for a nature lover from india...doing my best to strike a balance between the heart and daily bread.....:)

Rgds
Roopak