Podcast: Stories of Journey Through Nature
Valley of Flowers
It is exactly 11 years since I trekked to the Valley of Flowers in August 2009… By August 2010, I had broken my hip bones and injured my left leg in a road accident, and any serious trekking has been ruled out ever since.
There are many times when I think regretfully, that I would have done more justice to the Himalayan wild flowers if I had the camera equipment, the experience and photography skill that I have today. When, in fact, I couldn’t have done any justice at all, if I had pushed the trip even by a year. I’m lucky to have seen the Valley of Flowers at all when I did.
When Shiv, from Journey Through Nature asked me if I’d like to share a travel story on his podcast, it gave me an opportunity to look back on, what I thought was going to be, a 30-minute episode filled with regrets. Instead, out poured a stream of vivid memories that surprised me with their freshness.
Here’s the story, a slice of a once-in-a-lifetime journey relived. Do join in:
Alpine Forget-me-not
A short film: Ranganathittu
In a collaboration with Rahul Aravind, aspiring filmmaker, I worked on a script for a short film on Ranganathittu. It was a lot of fun doing this project and I’m really impressed by how spot-on Rahul has been, on his first wildlife project, with blending the footages into the narrative. Do leave an encouraging feedback, if you like the video and subscribe to his YouTube Channel for more travel videos.
Blog post: Who grows the forest?
Malabar Pied Hornbill
Is it true that the wild simply grows itself? Who grows the forest? What does it take to grow a forest?
I explore these questions in a blog post for Evolve Back Resorts, Kabini, musing on the role of the Malabar Pied Hornbill, a fascinatingly unique bird commonly found in evergreen and deciduous forests of Karnataka.
Wildlife around Hampi
Hampi Virupaksha Temple
Hampi is a popular destination for travellers interested in history, culture and architecture. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site that takes at least a week to fully explore and appreciate its splendour in the past and its quiet dignity in the present.
Pillars in the Virupaksha Temple at Hampi
About 15 km from this iconic site is a protected wildlife sanctuary that very few have heard of. Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary was declared a protected forest reserve in the ‘90s to conserve the habitat of the sloth bears in the region. The rocky terrain and the arid habitat highlights the habits of the bears that roam the hills every evening.
Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary
A jeep safari in the afternoon through the reserve and a couple of hours at the watchtower overseeing the hills offer a good chance at watching bear families foraging for food from a safe distance.
Sloth bears at Daroji
Daroji, with its unique habitat is also a delight for birdwatchers. I write about two common bird species - the Grey Francolin and the Painted Sandgrouse, observed in the area in a blog post for Evolve Back Resorts. While the Grey Francolin is a well-known bird to anyone familiar with the Indian rural countryside, the Painted Sandgrouse is an elusive bird with an air of mystery around it.
Painted Sandgrouse at Daroji
If you’re like me, you would not want to miss the early morning chatter in the wilderness. A drive around Hampi, close to the river or simply on the main road away from human activity will reveal some surprises.
Indian Eagle-Owl
Woolly-necked Storks
The wildlife around Hampi are not crowd-pullers like the Stone Chariot or the Virupaksha Temple (perhaps a good thing!) but it certainly enriches the travel experience through a wholesome understanding of the place.
WWF India Calendar
Two of my images were featured in the WWF India Calendars for the year 2017.
The wall calendar was themed ‘Felines’ and featured an image of the Rusty Spotted Cat that I had photographed in Bandhavgarh National Park in 2010. The Rusty Spotted Cat is the world’s smallest feline. Not much is known about its habits as it is rarely seen in broad daylight.
Here’s a popular BBC video of this adorable cat filmed in Sri Lanka: World’s Smallest Cat
The desktop calendar themed ‘Nature’ featured an image of the Himalayan Fleabane, a wild flower of the daisy family, photographed in the Valley of Flowers in 2009.
Nightlife in the Tropical Rainforests - a blog feature
A feature on the Evolve Back Coorg blog on the experience of sighting Malabar Gliding Frogs, a species unique to the tropical rainforests of Western Ghats.
Read the blog post here - Under the veil of rain and darkness
Swarajya Mag: Winter Birding in Ranganathittu
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, a group of islets in the River Kaveri near Mandya, is a chosen nesting site for hundreds of birds that fly in from Eurasia. A two-hour-drive for me. The ease of access from an urban metro makes us underplay its enormous significance and take this magical place for granted. It’s easy to discount our blessings. That’s why when I got an opportunity from Swarajya, to write about any place of natural interest, I chose to write about Ranganathittu, a place I have known and loved since childhood. A place I’ve grown to appreciate more and more.
Read the article from March 2018 here - The Spectacular Festival Of Avian Visitors: Glimpses From Ranganathittu
For more images, visit the image gallery for Ranganathittu.
