Bandipur was the destination of choice for a quick family getaway on one of the recent long weekends. Few reasons for the choice. a) Was yearning for a wilderness experience b) Had never been on a proper safari in Bandipur before. The only thing I remember was the 30min long Forest department safari which kind of finished in a blink. Only thing we saw was an Indian Grey mongoose which just so happened to come onto the jeep track....
Indian Eagle Owl (Bubo bengalensis), also known as the Rock Eagle Owl or the Bengal Eagle Owl is a large, horned owl found across the hilly, rocky scrub-forests of the Indian Subcontinent. The cat-like long ear tufts, those big glowing eyes and the majestic size are unmistakable. Quite widely distributed across India, this species is found all over. However, the place I most love to see them in, is the amazing capital town of the erstwhile Vijayanagar empire, Hampi....
Chameleons are those beautiful reptiles which, as all know, have the ability to change their skin colour. Their independently moving eyes are truly a marvel of nature and captivating too. Their slow, bobbing movement is very characteristic as well. It has always been a wish of mine to see one in the wild. It had been eluding me for all this while. Early this December, I was leading a bird photography tour to the fabulous place of Hampi....
Hampi, in Karnataka, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is very well known for the unearthed ruins which serve as a testament to the exemplary skill, exceptional planning and amazing grandeur of the erstwhile Vijayanagar empire. A place that was very prosperous, wealthy and a major trading hub, attracting people from far and beyond. The many hillocks around Hampi also offer a grand view of the sunset and sunrise. A visit to one is always on the itinerary of every traveler to the place....
Nights in a rainforest are far from being a silent affair. The whole forest seems to come alive as the darkness sets in. While the day time performers of a musical symphony are the cicadas, the nights belong to the crickets. And if it is monsoon season, the multitude of frogs chime in with their vocal contributions. The rhythmic music of crickets accompanied by the high pitched tones of the frogs, the spooky calls of a nightjar or an owl, the gurgling sounds of the many streams breaking through their rocky paths, the soft, chill breeze blowing through the leaves and branches of tall trees, among many others, are what characterise a rainforest night....