Exploring the Great Indian Outdoors

[nilanjanray]

This thread is about sharing my photos and experiences from my numerous trips to the jungles and mountains. For long trips, I will be creating separate travelogues. For the rest, I will use this thread. This thread will be more of a photologue...

I love the outdoors. Whenever I get a chance, I head out, even if for a day. Nowadays I have the perfect vehicle to support my passion (I have done many such trips even in my Indica, so it is the desire that counts, not the vehicle).

Starting this thread with some pictures from a somewhat recent trip. A one day trip, quick dash and back. Saw all the common herbivores...not a single carnivore. Pity.

The 'Bison' - my Black Fortuner. All stock, except two Lightforce Blitz spots in the front.


Jungle trail


A bemused Gaur


Leggy fawn


Sunset


Sambars in a jungle pond


Kinsfolk


Close up of the Sambars. Notice the two birds...


Forgot the name of this pigeon species...great looking, shot from far away


A budding 8-pointer...what a head he will have!


Reflections, B&W.


Another Sambar mom (her baby - not in the photo - was right below her)

Serpent Eagle...pity about the lighting and distance.


Next 4 photos - elephant family coming for a drink at a jungle lake






Notice the tiny snout poking out below mom's stomach...


A huge Sambar stag. Shot from a dstance.


Dragonfly shot with a 70-300mm lens


Barking deer, or Kakar


Bad manners...chewing with mouth open in public


A big Cheetal stag


Focus was on the youngster


A very small bird...forgetting its name


Waiting for fish

[Sandyboyz]

You've got yourself some nice pictures. Where did you head out to? How did the Fortuner feel on the roads inside the Sanctuary (I'm assuming you went to a sanctuary)? Did you get to do any water crossings?

[mallumowgli]

Great start. Naming the locations would also be welcome - like accessability, any special permits to visit etc

The birds - the first maybe the Yellow footed Green Pigeon and the second bird (the one in the second from last snap) looks like the Pied Bushchat

Waiting for more pics

[BlackPearl]

Awesome pictures and 5 star as usual. The tiny snout one is the best .

[parsh]

Lovely snippets from your travels. I would also like to know about each pic which place and when it is so it will be good for reference. Where are those Elephant herds from?
The Dragonfly is quite a capture, I can understand the pains you must have gone thru to get it as I experienced similar for getting them and butterflies with my 300mm in Micro. Looking forward to more.

[nilanjanray]

Thaks folks. As I mentioned, this is not specific to a particular trip, but will cover past and future trips to the Outdoors.

Originally Posted by Sandyboyz

You've got yourself some nice pictures. Where did you head out to? How did the Fortuner feel on the roads inside the Sanctuary (I'm assuming you went to a sanctuary)? Did you get to do any water crossings?

While during this trip I didn't drive much on trails, the Fortuner is great on hilly and jungle tracks. I try not to do a water crossing if I can avoid it, because every water crossing has to be followed by proper checking, greasing etc. FYI, it can wade through 700mm of water in stock form, as per technical specs. That is a lot of water.

Some offroading pictures are there in my other threads.

Originally Posted by mallumowgli

Great start. Naming the locations would also be welcome - like accessability, any special permits to visit etc
The birds - the first maybe the Yellow footed Green Pigeon and the second bird (the one in the second from last snap) looks like the Pied Bushchat

Waiting for more pics

These pictures are from around the BR Hills area. Thanks for identifying the birds - someone had pointed out the names in the jungle, but I forgot. I see the small one even in Bangalore.

Originally Posted by BlackPearl

Awesome pictures and 5 star as usual. The tiny snout one is the best .

Thanks. I didn't notice the tiny calf when I was looking with my naked eyes. Was a nice surprise.

@parsh: usually I go to the Nilgiri forests, but these pictures were taken in BR Hills. The dragonfly - yeah, it is a challenge clicking such pictures with a non-macro lens, especially since it is difficult to get close.

The first Fortuner picture was taken in Dandeli Sanctuary. Was lucky to capture some Malabar Giant Squirrel pictures during that trip - they are posted here: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifti...ml#post2729459 (The Official non-auto Image thread)

[gd1418]

A nice thread with some great pictures; specially the B&W ones.

Every year I get older & some of the body organs start weakening. Eyes are one such. Try as much as I could, I couldn't spot the second bird in this picture..!

Maybe you could help?

Originally Posted by nilanjanray

This thread is about sharing my photos and experiences from my numerous trips to the jungles and mountains. For the rest, I will use this thread. This thread will be more of a photologue...

Close up of the Sambars. Notice the two birds...

Attachment 912963

[Sutripta]

^^^
Brow of the sambhar facing the camera.

Regards
Sutripta

[VindyWheels]

Hi Nilanjan,

Great pictures as usual and brings out the jungle at its best. I loved the sunset pic.

Were the b&w pics shot with camera set in b&w mode or did you convert them later?

Would be helpful if you could post the pics of the resorts too and mention your rating for each on atleast these parameters - the jungle around, the stay, food and price. Can be a great thread for people planning for jungle trips.

Cheers

VW

[dkaile]

Absolutely fabulous thread. That's what living is all about. Now you need to get some nice Tiger shots into your kitty.

Keep updating and happy revving with the 'Bison' !

[nilanjanray]

Thanks folks.

Originally Posted by VindyWheels

Hi Nilanjan,

Were the b&w pics shot with camera set in b&w mode or did you convert them later?

Would be helpful if you could post the pics of the resorts too and mention your rating for each on atleast these parameters - the jungle around, the stay, food and price. Can be a great thread for people planning for jungle trips.

Converted to B&W later. When shooting wildlife, focus is on just getting the shot...

My #1 criterion is 'the jungle around' and then stay experience. When I travel with my daughter (4 years old), the choice of places change a bit (e.g. whether there is place to play around, whether there is room service, whether there is fencing etc.)

Will create a brief matrix of a few places I like and put up in a separate post.

Originally Posted by dkaile

Absolutely fabulous thread. That's what living is all about. Now you need to get some nice Tiger shots into your kitty.

Keep updating and happy revving with the 'Bison' !

Thanks. Took quite a few tiger photos when I drove to MP last year, will share. Some of them could be reposts.

Will also share pictures from the pre-Bison days, or pre-DSLR days. Had some interesting experiences then.

[mallumowgli]

Originally Posted by nilanjanray

Will also share pictures from the pre-Bison days, or pre-DSLR days. Had some interesting experiences then.

That should be quite a read...going by your post in Blackpearl's thread on Sandakphu. Bring it on!!

[sach.sri]

nice thread and pictures - specially liked the pictures of the Gaurs. So much power! i am yet to see one in real life.

[deepak_misra]

Great Photos.
It would be nice if you could mention the forest

Deepak

[nilanjanray]

I had driven down to Pench, Bandhavgarh and Kanha last year. Had done 1 safari in Pench, 5 in Bandhavgarh and 5 in Kanha. Was a hectic but enjoyable trip. These shots are from that trip. Some of them have been shared in other threads e.g. in my MP travelogue. Zero tiger sightings since then in the South! Am tempted to drive down to Tadoba sometime this year if I get time. Should be easily doable in a day from Bangalore with early start.

Wonder why the tigresses always look as if they could tear you apart, and the tigers seem so much more chilled out?

Bandhavgarh tigress after a late afternoon dip in a pool


Glowering look! Unfortunately, I have seen that look more times than I have deserved from the deadlier sex...


Tigers in Kanha




Tigress calling for her cubs.


Tiger cub (more than 2 years old)


Tigress blind in one eye. Had a territorial fight with another tigress, killed and ate her (lost the eye in the fight), and then mated with Bamera. Proud mom now I hear...


Tigers in Kanha




Tigress carrying half eaten Sambar kill for her cubs


@ Deepak: the previous shots were taken in BR Hills.

@ Sach: surprised to hear that, given the number of trips you do! There are some huge ones in the MP forests and in Bandipur/Nagarhole. I came across one of the largest Gaurs I have seen in a Coonoor tea estate. You should see the rippling muscles of a prime male!

@ GD Saab: doesn't seem that anything is wrong with your eyes from your pictures :-)