[Rachit.K.Dogra]

Wow!! Lovely travelogue.
Since Sariska seems to be not too far from Gurgaon even I would like to plan a trip.

Thanks for the wonderful log and wonderful pics too. I guess the wild gives a perfect environment to hone one's photography skills too.

[sach.sri]

Originally Posted by Rachit.K.Dogra

Wow!! Lovely travelogue.
Since Sariska seems to be not too far from Gurgaon even I would like to plan a trip.

Thanks for the wonderful log and wonderful pics too. I guess the wild gives a perfect environment to hone one's photography skills too.

Thank you for liking the effort. This is true - a perfect getaway for a weekend if you are a wildlife enthusiast. Go with a open mind and you will not be dissapointed by the jungle. Dont make tiger sighting a one point agenda.

Of all my trips to Sariska - i have only sighted Tigers once. If you are lucky - the king of the jungle will give you an audience

Anyways - back to the TL.

We exited the jungle and went back to the hotel it was around 5.45 pm when we reached the hotel and getting chilly. We had a bonfire with cocktails and snacks programme lined up and the reception informed us that they will put that up at 7.30 pm.

All of us went to our rooms and freshened up - and then came down for the bonfire. I could not believe how cold it was once the sun had set - it was bone chilling and i was feeling cold even after wearing a thick jacket on top of a sweatshirt. Never felt this kind of cold in Rajasthan.

The night sky was amazing, crisp and clear with brilliant stars twinkling in the sky.

Bonfire was started and it certainly felt great and lifted up our spirits - all of us were enjoying the warmth when suddenly the wood in the fire started crackling and making popping sounds - this upset one of our little angels and she wanted to get as far away from the fire as possible and my son also picked up the idea and wanted to move far from the fire, thankfully we were able to convince him to stay.

The snacks were very nice and service was also good (only time when i can say this about Sariska Palace) - we started with the cocktails and soon it was a merry group with the singers amongst us regaling us with songs and the others pitching in.

We thoroughly enjoyed the evening with bonfire and songs - and before we knew it - it was getting late and we had to wind up. After a last song - we wound up and went in for dinner.

Folk dance



Dinner over - everyone went to their rooms to sleep early as we had to get up early in the morning for the morning safari next day. For the morning Safari some members from our group excused themselves as it was expected to be very cold in the morning.


Next day morning - alarm goes off at 6 am and we start the unpleasant process of dragging ourselves out of our warm beds and getting ready for the safari. I wore all the clothes that I could find and as I knew that it would be biting cold - we are prepared. I wore a warmer, then a full t-shirt on top, then a sweater, then a sweat shirt and finally a jacket. Gloves, muffler and cap formed the rest of the gear. I was packed so much that started feeling uneasy and had to take off my sweater.

Everyone came down and we trekked to the gate as Sariska Palace people dont allow outside Safari vehicles inside the premises. Finally at 7.15 am we started for the Safari.
It was very cold - and people had not come prepared even after my advisory of bringing a lot of warm clothes, so a some of the team was pretty cold and miserable as we were in an open gypsy for the safari.

To add to our woes - the jungle was silent and not even the deer and other animals were visible.
Our moods were matching the mood of the jungle - Grey.

We tried to track the tigers again - the news was that ST4 and ST5 were on the other side of the hills and ST6 and ST3 were at the same location as yesterday. So we again proceeded towards Kabri gate. But of no use - in between i again saw a deer with great looking antlers and stopped to take some pics. We also saw a group of spotted deer and sambhar deer at a waterhole drinking water and eating salt.







Reaching Kalighati - we again took a break and Harisingh went in to check out any new information from the jungle guards. The sun was coming up slowly and the jungle was becoming lively and a lovely shade of golden.

Harisingh came down - and - no news, no movement of the tigers. Looked like - we will again not be granted an audience by his majesty, the king of the jungle.

When we were contemplating on the course of action, Harisingh mentioned that we should go back trying to track the leopards as there were reports of leopard sightings yesterday - see my earlier post. How prophetic the words would be - we came to know in 5 minutes.

So we started back with a heavy heart and almost certain that we will not see any big cats in this trip - it was then that one of the guys mentioned that they got to see jungle cat yesterday. I was like - wow - this is a very rare catch, even rare sighting than a tiger so it was good that they saw it!

Anyways - we started back and Harisingh took us to Brahmnath Aniket, a watering hole on the side of a small bridge. As we were reaching there - suddenly we saw huge commotion - peacocks flying and making loud noise - AND - Harisingh shouted - leopard.

wow - leopards, i could not believe - and then we saw them - two sub adult leopards, playing with each other. a male and a female. Normally - a leopard is a very shy animal and is nocturnal as well. So sighting a leopard is very difficult and getting to click their pictures in peace and with time is like a dream come true.

So here we were - two gypsys and no one else - other than the 2 magnificent leopard. Playing and running around, climbing on trees and jumping on each other. Awesome is the word.

Under strict orders from Harisingh and Ramjilal (the driver) - no finger pointing, no getting up, no sudden moves and no noise - we sat and had our fill of watching them and capturing their beauty through our lens.

I clicked so many pictures that i filled up my memory card - i had not downloaded the pics in the evening yesterday and boy - was i regretting that now! Still i managed to get great pictures

The leopards were so busy with themselves that they paid us no heed - and we followed the instructions of Harisingh and the driver to not to disturb them. Suddenly we heard other gypsys approaching - and we knew that our time with the leopards is limited. Two more gypsys made their way to the place and Harisingh and the driver signalled to them about the leopards.

Still a big racket of excited people on being able to see a leopard. Like good citizens and gentlemen - we decided to bid adeau the magnificent beasts and start on our way back - ok ok, it was also getting time to get out of the jungle .

Let me now end the prose and let the pics do the talking.

[deky]

Did you not manage to get both the Leopards in the same frame?? Oh well I guess the hunger to see more and more of the elusive will never go!!

Beautifull pics and thank you!!

[sach.sri]

Originally Posted by deky

Did you not manage to get both the Leopards in the same frame?? Oh well I guess the hunger to see more and more of the elusive will never go!!

Beautifull pics and thank you!!

Thank you - and yes this hunger never goes away - and yes i did manage to get them both in one frame as well - i shot around 350 pics

uploading one very special pic of both of them in one frame.

I was planning to upload in batches and this would have come in due course of time - but like you i cannot control myself - so here you go

[sach.sri]

some issue with the server. Not able to upload any pictures?

[sach.sri]

more pics - starting with habitat shots and moving to closeups

[sach.sri]

Some more pics of the leopard.











look at the stare

[gd1418]

This was an awesome capture. But why is there so much of saturation?

Originally Posted by sach.sri

Attachment 859407

This I liked the best. But the photograph is slightly overexposed.

Originally Posted by sach.sri

Attachment 859950

[sach.sri]

Originally Posted by gd1418

This was an awesome capture. But why is there so much of saturation?

Thank you.
Not sure - if did not do anything here. Perhaps it was because of the color of the soil and light of day - not sure.
WB was in Auto mode

Originally Posted by gd1418

This I liked the best. But the photograph is slightly overexposed.

Thanks.

I also felt that - i think that this happened because of half shade and half sunlight in the composition.

I was not able to expose correctly - the camera metered for the dark area and that is why the one with sunlight were overexposed. Need to learn how to do this properly.

[Subrat Seet]

What luck you have. Superb. Leopard posing for you. Amazing.

[sach.sri]

Originally Posted by Subrat Seet

What luck you have. Superb. Leopard posing for you. Amazing.

Indeed. It was a Leopard sighting like none other. Per what i have heard - getting to see a leopard up close and personal and giving a relaxed sighting is very rare.

I think i am one of the very few lucky guys on tBHP to have had such an opportunity.

I did enjoy it mighty

[Coooolcat21]

Amazing lepord sightings and pictures. U indeed have been very lucky to have these leapords put up a complete show for you. Concerning luck factor, being a wildlife enthusiast I have been visiting the jungles for years now and have had no luck till date.
Waiting for more pictures.
Regards

[sach.sri]

Originally Posted by Coooolcat21

Amazing lepord sightings and pictures. U indeed have been very lucky to have these leapords put up a complete show for you. Concerning luck factor, being a wildlife enthusiast I have been visiting the jungles for years now and have had no luck till date.
Waiting for more pictures.
Regards

Thank you. More pics

[sach.sri]

Next lot of pics, includes pics where i was able to capture both of them in one frame.

[sach.sri]

One more set from the harvest. Enjoy

Continuing from the last post. Gazing at the horizon.


Teeth bared and looking at the tree. What is it?




The climb up. Playful?


The stare!






Looking right at me!!


Are you guys bored yet