Tadoba ,4Jun 08

Tadoba is a protected wildlife habitat near Chandrapur,Maharashtra.It lies about 45 km in the north-east direction of Chandrapur town.Earlier it was called as Tadoba wild life sanctuary.But later on its area was increased and Andhari range and Kolsa range were also added to it. Now it is combinedly called as Tadoba-Andhari Tiger project.Currently there are 42 Tigers in this area.We visited Tadoba in the early hours of 4 June 08.That early morning there were light continuous showers and the climate was perfectly pleasant for a forest outing.After hiring a forest guide we started our round at about 7.00am in the morning.Being a cool wet morning , our chances to spot a tiger were quite less , but we were in high spirits to appreciate the flora and fauna of the place.

The first spotted animals were a herd of Chitals in a bush near the lake.Followed by this were a small group of Sambars nearby.A variety of water-birds could be seen near the lake.











As we moved to another area we spotted an Indian sloth bear . It was a adult bear roaming alone in the forest.Monkeys could be seen at various locations through out the forest.Also another common bird in the forest was the Red Wattled Lapwing.

As we were moving along the forest road we spotted a Peacock sitting majestically over a forest
tree-log beside the road.We had very little time to photograph it and the national bird quickly moved into the forest bushes.



On the banks of Tadoba lake we spotted a crocodile with its nostrils held above the water.We spotted a number of birds like Oriental Honey Buzzard, Indian treepie, Little Bee-Eater,White breasted Kingfisher,Black Ibis,Painted stork,Egrets,Indian pond heron, Long legged buzzard and Purple Moorhen.


Driving a vehicle and simultaneously photographing the birds is quite a hectic task.As such we were not able to photograph some of the birds like Quails,Common Hoopoe,Woodpecker,Greater racket tailed drongo, and Asian Paradise fly catcher
Towards the end of our round we spotted a Wild Boar.We could not spot a tiger in this tour.Nevertheless we enjoyed the eco-tour and took lasting memories with us.
Currently the forest canteen near Tadoba lake is closed .Also the resting spot inside the forest is closed .Also the forest department lodges which were quite affordable for tourists (as compared to MTDC resorts) are closed.This is a matter of inconvenience for the tourists.

Mainpat

Mainpat is a little known hill station in northern Chhatisgarh.It is about 70 Km from Ambikapur, the district headquarters of Surguja district.It is mainly inhabited by the Tibetans who migrated to India in 1950's and 60's . Till now Mainpat does not have any tourist lodges or restaurants.A small government rest house is available at Mehta point.
On a fine summer evening in May 2007 , we decided to drive to Ambikapur.We started late in the evening from Rihandnagar(Bijpur,UP).We stayed overnight at hotel Basant, Ambikapur, and next day started our journey to Mainpat, in the early hours.
It was a fine morning and we halted at a roadside motel for our breakfast.We reached Mainpat at around 10.00 am. Mainpat is a widely dispersed village situated atop the hills.As our vehicle maneuvered the zig-zag, pot-holed uphill road , we reached the Tiger point.This point is just at the entrance of the village of Mainpat. Here there is a check dam and a waterfall in the downstream .Forest department is coming up with small rest houses near this picnic spot.
Our next destination was the Buddhist monastery situated inside the village.It was a beautiful and peaceful place where a Buddhist Lama welcomed us and informed us about the Tibetans and the monastery at Mainpat. The Mainpat village has been settled by the migrants from Tibet and as such the village has a very different ambiance from other Indian villages.The various colonies of the village are called camps and they are widely distributed in the hill-top forests.The people are quite friendly and helpful.
Next we visited the Machli point situated deep inside the forest .The Machali point has a beautiful waterfall.On the upstream of this waterfall is a check dam which is a popular picnic spot and a possible camping site.
Our final destination was the Mehta point.It has small government rest house and a view point overlooking a beautiful , serene and green valley.Also a large lake is near by.


In conclusion Mainpat is a virgin eco-tourist spot and the travelers in search of new destinations would definitely appreciate it.


A suggestion : If you are planning to visit Mainpat, then it would be a good idea to be in group of 5 or more and have your own camping facilities. Mainpat is not for the ordinary tourists.It is for them who are energetic and love adventure and exploration.