Friday, July 20, 2018
Renowned for inspiring Rudyard Kipling’s famed The Jungle Book, this storied section of India is a hotbed of history, culture, and encounters with one of nature’s most mystical creatures.
If beholding one of the earth’s oldest and best-preserved ancient cultures isn’t reason enough to visit India, the promise of spotting a beautiful and elusive tiger in its natural habitat should be.
A popular destination for wildlife enthusiasts and one of the most idyllic places in India to catch glimpses of Royal Bengal tigers is the region surrounding Nagpur - it is here that adventurers will explore otherworldly flora and fauna where barking deer, spotted deer, gaur (a type of wild cattle), blackbuck and nilgai (two species of large antelope), wild boar and the less commonly seen leopard, jungle cat, sloth bear and wild dog often roam.
On this tour designed with responsible, sustainable ecotourism in mind, following your arrival to the capital city of Delhi, Terra Incognita Ecotours has organized a seamless eight-day expedition through three famed, tiger-rich habitats: Pench National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park, and Kanha National Park.
Following a short flight to Nagpur, you’ll experience Pench National Park, a tropical deciduous forest with small hills, meadows and varied landscapes that remain relatively little-known in the region. At over 290 square miles, there are 32 species of mammals within the park’s borders, nearly 200 bird species, and though tigers tend to be more elusive in this region, the likelihood of spotting them here is still high.
In Bandhavgarh National Park, along with its impressive tiger population and additional wildlife species – the leopard, wild boar, sloth, rhesus monkey and a myriad of birds among them – it’s the temples, 10th-century shrines and hand-carved hermit caves nestled within lush tropical forests that earn top billing from visitors. The Bandhavgarh fort, which sits at 807 metres high and offers a spectacular view of the area, is also a draw.
At Kanha National Park, the oldest and largest of its kind in India, there are significant numbers of roaming Royal Bengal tigers, myriad spotted deer, barasingha deer, herds of gaur (wild cow), along with impressive numbers of leopards and wild dogs. Grasslands and riverbank areas are plentiful in this region – it’s here that Rudyard Kipling is said to have been inspired to write The Jungle Book – and visitors will appreciate the stellar, safari-like viewing perspectives these areas create for tiger spotting.
Throughout this tour, Terra Incognita Ecotours is proud to select and support locally owned and operated lodges and outfitters, purchase local goods and services, and employ local experts while exploring the beauty of India. Terra Incognita Ecotours is also happy to donate to Waste Warriors, a voluntary organization committed to training and educating people about the importance of cleaning, recycling, and reducing waste throughout the country.