Sonzy’s Blog

Ranthambhore, deemed as the best place to spot the Wildest of cats, is indeed amazing. We chose to be there on this New Year’s eve and luckily got a room. Some people place Ranthambhore much above Corbett and if you go by the hotel industry, it appears to be true. Oberoi and Aman resorts both have their resorts here, and boasting of the most expensive room-tariffs. Oberoi’s Vanyavilas sells for Rs. 41,000 per room night in the season. Aman-i-khas sells for even more. The other good resorts that I liked are Sher Bagh, which matches Aman-i-khas in luxury but quotes less than half of its price. Khem-villas, the property by Fateh Singh Rathore, Welcomheritage’s Ranthambhore Forest Resort, where we stayed. Nahargarh Fort (by Alsisar) and RTDC’s Jhoomar Baori is very good in the heritage category.

We started from Faridabad and thanks to Yahoo maps, I could chart my street-map from Faridabad to Sawai Madhopur through the Bharatpur-Dausa-Lalsot route. Not many people know that this route does not have “broken” roads and can be shorter than the “Via-Jaipur” one. If you take the jaipur route, please note that the road after Tonk to Sawai Madhopur is bad. Anyways, we reached our destination in exactly 8 hours by road. Taking a train is sensible. Golden Temple Mail from Delhi takes about 6 hour.

Ipshita, the Zila Collector’s wife was very courteous to have us and I must give her credit for the unmatched hospitality. On 31st Dec 2007, we started our afternoon Safari into the Jungle. Just briefly into Zone 3 with a Guru-of-the-Jungle driver, Yoginder ji, we spotted two cubs lazing in the sun. This “lucky” sighting of  black stripes on the yellow coat was a treat. It looked as if a thirsty person has just quenched himself in the heat of Arizona.

A little further and deep into the Jungle, we found another one sitting quietly for his prey, the sambars and deers nearby. It got up slowly and moved. We all hushed ourselves not to disturb him, for he is the king of the moment. Treading slowly across the gypsy-path, it moved to the other side and latched on to the deers. Sambar gave a call and everyone scattered for their lives. Made my day. Really. Before this day, I never thought that watching or spotting this heavy-top-cat can be amusing. But now I believe it is, and the people who come from around the world, get their money’s worth only when they spot the tiger. Sadly, not on their first safari, but mostly on 2nd or 3rd trips.

We spent our eve at the Bonfire setting done by Nahargarh fort and welcomed the 2008 with fireworks. It was fun, for sure.
Next time, we plan to stay at the Sher-Bagh in a tented accomodation.

- Sonzy.