Wednesday, December 17, 2008

The long road to Eden



Until a few years ago, the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary was more famous for the notorious bandit and sandalwood smuggler Veerappan than its Tigers and a multitude of fauna! The Special Task Force (STF) brought down the curtain on him sometime in 2004 and the National Park has since then been steadily attracting many visitors.

On December 12, 2004, during a biking expedition along with friends, I decided to take this picture while we were at the edge of the National Park. Stopping for a while, I noticed the eerie silence that engulfed us suddenly. Although I wanted to spend a few minutes more at the location, I was advised against it and was constantly reminded that I was now 'on foot' in Tiger country!

It is not unusual for one to spot a Leopard or for that matter a Tiger itself. Spotted Deer, Elephants, Peacocks, Langurs and Macaques are a common sight. An early morning or a dusk-time drive through the park can reward one with many an interesting sight. As part of Project Tiger, which was initiated by then Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, the National Park holds immense significance and is one of the last vestiges of the great Indian Tiger. Although conversation efforts are underway to highlight the need for preservation of the species, which amounts to a mere 1400 in number, a great deal more needs to be done if we are to ensure that our children be able to catch a glimpse of this magnificent creation.

Footnotes

A dream comes true

50 comments:

  1. A very appropriate label....Picture perfect. The turning of the road leaves one wondering as to where it will take you to.Beautiful.

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  2. this road led to nostalgia for me. thank you so much. had visited bandipur/madumalai in 1984!! have some wonderful memories of the edenic place!

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  3. When the stars threw down their spears,
    And water'd heaven with their tears,
    Did He smile His work to see?
    Did He who made the lamb make thee?

    Yeah!!! Beautiful lines of William blake... The Tiger..

    Loved the pic too..

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  4. http://basicallythejobless.blogspot.com/2008/12/its-raining-in-my-mirage.html

    Do drop in for surprise chetta

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  5. I've been there too :) an awesome place. Loved it :)

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  6. nice snap..
    the road is tempting me to visit this eden

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  7. beautiful!! would love to be there someday!!

    tc

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  8. Acha, Road to Eden is via Madumalai?? is it, Rak? :)

    Then I should be there...
    i don't mind walking on foot, even if the road is long...

    living in this world is worse being pounced upon by a tiger..

    thanks to Indira Gandhi, the species isn't extinct!! :))

    Good post, dear :)

    wishes,
    devika

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  9. How do you find time to go to these places??!
    Just take the bike and leave?!
    I totally envy you!

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  10. cool pic..and dis space absolutely rocks!!!

    blogrollin ya bro..

    cheers.. :)

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  11. Beautiful tittle .
    So your dream has come true you now live close to a Wildlife sanctuary. You don't need to plan a trip anymore you just take your bike!!
    Lucky you!!!

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  12. I was supposed to be there in Mudumalai on the 26th of last month. It was an office trip and we cancelled it because of the Mumbai attack. What else would hold attention in Mudumalai apart from the sanctuary?

    Btw, nice snap!

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  13. Hey! nice pic and good writings.. little surprise, you travelled on Dec 2004, but why it took 4 years to published it....

    But must say you have a good memory with dates and experience i guess.

    Keep it up!!
    Cheers,
    Jay

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  14. I feel badly about crossing this road in night in May, missing the entire wonderful glimpse except few elephants in dark. We have save our national animal, the endanger species must be protected from humans occupation and disturbance. Nice post. loved the picture and wishes to visit again.

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  15. wow.. must have been a thrilling experience..

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  16. This one's for YOU!

    http://vivek1186.blogspot.com/2008/12/crapping-creatively.html

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  17. Ohh i have been to kaziranga...and was at the MP one near panchmari this year... i totally love thes kinda trips....

    even when i am deployed at a new place i take out time the first night... and just walk barefeet for a few to get the feel of the place and apologies to mother nature for i have come to disturb her peace with my gun....call it silly but i do that !!

    and hey biking expedition ?? Hmm I must post pics of my RD then on the blog when I get back home :D

    I love biking trips... Let me know if u and your friends plan a trip to leh and all..ill arrage accommodation to u..just leave a buzz at sambywamby@gmail.com.....

    or else.. i u tell me in advance...sum of us may join you as well...

    Keep riding dude !

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  18. Such a magnificent animal. It will be a pity if our children could see the tiger only in pictures.

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  19. Let's hope we are on the way TO Eden, and not FROM Eden!

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  20. Old Monk

    Thanks very much for your vist & comments
    I miss Ooty very much and cannot agree with the humddrum of urban life!

    Rakesh

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  21. Magiceye

    1984!!!!! Phew that was a very long time ago! The place must have been truly close to heaven then, considering how urbanization and settlements have left an irrepairable mark on the place now!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  22. Bharath

    Blake is my all time favorite, for these very lines that he penned! Among my other favorites are; Wordsworth, Tennyson and Frost!
    Thanks for your comments and also for the very thoughtfful award that you have given me!

    I'm touched!

    Warm Regards

    Rakesh

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  23. Alice

    You are very welcome! India is a magnificient place and is a must visit, considering its multitude of culture and splendid beauty!

    Warm Regards

    Rakesh

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  24. Param

    Thanks very much for your visit and comments and also for blog-walking with me!
    Appreciate it!

    Do keep coming!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  25. Praveen

    Thanks very much! Indeed, it is a very tempting place, which captivates the visitor due to its beauty!
    One does not want to return from there!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  26. Satheesh

    You should visit Ooty and its surroundings sometime! It is a must visit!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  27. Devika Chechi

    Yes, the road to Eden is via Mudumalai ;)
    You should travel sometime for it is a breathtaking experience!

    And yes, I do agree to your thoughts! It is better to be eaten up by a Tiger than be subject to the cruel vagaries of this world

    Rakesh

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  28. Vivek

    I used to find ample time while I was permanently stationed in Ooty, but now things have changed!
    Much of these visits very impromptu, without any planning. I would however, always make sure to take my camera along!

    But now things have changed a great deal.

    Thanks very much for your award, which honours me!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  29. Multimenon

    Thanks very much for your visit, comments and for blog-walking with me!
    Thanks also for blog-rolling me!

    Its is an honour!

    Do keep visiting!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  30. Marie

    Thanks very much! Actually, I stay away from Ooty now and in a place called Pune which is about 1200 kms from Ooty!
    These trips were possible when I was in Ooty. Its been 4 years now that I have moved out and hence rarely get a chance to indulge with nature.

    However, the brighter side is that my parents are still stationed there and I get to visit them twice every year which is a welcome relief and absolute bliss!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  31. Vimmuuu

    You should travel to Mudumalai sometime to get a feel of the place. Also for the fact that it houses some, rather, many of the last remaining Indian tigers.
    Apart from the sanctuary, there is nothing else that would interest you, but I assure you that the trip will not be in vain!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  32. Jay

    I stashed away most of my pictures for posts later with an intention that be posted long after they have taken.
    The reason is very simple, memories are triggered and a great sense of nostalgia is evoked years after the event and one feels even more descriptive in words!

    As far as my memory goes, yes I am blessed with a good one.....but in this case, quite honestly, I have been good at archiving them with dates as a names for folders! Little way, I could forget ;)

    Thanks

    Rakesh

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  33. Jeevan

    You should make a dawn / dusk trip via this road and you will most certainly be treated with some of the best sights a man can get, I assure!
    True that we have to save the Tiger from burning out, for this wonderful animal needs to put in many many more decades of life on Earth, that being the least of it!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  34. Aria

    Yes, it was indeed a very thrilling experience, something like never before!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  35. Samby

    I guess that makes it more personal than the robotronic "Armyguy" ;)
    Have heard so much about Kaziranga, hope to visit someday! The sad part is that I often do not feel like returning from such trips!
    hey....the gunshots? Why? I mean...... whats the logic....? Just about to break the silence of the night???

    You know what? I still do not know how to ride a bike......but have been a pillion rider for over two decades now..... from Ooty, to Bandipur, to Mudumalai, to Bangalore, to Mangalore, Gurgaon, Delhi, Chennai, Shimla and Rohtang!
    Theres a certain thrill about being a pillion! One gets to use the camera at leisure on a moving bike!

    I need to goto Leh sometime, the closest I've been to is Rohtang, in 2006! I can't imagine what it would be like to be @ Leh!

    Will let you know, and perhaps, we could do that together sometime!!!

    Thanks Samby!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  36. Onkar

    Thanks very much for visiting and posting your comments!
    Appreciate it!

    Yes, it would be a pity if this wonderful animal would go down before our children can see it! We'll have blood on our hands!!

    Do keep visiting!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  37. Peter

    Indeed, lets hope that is not the case! But with the kind of deforestation thats happening, Eden will only be a part of the mind!

    Rakesh

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  38. Vibu

    I'm glad that you've been there! Its one of the most serene places that I've been to!

    To have such a place at the backyard of my place......priceless ;)

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  39. Shooting Star

    You should travel to this place someday to experience its true magnificence!

    Words cannot quite describe it!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  40. Yeah!!! Love them equally! who cannot, those daffodils,be it The Charge of the Light Brigade or Home they brought her warrior dead.. Stooping by woods on a snowy evening or "Good fence makes good neighbours"
    And Recently in the pretext of preparing for NET, have been reading Derek Walcott poems,, Give them a try! you may like them...

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  41. Deepak

    Yes, it is a great place indeed!
    A must visit

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  42. Bharath

    You spoke my mind out! I absolutely love the versus of the Daffodils, The Charge of the Light Brigade and Stopping by woods on a snowy evening! They make fantastic reads and inspire more than ever!

    Another of my fav was The Brook by Tennyson!

    Have not heard of Derek Walcott! Thanks for the info, I will certainly try!

    Warm Regards

    Rakesh

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  43. ohh...i meant whenever i am deployed in a new area... i take time out before any missions and just go take a walk...walk barefoot...caressing the soil or the grass...and say a silent sorry to mother nature for all the blasting and gunning i would be doing on her tomorrow morning... its a job that has to be done and she has to bear the pain... sorry :)

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  44. Yeah Samby

    A job, a difficult one @ that....but one that needs to be done at whatever cost!

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  45. Indeed, Mudumalai is one of the most gorgeous places to be...

    Had been there, in '95 :) It looks just as lovely as it used to then, with this beautiful pic :)

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  46. Usha Ma'am

    Oh yes! Nothing to beat Mudumalai down south! How I wish I could camp there 24/7 x 365!

    Thanks very much for your comments!

    Warm Regards

    Rakesh

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