Dandeli-Revisited

Dandeli-Revisited

After spending 3 days in Dandeli, as soon as i came back to Kolhapur, I called up Satya  straight away. I did so because I knew one thing for sure that informing Satya about such a wonderful place will guarantee my one more visit to this place. 

When we both decided to spend a weekend in the thick dense forests of Dandeli, one more adventure was adding to the taste of it, it was going to Dandeli from Kolhapur on Bike. Although the Bike passed all the endurance tests during the trip but just to add a bit of excitement to the trip threw up some tantrums at the culmination of the trip. 

After reaching Dandeli and having lunch it was time to feel depressed. The retreating monsoon was falling heavily over the entire valley, making us feel that all the dreams that we have weaved were about to be washed away. 


The clouds started clearing by the evening, and once the clouds got cleared we went to go to have a view of Sunset point. As we were uncertain about the rains, we decided not to carry our camera. Observing the sun coming down and seeing the shades of clouds and water change to the rhythm of setting sun was amongst the most soulful moments that can come across anyone.


In the night it was arranged that we would be going to Jungle Safari early morning by 4 o clock. In the morning we went to Safari and again not to mention we only came across a Sambhar Deer in the entire Safari. But a Giant wood spider, perhaps the biggest ever I have ever come across in my life was the catch of the Safari. The water droplets dripping down the web silk of the spider was one more sparkle in the entire spectacle. 

 A Giant Wood Spider

While coming back we enjoyed the bird watching trail lead by Anna, one of the things that I have always appreciated about Anna is the fact that how can someone being near to illiterate and having no knowledge of English  can have knowledge   about so many birds at the tip of the tongue. We came across Grey Wagtail, Red Whiskered Bulbul, the omnipresent Green Bee Eater, Falcon, on our bird watching trail. 

 A Grey Wagtail

But the most prized catch of this trail was fresh Pugmarks of a leopard. The stealth with which the leopard moves around i Jungles some how makes me believe that this feline would be able to survive through this poaching and loss of habitat threat. 

 Leopard Pug marks- Towards a Bleak Future

I still believe that Dandeli is perhaps the perfect paradise for bird watchers like me. The place not only have birds but also has some of the most vibrant and colourful butterflies and dragon flies. 

Crimson Rose

 

 A Female Purple Rumped Sunbird

A Female Loten's Sunbird 

After watching birds satya had a desire to watch the Malabar Pied Horn bill, and we roamed around 22 KMs to reach to the Timber yard area where it is supposedly a colony of Hornbills, but even after not having any sighting of Horn bill we were not at all disheartened, both of us were smiling on our decision to go to the Timber yard. It was a Malabar giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica), gracing on the perch of a tree and enjoying its meal. 

 Malabar Giant Squirrel

This was an amazing site to watch this Squirrel move from one bark of the tree to other, exploring the tree. The swift movements of this squirrel in its lusty and cozy skin overcoat were a treat to watch. Each snap that we took made us feel that we should click one more snap. Finally it was getting late and we paid our adieu to this magnificent Animal. 

It was time to say good bye to this wonderful place called Dandeli...   

Insect Life in Dandeli- Anshi Tiger Reserve.

I am yet to come across a better stress reliever for me then exploring the nature and Jungles. This extended weekend offered me yet again an opportunity along with my three cousins to explore the Jungles of Western Ghats. The reason why I always have loved to visit Western Ghats is the fact that it not only offers breath taking landscapes and kaleidoscopic view in to Animal life but also due to the fact the air flowing through the Jungles of Ghats is as pure as it gets. The Air has an invisible tint of Green shade mixed with it. This shade can only be felt when this air flows through the nose to the lungs.

We decided to go to “Dandeli Anshi Tiger reserve” near Belgaum. The Sanctuary offers one of the richest patches of wild life offered in the Western Ghats. The reserve boasts of a healthy feline population (13 Tigers, 37 leopards and around 41 black panthers). The sanctuary lies around the Kali river basin. The Kali river is called so because it flows on the Manganese bed, which gives it a black texture and hence the name. The 10 Km patch of Kali River has a population of around 200 crocodiles. The most interesting part of this crocodile success story is that there have been very few human- crocodile conflicts recorded, and very few of them fatalities out of these conflicts. The reserve also has back waters of the “ Supa Dam” providing other core water body for the animals and birds of the sanctuary.

Thanks to an excellent travel advisory by comrade Karamveer, we ensured that we our bookings were done in “The old Magazine House”, one of the properties owned and Managed by “Jungle Lodges and resorts Ltd”. And I must say that the decision proved every bit true. Thanks to the excellent location and knowledgeable staff of the “Old Magazine House”, the trip became so fruitful that I have decided to publish two more posts on my adventures in the Dandeli Anshi reserve.

In this post I will be sharing with you some of the photographs and my experiences of the insects found on the floor and on the woods of the reserve.

The Pill Millipede: This creature can be found on the floor of the jungles lying beneath the bio mass of the forest. 

They have thirteen body segments, and as a defensive strategy against predators, as soon as they sense a invasion in their territory they wound themselves up and form a ball. It’s a treat to watch them fold up in front of your eyes.

 

Spiders- “The Eight legged freaks”:

The Ghats are home to some of the most fearsome and spiders. Each one varies from each other in the dwelling place, hunting styles and persona.

The Signature Spider:

This spider weaves zigzag stripes in its web, and holds its legs together in pairs. It holds its legs in pairs to disguise itself as a four legged creature and to not appear to look like a spider. These spiders are bright coloured for a specific reason. The  bright colours of the spider attract insects such as bees and wasps making a easy meal for the spider.

The Wood Spider:

This spider belongs to the golden orb weaver family, and the silk is the strongest of any spider. They're said to be docile but, yes, the spider is somewhat poisonous, and the bites said to be painful because of the size of the fangs. 

 A Giant wood spider having lunch

The Tarantula:

We were lucky enough to get the sight of this Terrestrial Tarantula in the night. In the day time, I went to observe the burrow of the spider in the day time and found out that the burrow was lined up with the silk to stabilize the burrow. This species is typically a nocturnal species.  

  

Some other Insects

 A Dragonfly having some rest

 Basking in Sun

A Caterpillar 

  Rush Hour

 A Horn Beatle

 A Giant Centepede

 A Carpenter Nest

 

A Ground bee Heave

A Snail Basking in Sun

Radhanagari in summers

Radhanagari in summers

We left Kolhapur at around 6 o clock in the morning on our bikes and with the amount of Chill in the air no one could say that it was a summer morning. The weather was giving us the best lessons on how trees could protect earth from Global warming.

We reached at the entrance of the Sanctuary at around 8'o clock. While registering ourselves at the Forest department we enquired about the results of latest Wild animal census conducted in the sanctuary. The Forest officer told us that there are 3 Royal Bengal Tigers, around 15 leopards and more than 650 Bisons in the reserve. The numbers sounded quite a handful for a reserve that is spread in 350 Sq Km of area. The Range officer also informed us that a Tigress in the reserve has given birth to two cubs. This came as a zephyr of relief for all of those like us who are concerned about the disseminating Tiger population in India. 

 

It was such a pleasant feeling to see a low group of cloud over the Radhanagari Lake; I had witnessed a similar scene in monsoons as well. You can see the picture by clicking on the following link http://simplysiddhartha.blogspot.com/2009/08/hiking-in-radhanagari-wildlife_26.html

We happened to be the first group of people to have entered the Sanctuary that day. This made us witness amazing amount of Pug marks left by the Animals during the last night. All the signs of the Pug marks on the trail were shouting loudly that the Sanctuary is still lively and active. 

The best part about the Radhanagari wildlife sanctuary is the fact that there are 3 watch towers provided at the prominent animal sighting locations; all these locations provide a clear view of the water reservoir. 

To our misfortune we could not take the snaps of the wildlife that came in front of us. They were a bit too quick for our cameras. We came across, Wild Cat, Wild Cock, Pea-Hens, and not to mention Beautiful species of camera friendly butterflies of Western Ghats. 

While exploring the interiors of the jungles and searching for Snakes we came across a cave fully occupied by the Bats. 

The Mystical snakes eluded us this time as well.

For me sightings of Butterflies has such a calming influence that I tend to forget the heat, the terrain, the tiredness everything. 

While during the exit from the sanctuary some of the beautiful flora of the Jungle waived good bye to us. 

Hiking in Rangna (Rangana) Forests

The Mission: Hiking to the Rangna fort for a stay of Two days and one night.

The Challenge: Hiking in Hot Summer weather, coupled along with treacherous mountain trail infested with herds of Bisons and Russell’s viper Snakes.

We a group of seven hikers led by Narayan Vishwasrao Shinde started hiking from Gargoti to Patgaon on our Vehicles and from Patgaon onwards it  was we, our hatch bags and our legs. 

  .

 

The Team and the Mission in the backdrop

We had selected the Hiking days in such a manner that the night that we stayed in the fort was full moon night. 

 At the Top of the Peak

We started our hike around 1 o clock and reached to the top of the hill so as to enjoy the sun melting down in the Ghats.   The Sunsets from the cliffs of the Ghats is a mesmerizing and sublime experience. It was also those mystic day in which a full moon and sun makes a joint appearance. We could also notice the sea line of Malwan coasts in the far away west. 

As soon as the darkness fell, moon took the centre stage and enlightened the entire Jungle with Milky light. 

 

One thing that struck me during the night that I cannot even recall ia single night  in my entire life when I have not heard any tonking of the horns and cacophony of the urban life. 

We started preparing our food while having a mild drink. After having our typical Kolhapuri food, we went out to fetch some water search for some snakes and wild life in the Jungle on the way to the pond. All we came back with was a barb of a porcupine (Syahi). During the time of preparation of food we could hear mating sounds of Owl in the Jungle and as soon as we flashed out our torch light on the perch from where the voice was originating we got to see two glowing eyes on the top of the perch which made the confirmation to our guess of these voices belonging to Owls. 

As the night fell so did our tiring bodies as well. It was a much needed and a very refreshing sleep for the entire night. 

As we all woke at 07:30 AM, we went to Mother Nature attend our nature’s call. As soon we were fresh we went out to explore the Fort and the dense Jungle in its fold. 

It was steamy hot in Jungle and dense forest bushes added to the heat. As we went to the south of the fort on the South Gate of the fort a delightful surprise was awaiting us on walls of the Gate. It was a Chameleon, one who was not shy of sharing all its camouflage skills.

 

While roaming in the hot jungles appearance of these flowers made a welcome sight.

Sight of this big rock spider was also one of the memories that I will cherish forever amongst my expeditions. 

We also went to the east side of the fort in search of Snakes and Vultures but only one of them obliged. We came across this Vulture in the rock seats. To identify the seat of these vultures on the rock faces is quite easy. Just look at the white spots on the rocks, these marks are of the excretion of the vultures on these rocks. 

We started our descent at around 4 PM and we reached Patgaon by 06:45 PM. In all during these two days we all had walked around 45 KMs. Although the trek  for physically enervating, but it was nothing as compared to the mental refreshment that we received.