Friends and being friends...

God chose your parents... you choose your friends!

Well, I've been blessed with some to the best I could wish for and our journeys have been nothing short of being adventurous and memorable.

Friends constitute an important part of my life and this post an ode to the best of my buddies!

(we have traveled far and wide... to the jungles)

(here at KGudi-BR hills)

(and in pursuit of many falls...)

(here at Magod falls, Yellapura)

(through the streams...)

(here at a stream in Sakleshpur trekking from Rottikallu homestay, Sakleshpur)

(commuting by train...)

(train journey to Londa, near Ganeshgudi)

(rejoicing on accomplishment...)

(here at Sathodi falls, Yellapura)

(helping hands in water...)

(here, river rafting on river Kali, Karnataka)

(for the conversations and discussions...)

(here at Bandipur National Park)

(relaxing times after a long day...)

(here atop Kodachadri peak)

(rejoicing moments...)

(here on a break en-route conquering Kodachadri peak)

(wandering through the fields...)

(here wandering through a field in Sakleshpur with Gaitonde, hero from Karavali region)

(posing with the best buddy...)

(here with Raja...a prince in true sense)

(going downhill with backpacks...)

(here descending from peak KumaraParvatha)

(the camping spirit...)

(our best camping atop peak KumaraParvatha)

(together in search of the elusive tiger...)

(here at Tadoba tiger reserve...)

(moments of joy and togetherness)

(here with Guru... a guru for us for many things!)

(for the joy of sunsets...)

(here at Jenukal view point, Yellapura)

(and during the fatigue of climbs...)

(here ascending a steep cliff en-route KP)

(visiting heritage places...)

(here at Doddamane-Malgudi house, Agumbe)

(or on a trek...)

(or helping out to relax...)

(rejoicing in unison over an accomplishment...)

(here at Hidlumane falls, Kodachadri)

(friends are forever... an extension of yourself... truly!)

 

All I can say is thank you for being a part of me!

Butterflies Part VII

All the other buttering posts here.

In the series of knowing butterflies that we see around our places and in the places I visit, here is the next set for this time...

This is a small attempt to lure people towards the fascinating world of butterflies.


Common Emigrant butterfly
The Common Emigrant or Lemon Emigrant (Catopsilia pomona) is a medium sized pierid butterfly found in Asia and parts of Australia.

Common Pierrot butterfly
The Common Pierrot (Castalius rosimon) is a small butterfly found in South Asia that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues family. In India the butterfly is primarily found in peninsular India south of the outer ranges of the Himalayas.

Pioneer butterfly
The Pioneer White or African Caper White (Belenois aurota) is a small to medium-sized butterfly of the Family Pieridae, i.e., the Yellows and Whites, which is found in South Asia and Africa.

Blue Oak Leaf butterfly
The South Indian Blue Oakleaf (Kallima horsfieldii) is a nymphalid butterfly found in India. The underside appears like a leaf complete with midrib while the upper side is brilliantly coloured. When on underside, such is the camouflage that you just can’t make out unless it moves.

Await more...
I refer http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/ and Wikipedia for information about butterflies.

Ooty beauties :)

On my last post here, I had promised to show you all the beauties of Ooty and keeping it up, here they follow...


The Botanical gardens, Doddabetta, Gorishola and other places host a variety of colourful, yet characteristically different gems of Nilgiris that bowl you over, truly a romantic place indeed :)

Nothing much to speak about, enjoy seeing them and if you get a chance do visit them personally... Cheers!

(Blackbird subspecies found only in SW India)

(A colorful Laughingthrush)

(The Star attraction of Ooty... as the name suggests Black & Orange Flycatcher)


Well, I have missed the Kashmir Flycatcher, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Nilgiri Blue Robin, but that's a cause for another trip to Ooty to search for the beauties :)

T R E E

What is a Tree...? Can anybody describe... !!! :)

For me, its a living thing that reflects our identity, something that withstands all brutality forced upon it, yet provides us with shade and food, a TREE is part of us without which probably we can't survive!

Trees are earth's endless efforts to speak to the listening heaven.

-Rabindranath Tagore

Someones is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree long ago.

-Warren Buffet

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.

-Abraham Lincoln

He who plants a tree; Plants a hope.

-Lucy Larcom

This post is in relation to the first ever Bengaluru Tree Festival - 'Neralu' happening on 8/9th February 2014. Be there and join the revolution!

Dandeli.com

(the pride of Dandeli)

Started of 2014 with a visit to Dandeli (yes, again), courtesy Dandeli.com who intend to be the guiding force for people or groups who would want to visit Dandeli and surrounding areas. I stayed at a lesser known Eco friendly camp, Dandeli Jungle Camp situated about 11kms from Dandeli town closer to the village Pradhani. This post is an attempt to review the facilities and the hospitality I was offered.

(Dandeli Jungle camp)

Ø Rajesh / Sanjay / Ramnath of Dandeli.com were very cordial and hospitable in working with the clients and ensured I had a pleasant stay right from arranging pick-up and drops to the food to activities.

Ø They can plan and organize your stay basis your budget and preferences right from a basic stay to a luxurious resort stay, they have one for all.

Ø Dharmesh and staff at the camp were also very hospitable and catered to every need. The guide Hanumanthu with whom I went on hikes was an excellent spotter (of birds) and very humble.

Ø The camp is a basic yet rustic and appealing located in the buffer zone of the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary.

Ø No air-cons, geysers, only one-time non-veg meal were a welcome sight at the camp. Cottages were decent enough and basic, no ultra luxuries here that was a good sign.

Ø Food, simple yet good, the options of spread can be increased.

Ø The staff comprises mostly local people, which imply the revenue benefits the local community.

Ø Incidentally, I met couple of other travel bloggers whom I was only used to seeing in the virtual world, it was a good opportunity to catch up.

Being more than a general traveler and been around Dandeli quite a few times, I chose not to do the regular attractions of Dandeli like Coracle ride, River Rafting, Backwaters drive, Sunset point trek instead chose to explore the birdlife around the camp that turned out to be a good choice for me.

Both the days I stayed, I did a good 3-4 hours hike covering the surrounding wooded areas and was more than pleased to record about 70 species of birds from there. Credit goes to the guide who knew the tracks well and was a good spotter too.

(Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary)

Also, chose a Jungle Safari ride into the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary (jeep courtesy JLR along with their other guests). Historically, the safari ride is unexciting because of multiple reasons (that I would divulge in sometime). Few birds, Gaur, Deer were those we saw.

Enjoyed a delicious, mouth-watering dinner at a ‘Khanavali’ in Dandeli before I bid adieu to fellow travelers and boarded my bus towards Bangalore.

Dandeli is not a place to go picnicking and littering, be responsible and cautious and enjoy your stay. I would definitely recommend the services of Dandeli.com for people who want to experience Dandeli but do not know how to go about it. They can devise plans for each and every one, give them a chance, they won’t disappoint.

Contact Sanjay - 094487 97270 or Ramnath - 099005 47763 for more information.

Butterflies Part VI

All the other buttering posts here.

Apologies on not been able to continue the series on butterflies, will make an attempt henceforth to keep them coming...

This is a small attempt to lure people towards the fascinating world of butterflies.

Sahyadri Cruiser butterfly
The Cruiser (Vindula erota saloma) is a species of nymphalid butterfly found in South Asia. It appears in dry season as well as wet season forms, both distinct in nature. 3 subspecies are recorded from India specifically.

Common Rose Mormon butterfly
Apologies! The below is a Common Mormon butterfly and not Common Rose as described earlier. The Common Mormon mimics the Common Rose and that led to a confused Id'ing by me. It was of great help when Issac Kehmikar sir (the butterfly man himself) commented on the same. I stand corrected!

Please Identify the above butterfly as Common Mormon.

Dark Wanderer butterfly
The Dark Wanderer (Pareronia ceylanica) is a medium sized butterfly of the Family Pieridae, that is, the Yellows and Whites, which is found in South and South-east Asia.

Southern Birdwing butterfly
The Southern Birdwing (Troides minos) is a large and striking Swallowtail butterfly endemic to Peninsular India found only in the Western Ghats. With a wingspan of 140–190 mm, it is the largest butterfly found in India. Found up to 3000 feet in the Western Ghats. Found in diverse habitats from low-land evergreen forests near the coast to mixed deciduous forests, dry scrub and agricultural fields.

Wait for more fascinating ones :)
I refer http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/ and Wikipedia for information about the butterflies.

Kutch special - Black Francolin

Gujarat Diaries so far...

As I mentioned in the last post, one of the birds that made me exclaim 'wow' was the Black Francolin, a medium sized ground bird belonging to the partridge family. It's stunning pitch black coat with petals of gold, white and a beautiful red collar made me gaze at it for a long time. To start off with, it was reluctant to show itself hiding behind the bushes and only giving me glimpses of its beautiful self.

Patience pays, and soon it was out in the open in the early morning sunlight glowing in all its might. The fine detailed patterns on its body, the various colours it wore took my breath away.

Indeed 'Black is Beautiful!'

Have a look at it yourself and enjoy the beauty on offer :)

(the above individuals seen is a male and in most of the avians, the male is prettier of the two)

hold on... more to be unleashed...!