ENTERTAINMENT
After reading Kabini On My Mind - Musings Of A Naturalist by Vikram Nanjappa, I was curious to know more about the less documented tigers of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve. I landed in Kabini after hearing numerous untold stories about the tigers living here. What attracted me at first was sighting diverse birds - junglefowl, pied hornbills, wagtails, eagles, parakeets, ibises, storks, darters and many others. While I gazed at the Kabini backwaters, I realised mental peace comes easily in the form of nature. There was a certain thrill and peace in not knowing which animal and bird I was going to see next. At sunset, I was mesmerised by views akin to Africa. As the sky turned violet in colour, I saw dark black trees set against the sky almost like a painting. More than anything, I felt a sense of oneness in me while looking at the stunning sights nature had to offer. Post sunset, I enjoyed a special documentary screening at Evolve Back, Kabini. The documentary was about the elusive stories of animals found in the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve. What touched me most about the documentary was the death of a particular baby elephant due to climate change and how it impacted the elephant’s family. I felt a pang of pain and realised how deeply ingrained a sense of community is in nature. I was reminded of a book I read a while ago called The Hidden Life Of Trees by Peter Wohlleben which highlights how trees have interconnected networks and communicate with each other. This feeling of oneness in the trees prevailed when I went for a safari in the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve. Little did I expect to be stunned by the different hues of green in the trees, but my mind calmed down. I could breathe deeply and take it all in. A herd of antelopes crossed by along with some spotted deers, jumping and prancing by - showing what it means to be alive. Just then when I wasn’t expecting it, we spotted a tiger pugmark on the ground, almost disappearing from the sides due to the afternoon rain. The excitement for the safari beamed up. Little did we expect but we came by a back entry to the backwaters and saw three turtles resting on a log. Had we not moved from the turtles in time, we would have missed the sight of two tigers mating. They were in the distance but we could see them with the binoculars. Thanks to our guide Anish who had been going on safaris for seven years, we were able to spot something that far out into the distance. Watching those tigers made me feel like I was a part of some rare phenomenon spectated only by a few. I had many stories to tell people when I was back in network. The safari might have ended but my evening just began. Some appams lay waiting. After the benne dosas at breakfast, I had high expectations for the food and my expectations were met. I wasn’t expecting to eat Bhindi with tomato gravy or jaggery rosgullas here in Kabini, but Chef Tappan ensured I got everything I ever wanted. I also went for a traditional coracle ride in the backwaters of Kabini. This is almost like a Vietnamese boat but larger in size and can move in circles. As I watched the clouds descend over the Nilgiris, I felt a strange sense of ease flowing into my life again. There was no hustle to worry about. It was just me and endless skies to gaze upon. A local bullock cart ride in the village had the same effect on me - it took me back to my roots. While I danced away during the tribal dance in the evening, I realised how the simplest things to follow are actually the toughest. What we take for granted - like nature in our cities, is what tends to bring us the most peace. Sailing on the river in the evenings was relaxing. Also, I spotted multiple birds on a sunset cruise and the birds made my evenings feel less lonely. As I gazed upon more Kabini sunsets and pondered upon the meaning of life, death and everything in between, I developed a sense of inner peace. There was still much to learn from the lives of naturalists, forestmen, tribals and children living in the local villages. There was still time to go back. For then, it was time to just be where I was and take it all in. Vidhi Bubna is a travel and lifestyle journalist who holds interest in interviewing celebrities and public figures. Her work focuses on art, culture, celebrities and None
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