Rhino Tourism in India.

Whoever started the rumour that Rhino horns have medicinal properties needs to be run down by a Rhino-stampede! How dare he float such a supposition without scientific proof? Look what he’s done. Even though science clearly says a Rhino-horn is not medicinal, people in this day and age are still hunting and killing Rhinos for their horns – simply based on a rumour and nowadays – a superstition. The outcome?

World Rhino Population in 1970 – 85,000.

World Rhino Population in 2012 – 11,000.

90% reduction in just 40 years!

Do the math. How long would it take us to completely wipe out this species? And any guesses as to how long the Rhinos have been on this planet?

So before the humans do away with this species on this planet, you may want to visit the Rhino in its natural habitat. Here are the best options in India:

·         Kaziranga National Park in Assam – 430 square kms – home to the largest population of Rhinos in India - 86% of India’s Rhinos – about 1900 Rhinos found here. This population of Rhinos is also two-thirds of World population of Rhinos!

·         Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary – 39 square kms – home to the second largest population of Rhinos in India. Rhino-breeding is also in progress at this Sanctuary.

·         Orang National Park in Assam – 79 square kilometres – home to the third largest population in India.

·         Manas National Park in Assam - 2837 square kilometres – home to the fourth largest Rhino population in India.

And here’s a teaser to get you going….

·         The Indian Rhinoceros can weigh between 1600 – 4000 kgs and is the 4^th largest land animal which can grow up to a height of 6 feet.      

·         It is strictly herbivorous.

·         He can race upto a speed of 48 kms per hour.

·         The Indian Rhino has a single horn made of keratin – same substance that makes our hair and nails. The Rhino’s horn is mistaken for being medicinal and is sold in the Asian black market. This misunderstanding cost the lives of over 70,000 Rhinos in 40 years.

And the following is the best reason why we ought to let the Rhinos live longer on this planet.

·         While the humans (Homo-sapiens) can take trace their origins back to about 3 million years, the Rhinos have walked this planet for 50 million years!

What you can do to help?

·         Contribute money towards the efforts of saving the Rhino. Check online for the sites.

·         Spread the word about saving Rhinos. Blog about Rhinos.

·         Educate people about the misconception about Rhino Horns.

Rhino horns sold in black market for which rhinos are hunted and killed.

Pix courtesy: thehindu; sahealthblog; bengalnewz;

Waterfall Tourism in the Monsoons in India.

August to November are the best months of the year to watch the waterfalls in India. That's when the gently cascading waters would transform into gushing, plunging, voluminous, outstanding, powerful and intimidating water bodies - adding magnetism to an already attractive mountain landscape.

While some have the luxury of being perennial, some aren’t!

Meaning – no rainfall….no waterfall. So now you know why you need to visit the nearest waterfalls this monsoon.

The three waterfalls of India which have topped the lists are:

Kunchikal Falls – 1493 feet drop - the highest waterfalls in India and the second highest waterfalls in Asia. It is located in the Western Ghats and is caused by the River Varahi in Shimoga District of Karnataka State. While Rivers Tunga and Bhadra flow through the Shimoga District, Rivers, Sharavathi, Gangavathi, Tadadi and Kali originate in this District. But that’s not the cause for the highest waterfalls in India. It is being on the Western Ghat slopes and receiving one of the highest degrees of rainfall in the country that is causing it. The popular ‘Jog Waterfalls’ and ‘Barkana Falls’ which draw thousands of tourists are also in Shimoga District.

 Barehipani Falls – 1309 feet drop – a two-tiered waterfall which is the second highest waterfalls in India and is formed by River Budhabalanga in in Mayurbhanj District of Orissa State. The falls are situated in the Simlipal National Park which is home to 100 Royal Bengal Tigers and 432 Asian Elephants among other wildlife.

 Langshiang Falls – 1106 feet drop – the third highest waterfalls in India which is formed by River Kynshi in West Khasi Hills District in Meghalaya State. These falls are just 10kms away from the biggest River Island of Meghalaya State – ‘Nongkhnum Island’.

And my personal favourites are:

 Jog Falls – 829 feet drop – the second highest ‘plunge-waterfall’ in India – formed by Sharavathi River in Shimoga District in Karnataka. 1500 steps lead downhill from the view point to the bottom of the hill - opposite the falls giving you the complete full-frontal view of the falls which is a rarity considering that most natural landscape surrounding natural waterfalls do not permit the fully frontal up-close view. It’s the monsoon water that turns this stringy drop to a full-blown avalanche of white frothy water causing misty surrounding.

Hogenakkal Falls – 66 feet drop – formed by River Kaveri in Dharmapuri District of Tamil Nadu State. Its claim to fame is its resemblance to the Great Niagara Falls because of which it is also called the ‘Niagara of India’. Boat rides are major tourist attraction here.

Dudhsagar Falls – 1017 feet drop – formed by River Mandovi on the Goa-Karnataka border in Goa State. It is a multi-tiered waterfall located in Bhagwan Mahavir Wild Life Sanctuary on the Western Ghats. During the monsoons, the Dudhsagar Falls swell up to a width of 100 feet making it one of the most powerful falls in India. Riding the train over the Falls is a major tourist attraction. Trekking around these Falls is another major tourist attraction. Tourists are allowed in this area only from October.

Dhuandhar Falls – 98 feet drop – formed by River Narmada in Jabalpur District of Madhya Pradesh State. This is a large roaring waterfalls which is heard from a distance. In peak monsoon, these Falls look like there are taking the Earth with them. The cable-car ride over these Falls is a uniquely thrilling experience.

Kiliyur Falls – 300 feet drop – formed by overflow of Yercaud Lake in the Eastern Ghats in Tamil Nadu. It is a picturesque multi-tiered waterfall which falls down a stone slope. The monsoon-volume of the water in the Falls causes several mini umbrella falls on the slopes – increasing its visual appeal.

Meenmutty Falls – 984 feet drop – the highest waterfalls of Kerala State in Wayanad District. Scores points on visual eye-appeal of a thundering waterfall in dense virgin forests of the Western Ghats.

Pix courtesy: Wikipedia, mytraveltalk, odiya, walkthroughindia, kingnutin.flickr, thinkingparticle.

Tree Musketeers !!

“The best time to plant a tree was 10 years ago. The next best time is right now!”

~ Confucius (551-479 BC) – Chinese teacher, philosopher and politician.

Confucius uttered this saying more than 2000 years back when the world had better green-coverage than right now. I wonder what he would’ve said– seeing the tree-coverage of the current world!

Certainly, unless we pursue trees like we follow religion, we will not be successful at conserving them. ‘Van Mahotsav’ – celebrating trees in India was launched with the same fervor by Shri Kanhaiyalal M. Munshi, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Food in 1950.

Van Mahotsav is celebrated for a whole week each July during which time, the Forest Departments, among other environmental organizations, corporates and even individuals, plant lakhs of saplings of different plant-species all over the country. Organizations spread awareness through various media about the importance of trees on this planet. The first thing you can do to protect the trees and the environment is to stop using plastic in all forms. Then find a small spot around your home to plant a tree-sapling of your choice and water it daily. Then urge 5 of your friends to do the same. Imagine if all of us were to become ‘Tree Musketeers’ and protect and take ownership to grow more trees? We’d be doing ourselves a big favour.

Van Mahotsav is a quiet tree-revolution in progress. Either you participate directly by getting involved in tree-planting this July or you be right where you are and spread awareness via your computer. Blog about it or send tree E-cards to your friends and colleagues. All this commotion around trees is bound to have a positive impact on all sometime soon.

Another interesting thing that we could do is visit the lovely Forest Reserves, Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks where there is abundance of trees. Obviously, the amount we pay towards the entry fee (though not much) to these places is used for their conservation. This way we also get to see the wildlife that lives hand-in-glove with the forests.

Among all the places that you would find trees in, the Central Government  ‘Protected Areas’ are by far the best places in India which are home to some of the common as well as rare plant species – all clustered together. Some of the popular Tree Haunts (Protected Areas) to visit in India for inspiration or for sheer joy are:

1.    Sundarban National Park – West Bengal.

2.    Kaziranga National Park – Assam.

3.    Jim Corbett National Park – Uttarakhand.

4.    Gangotri National Park – Uttarakhand

5.    Great Himalayan National Park – Himachal Pradesh

6.    Indravati National Park – Chhattisgarh

7.    Simlipal National Park – Orissa

8.    Nagarhole National Park – Karnataka

9.    Buxa National Park – West Bengal

10. Pench National Park - Maharashtra

Pix courtesy: Premabhakti.wordpress; sreyas-mg.blogspot; worldlandtrust; love-theearth.blogspot; twitsnaps.