Rudyard Kipling’s “Jungle Book” & it’s Pench connection

Madhya Pradesh is a land that abounds in physical beauty, cultural heritage, tradition and historical background. It is a harmonious amalgamation of everything that is needed in life- spirituality, serenity, animalistic nature with a touch of history. The history of Madhya Pradesh is still astounding for the visitors; the famous Khajuraho temples is an excellent … Continue reading “Rudyard Kipling’s “Jungle Book” & it’s Pench connection”

Madhya Pradesh is a land that abounds in physical beauty, cultural heritage, tradition and historical background. It is a harmonious amalgamation of everything that is needed in life- spirituality, serenity, animalistic nature with a touch of history. The history of Madhya Pradesh is still astounding for the visitors; the famous Khajuraho temples is an excellent specimen of art and architecture and so is the Sanchi Stupa, Omkareshwar Temple, the town of Orccha, Gwalior and others seem to still dwell in the erstwhile times.

The bygone times seem to still hover over the entire state of Madhya Pradesh. One such person who has left his footprints in the sands of time is Major General Sir William Henry Sleeman (8 August 1788 – 10 February 1856)

Major General Sir William Henry Sleeman was a British soldier and a subsequent administrator in British India. He is best known for his work from the 1830s in suppressing the organized criminal gangs known as “Thuggee”.

Born in Stratton, Cornwall, he joined the Bengal Army and later served in the Nepal War between 1814–1816.

In 1822, his first posting in Central India was as in charge of Narsinghpur District.

He was subsequently elevated to the rank of Captain in 1825, and in 1828 assumed charge of Jubbulpore District ( now Jabalpur ).

Sleeman became the earliest discoverer of dinosaur fossils in Asia when in 1828, serving as a Captain in the Narmada valley region, he noticed several basaltic formations which he identified as having been “raised above the waters”. By digging around in the Bara Simla Hills, part of the Lameta formation near Jabalpur, he unearthed several petrified trees, as well as some fragmentary dinosaur fossil specimens. Also, the village Sleemanabad in Madhya Pradesh, India was named in his honour.

Sleeman wrote about wild children who had been raised by wolves with his notes on six cases. This was first published in the first volume of his “Journey through the kingdom of Oude” in 1848-1850 (1858) and reprinted in 1852 as “An Account of Wolves Nurturing Children in Their Dens”, by an Indian Official and in “The Zoologist” (1888). This caught the imagination of many and ultimately inspired Rudyard Kipling’s Mowgli character.

Rudyard Kipling
                                Rudyard Kipling

Interestingly, the Pench National Park in Madhya Pradesh has been the source of inspiration behind Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Jungle Book’. Almost everyone has seen this fantastic movie; what makes this movie memorable is the animals. The bear(Baloo), tiger(Shere Khan), Panther(Bagheera) and the wolves(Akela and Raksha), in reality also inhabits the Pench National Park. Located in the districts of Seoni and Chhindwara, this park is named after River Pence, a pristine river that flows through the park.

The Park allows its visitors to daze and interact with the wild animals and one could do so by consulting any renowned travel agent in Madhya Pradesh. Numerous animals like Royal Bengal Tiger, wild boar, Indian leopard, fox, striped hyena, barking deer and other captivating creatures are found in this Park. In addition, it is also home to more than 285 species of birds. If you are a wildlife enthusiast, visiting the Pench National Park is a must; if you want to witness the harmonious union of humans and animals, visiting this Park would be the right choice. You can also go for boat rides from Pench to the nearby islands and enjoy the time in the midst of Mother Nature.

6 Facts That Will Make You Find A Tour Operator in Madhya Pradesh

India has always been a treasure chest for the outsiders to come, plunder and rule. But thankfully, the country still remains as the most unique in terms of its culture and heritage. It is rightfully said, ‘India is a land of cultural diversity’. The reasons that make India a diverse country is its rich ethnicity, … Continue reading “6 Facts That Will Make You Find A Tour Operator in Madhya Pradesh”

India has always been a treasure chest for the outsiders to come, plunder and rule. But thankfully, the country still remains as the most unique in terms of its culture and heritage. It is rightfully said, ‘India is a land of cultural diversity’.

The reasons that make India a diverse country is its rich ethnicity, various states and their various cultures. One such state that should be included in every traveller’s list is Madhya Pradesh and there are reasons for it. So find a reliable tour operator in Madhya Pradesh before you read the reasons that make this state a proud part of the Indian country.

Let us look at some of the amazing facts about this state that will surely leave you craving for more!

 

1. Strategic location- Madhya Pradesh is often referred to as ‘the heart of India’. The word ‘Madhya’ spells out the geographical location- ‘in the center’ and so it forms the heart for India. Also, the state is the second largest one after Rajasthan, occupying about 308,000 sq.km of the total area.

2. A state with shifting capital- Does it remind you of Jammu & Kashmir? While Jammu & Kashmir has a summer and a winter capital, this is not so with Madhya Pradesh. Nagpur, like Kolkata(Calcutta, as the British government named it) was the first capital after India’s independence but in 1956, Bhopal became the new capital.

3. Khajuraho, a world heritage site- Khajuraho is a brilliant specimen of architecture in the 10th century. The engraved sculptures portray various erotic postures and expressions in an aesthetic way. One who possesses a fine sense of art and architecture, this place is a must-visit. And the most amazing fact is that this place is declared as a world heritage site and the reasons for doing so will be clear as soon as you visit this place.

4. Home to the oldest rock art- The caves of Bhimbetka are responsible for making Madhya Pradesh proud. It is one of the oldest collections of a cave and is 600 in total number. Every year, the footfall in this state is increasing and one of the main attractions for the tourists is this cave. It is a perfect place to appreciate some exquisite and marvellous paintings and rock carvings. Moreover, these caves are again a world heritage site.

5. The origin of Kumbh-fair- Madhya Pradesh also gives place to Ujjain, ‘The City of Temples’. It is called so because it has some of the most popular temples of India. Kumbh-Mela is a religious gathering that is held every year on the banks of river Shipra, in Ujjain. This gathering is marked by various purifying rituals and also some delicious street foods.

6. Residence for exotic wildlife- The state is naturally blessed with a large variety of wildlife creatures and bird species. Kanha National park and Bandhavgarh National Park are must-visit places if you are a hardcore wildlife enthusiast. The former park is noted for its special attempt in saving tigers; the population of tigers is huge in this park and you will be surprised to come across some human-friendly tigers too! The latter has a mixed variety of all mammals, insects, reptiles and birds.

Conclusion- There is no doubt why Madhya Pradesh is one of the most popularly visited cities in India. So set your dates, pack your bags and get ready to have a fantastic trip in ‘the heart of India’ and make the best of your lifetime.

Beware of These Renowned Tigers of Kanha National Park!

Kanha National Park has been an inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Jungle Book’ and there are plenty of reasons for it. Located in the state of Madhya Pradesh, this park is popularly noted for its collection of tigers. Needless to say, the beauty of Kanha National Park is stupefying and it has been so from the … Continue reading “Beware of These Renowned Tigers of Kanha National Park!”

Kanha National Park has been an inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Jungle Book’ and there are plenty of reasons for it. Located in the state of Madhya Pradesh, this park is popularly noted for its collection of tigers. Needless to say, the beauty of Kanha National Park is stupefying and it has been so from the time it was formed. Created in 1955, this park has been an ideal home for both prey and predator. The park had come into existence with the sole motive of protecting the tigers and combatting the chances of its extinction. It is also known to be one of the most beautiful wildlife reserves in the whole of Asia.

The tigers in this park are majestic and royal in the truest sense. With respect to this, how many of you been in close proximity with tigers? Arguably, nearly everyone will agree that we have seen tigers only in enclosed areas in the zoos and circuses! Imagine how would you feel when you suddenly see tigers moving around freely in the whole park?

With so many tigers inhabiting this park, there are a few of them who are more special than the others. They are also named just like domestic animals to give out a sense of homeliness. Read on to know more about some of the popular tigers of Kanha National Park:

1. Neelam- The main attraction of this park is Neelam(tigress) and her four male cubs. The strong emotional connection between a mother and her children is evidently discerned from their bonding so much so that when one of the cubs got injured from a fight with another tiger, Neelam did all that she could to save her child. The forest department then provided the necessary care to both the mother and the child.

2. Munna- He is the oldest tiger of this park and is the most popular one. This tiger is famously recognized with the letters C-A-T spelled on its forehead from the formation of black stripes. Moreover, you will be surprised to know that Munna is quite comfortable interacting with humans! He is now accustomed to having jeeps and humans entering his area. He is the most adorable creature that you will ever come across in this park since he behaves just like your pet! He is the most entertaining tiger of this park. Initially in the previous years, at the beginning he was quite infamous for attacking the locals of the place; his reputation was very much different from his present one so much so that he killed other tigers and also ate their cubs. The fact that he is the ‘star’ of Kanha National Park is because of his daunting valor and ability to fight others.

3. Bheema- Another famous tiger of this park, Bheema, is also known as ‘the peaceful warrior’. He was born to Kankata, his father and Budbudi, his mother and has three other siblings. Mainly sighted in the Mukki and Kisli zones, he was given the title ‘peaceful warrior’ for a reason: he bore his injury marks with the pride of a warrior. Unfortunately, Bheema gave up his life after battling with the leg injuries that he received from a fight with another tiger of this park named Munna.

Conclusion- Other than these, you can also sight several other equally popular tigers of Kanha National Park and some of their names are Nak-Kata, Mahavir (there are two Mahavirs, male and female) and Red Eye. So contact any reputed travel company in Madhya Pradesh to visit and confront these beauties of Kanha National Park and get geared up for an adrenaline-rush adventure in the midst of a jungle!