Jaldapara Part-3 - Dooars - Beautiful Colours of West Bengal - Destination East - Incredible India

Jaldapara Part-3

We are now going deep inside the jungle. Here the trees are standing closer to each other. The mahaut is driving the elephant navigating through the jungle. He is being careful to choose the route not to hurt the passengers. He is moving away the tree branches so that we do not hit them. But still we are struggling to keep ourselves safe from the tree branches. There may be ant or other insects on these branches and may land on our bodies. I am watching my legs so that they don't get break or cut and moving them quickly as per the situation.

We are busy to keep the twigs away from our bodies

After a dense patch we can see a sparse patch. Again a dense patch in no time. After moving some time we have found the other elephant. We could not see it after crossing the stream. We are following it now. But again we are moving away in our own direction.

We have now reached to a grassland. Here we may have chance to have sight of rhino. After some time our mahaut has found a rhino and we are moving towards it. Yes we all can see it now. A big rhino is standing inside the long grasses. We have now reached near the rhino. The rhino is watching us. We are making a circle around it. The rhino has its horn broken. It is bleeding from some places at the backside too. The mahaut is informing us that this rhino was in a fight with another rhino. So it has got injured in that fight.

The wounded rhino

We all are excited to see the rhino. We are taking photos of it. We are making big circles around it. The elephant carrying the other tourist group has now come out of the jungle into the grassland. Our mahaut is informing the other mahaut about the presence of the rhino by some gestures. Now they are coming towards this rhino.

We are now moving away from the wounded rhino. After moving for some time we can see another big rhino standing still inside the grassland. Our mahaut is telling us that this is the rhino with whom the previous rhino was in fight. We are again making a circle around it. The rhino is watching us and it is getting angry. We are thrilled and afraid too. What if the rhino attacks us! This rhino is bigger and seems stronger too. It is healthier and it's horn is intact. There are some birds sitting on its back. The rhino is making a gesture like its going to attack our elephant but it restrained itself from doing so. But we are now moving away from it.

 The winner rhino

We have now come inside another patch of jungle. Our elephant is moving silently and so do we. There is a big Sambar deer in front of us! We have appeared suddenly in front of it. It is standing still. We are having an eye contact with it. It paused for some moment and then ran away somewhere.

We are now returning towards the starting point of our elephant ride. We are very happy for the animal sightings.

We have now come down from the elephant back. I am now standing in front of the elephant with Soumya. We both are touching the elephant's head. This is a female elephant. Her name is Madhumala. She is very gentle. We are now giving tips to the mahaut before parting. Madhumala is taking the note from Soumya's hand by her trunk and giving it to the mahaut.

Madhumala seems very gentle and kind to us

We are now returning to the Lodge at Madarihat by the same gypsy. We are very happy for this eventful and exciting morning.
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Next part:   Khairbari Tiger Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre

Previous part: Jaldapara Part-2

Jaldapara - Part 2 - Dooars - Beautiful Colours of West Bengal - Destination East - Incredible India

Jaldapara Part-2

We have now reached to a watch tower. There are some other tourists also on the watch tower. We have got down from the car and stretching our bodies. We have become frozen by the journey. The sun is up and we are trying get the warmth from the sunlight.

We are now on the watch tower. We are watching carefully all around as far as we can see. We are expecting for a sighting of a rhino. A vast area of long grass land is in front of us. This kind of grass land is favorable to rhinos. So we are focusing on there.

We have come down from the watch tower now. We could not see any rhino or any other animal from the watch tower. Now its time to go back. We are boarding the gypsy again. Our return journey of the safari starts.

I am the first one to board on the gypsy for our return journey

We are now taking tea at the lodge where we are staying at Madarihat. We have returned after doing a jungle safari inside Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary. It was a safari on Maruti gypsy. We could not book the famous elephant ride as it was full booked already. 

After finishing tea we were heading towards our room when the lodge manager informed us about an opportunity for an elephant ride. A tourist group has not arrived or canceled their booking. So we got a chance for the elephant ride. So we have agreed for the elephant ride and the lodge manager has done the arrangement. 

We are now going again on the Maruti gypsy. The car is running fast through the earthy road inside the sanctuary. This time we are not feeling that much cold that we felt in the wee hours.

We have now reached at the point from where the elephant ride starts. All the elephants are engaged now with other tourist groups. We have to wait till they come back. We probably have to wait for half-an-hour before our turn comes.

There is a forest bungalow at this place. It is known as Holong Forest Bungalow. This is the best place to stay inside the jungle. There is an open ground in front of the bungalow. There are some sitting arrangements present on the open ground. Next to it there is a salt pit. A parikha ( protective trench filled with water ) is separating the salt pit and the bungalow ground area.

We are waiting for the elephant ride near the Holong bungalow

After waiting for some time, our turn has come to ride an elephant. On the back of the elephant a sitting arrangement is present. It can accommodate four people excluding the mahaut ( a person who rides and controls an elephant ). A raised concrete platform is present to board on the elephants. We are going up on the platform using the concrete staircase attached to it. The elephant is waiting beside the platform for the on-boarding of its passengers.

I am the first passenger on-boarded. I have occupied the front left seat. All the passengers are on-boarded now. And the elephant started walking. I am feeling  like I am swinging. It is the first elephant ride in my life. Probably it is the first elephant ride to all of my pals accompanying me.

I am now adjusted to the oscillation. The elephant is walking into a stream. The water is clean and transparent. I can see many small fishes are playing inside the water. A nice sound is forming by the footsteps of the elephant in the water. I am feeling great. What an amazing moment in my life!

Our elephant is moving along being inside the stream. We can see another elephant with a tourist group crossing the stream. Our elephant is also taking the same route of that elephant.

The elephant with the other tourist group

Next part:   Jaldapara Part-3

Let me know your comments (all sort of) in the comments section ;)

Next part:   Jaldapara Part-3

Previous part:   Jaldapara