Karnataka   

Nagarahole circuit of Golden Chariot a hit

— Photo: M.A. Sriram

Exploring wildlife: Golden Chariot travellers in the backwaters of the Kabini.

KABINI RIVER LODGE: For the travellers of the Golden Chariot, the journey in the jungles of Nagarahole National Park exposed them to a variety of wild animals and the expanse of Kabini backwaters, where the wildlife congregate in big numbers.

It was an eventful day for the travellers, who were keenly looking forward to the jungle sojourn after experiencing the rich heritage of Mysore. They had breathtaking sights of wild animals during their two-hour safari inside the forest and also during their boat ride in the backwaters, spread around 20 km, connecting the forests of Nagarahole and Bandipur.

Barring tigers, they saw elephants, gaur, spotted deer, wild boars, Malabar squirrel, peacock and so on. But what impressed them the most was a close encounter with a herd of elephants, including a couple of calves. The pachyderms crossed the safari route keeping a close eye on the travellers. Neil, a British traveller, filmed the proceedings, with his wife Vivian, seated next to him in a jeep. “Seeing so many elephants so close in the wild is breathtaking. I rate this safari as one of the best,” Mr. Neil, a former pilot with British Airways, said.

Mr. Neil and his wife, who had visited the jungles in South Africa and Sri Lanka, said the experience in the Nagarahole forests was different. “Elephants in the plains of South Africa and in the forests in Nagarahole give different experience. I love elephants and the day is made for me since I saw a pair of tuskers, baby elephants and a large pack of elephants,” he added.

Even badminton ace Prakash Padukone, a special invitee on board the Golden Chariot, too felt the safari was one of the best. “I had been on the jungle safaris three or four times, but the sightings what I had at Nagarahole were breathtaking,” he said.

Kabini River Lodge, which is the only wildlife destination in the Golden Chariot circuit, could well be the high point going by the response of the travellers.

Being the fifth best wildlife resorts in the world, the wildlife impressed the Golden Chariot travellers, who set out of the luxury train on Wednesday morning.

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Nagarahole circuit of Golden Chariot a hit

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