Satkosia ; A Hidden Gem on The Bank of Mahanadi

The diversity of flora and fauna that we Indians are blessed with is facing devastation. Pollution, poaching, deforestation, urbanisation, large-scale hydro-electric projects all of these factors and more are catalysing this cataclysmic phenomenon. The most alarming part is the lack of awareness of our people and our utter ignorance. Tourism can help raise awareness if done in a eco-friendly manner. When in the wilderness we must tune ourselves in such a way that we do not leave any lasting impact on that place. A wilderness explorer must be a silent observer.
Satkosia Tiger Reserve boasts a diverse gorge eco-system with deciduous plants. It is situated at the bank of river Mahanadi, the largest river in the state of Orissa. A great place for wildlife enthusiasts to spend a few days in.

Tikarpara Nature Camp

BOOKING:

Booking and entry permit is done officially through the website of Orissa eco-tourism.
https://www.ecotourodisha.com/index.php
 Please check the current rates from the site. At the time of our booking it was around 2500-4000 Rs. for 2 persons (Including food and lodging) depending on the location. But the online transaction takes a whopping 10% of the total amount as transaction fees. Another thing to note is that the payment portal DOES NOT accept RUPAY cards ( even though that is not mentioned in the website).
Alternatively you can try your luck by spot booking , that would spare you the transaction charges, but I would not advise that. You can stay at one place for maximum of 2 days at a stretch.

Here are a few contact numbers:
DFO Office Satkosia: +918763102681
Shamim Chauhan (Site Manager Satkosia) : +8658023333

Visakhapatnam and Araku Valley; A refreshing short trip

Visakhapatnam or Vizag is a bustling city on the coast of the Bay of Bengal. Despite being the most populous city in Andhra Pradesh it is surprisingly clean and a popular tourist spot. This particular tour is almost mandatory for Bengalis and they like to throw in theBora caves and the beautiful Araku valley in the mix. The entire tour can be done in only 5 days. So I am just gliding over the facts of this tour, the history and mythological essence can be studied at your own leisure.

 ITINERARY: 

Day 1: Reach Visakhapatnam. (Preferably in the early morning). Visit to some of the places of interest.

Day 2: Catch the train to Araku Valley. Visit Bora caves. Night stay at Araku.

Day 3: Journey back to Visakhapatnam.

Day 4: Realax. Catch a train back.

Obviously you can extend the program by 2-3 days by staying an extra day at Araku and Visakhapatnam.

Trekking , My views

I am not a "Serious" trekker (No, I take it very seriously and love it, you probably get what I mean) and nor do I think it should be a serious affair. I have only done a very few treks and so my opinion in this matter does not carry a lot of 'weight' so to speak.

This is mostly to give interested folks an idea about what trekking is 

MYTH 1 :

Trekking = Mountaineering

I find that many of my  friends are interested in "Trekking", the first impression that this word creates to them  is "Scaling mountain peaks with ice-axes and ropes", no trekking is NOT "Mountaineering". Trekking is experiencing a landscape (not necessarily hilly regions ) on foot without any strict goal or deadline to meet (As opposed to Expeditions).
Its a great way to experience a bit of danger , a bit of tranquility. Trekking brings out deeper bonds between friends, hidden strength and determination in side oneself and most importantly its hugely fun. The breathtaking scenery is the rewards and precipitous mountain peaks dwarf one's life's mundane problems and help put things into perspective.

MYTH 2:

Harder = Better

A trek is considered hard because of many reasons:

1. Steep gradient : Will drain you both physically and mentally
2. Technically tough : Requires maneuvering some tricky terrain
3. Remoteness : No civilization nearby
4. Height : Altitude sickness is a possibility.

Now at higher altitudes and remote locations you are bound to get closer views of mountain vistas but that does not mean easier treks are less rewarding as far as scenery is concerned. If you are too drained after a tough trek you won't be able to enjoy even the most marvelous of  views.

Trekking is not only about pushing yourself to the limit but mostly about enjoying nature with you in it.

MYTH 3 : 

Expedition/Mountaineering >> Trekking (Trekking is for sissies)

Comparing mountaineering with trekking is like comparing a formula one race with a joyride in a convertible.
Yeah there is absolutely no doubt that mountaineering is much more challenging, more technically demanding and far more dangerous and its certainly not for everyone. But that is exactly why trekking is more fun, its less expensive, it has more room to change your plan according to your whim, you are not bound. Basically the happy-go-lucky way of a trek is its main charm.

Some suggested first Treks in the Himalayas:

For beginners I would suggest the following treks according to my own preference:

1. Sandakphu - Phalut
2. Har-ki-Dun
3. Valley of Flowers
4. Hemkund Sahib
5. Gomukh
6. Dodital
7. Tunganath-Chandrashila
8. Madmaheswar  

Of-course there are a lot more but these are the most common.

Note:

1. Take a even though you feel like you know everything about a route. They can help you when you really need it.
2. Take basic medications.
3. In case of severe altitude sickness while ascending , turn back immediately and go down to a lower altitude.
4. Always show respect to local people . They are one of the nicest people on earth.
5. Help the local people in any way you can. Inspiring others to visit can boost local tourism and help the local people a lot.
6. Do not litter .

Santragachi ; A lake full of life (weekend tour 2)

Santragachi is a nice weekend destination close to Kolkata , specially in winter. If you are planning to spend the weekend in bustling shopping malls and admiring splendid landmarks of Kolkata, I recommend that you throw Santragachi into the mix. You don't have to be an avid birdwatcher to relish the beauty of this place.


Lets get down into the details.........

Disclaimer: I neither have the expertise nor the equipment needed to take good photographs of birds from long distances. So don't let my mediocre (at best) photographs kill your interest.



The Santragachi Jheel (Lake) is 13,75,000 sq ft in size and attracts thousands of migratory birds each winter and bird watcher from all over West Bengal flock together as well.

Common Moorhen (Adult)

HOW TO REACH?

1. Reach Howrah Railway Station (Its one of the busiest railway stations in India with most train handling capability..not that hard to find )
2. Board local trains in South-Eastern Railway section.
3. Get down at Santragachi station.

Bronze-winged Jacana

WHY SANTRAGACHI?

1. Its pretty close to the city of Kolkata (Calcutta).
2. Many species of birds are found here, in a relatively small area.
3. Easy to reach.
5. Many nature clubs organize awareness camps for general public where one can meet expert ornithologists.

Lesser_whistling_Duck

WHEN TO VISIT?

Preferably winter when migratory birds flock together. But birding enthusiasts visit throughout the year as different birds come here at different seasons.
I would suggest late January- February.

Northern Pintail

BIRDS FOUND:

1.  Lesser Whistling
2. Northern Pintail
3.  bronze-winged jacana
4. Cormorants
5. Egrets
6. Purple Heron 
7. Moorhen
8. Common Coot

Several other species are found here. 

Cormorant

AN APPEAL :


Over the years the number of birds coming to these lakes have fallen drastically all over India and Santragachi is no different. Recently many houses are being built beside the lake and some of the locals do not feel any duty towards preserving the lake eco-system.
So, please do not throw any garbage in or near the lake and try to persuade others not to do the same. A little step taken by you may make a big difference and help preserving the lake.

White-throated Kingfisher

 
Please feel free to ask anything or correct me if I am wrong anywhere.