Jungle Safari at Kumbhalgarh

After seeing the Kumbhalgarh Fort we were keen to see some wild life and decided to take the jungle safari trip organised by the locals of Kumbhalgarh.

We set off at about 5.15 PM in a open Jeep with hopes of watching deer, cheetahs and leopards and some feathered friends. Driving over jungle terrain in an open Jeep after being used to well constructed roads in Ahmedabad is quite a rough experience. The drive was full of ups and downs, many of them frightfully steep. The narrow road made of haphhazardly placed rough stones is one that only tough and sturdily built four wheelers can traverse. Not accustomed to anything like this, I could feel my muscles getting tense with apprehension as with one hand I clung to the bar above my head. We hardly knew the driver and the only thoughts that crowded our minds were those of safely! The bumpiness of the ride sent my bones rattling within, but soon I got used to the idea and slowly relaxed as I took in the beautiful greenery all round. The vegetation is not dense but not sparse either. There is enough greenery to give you a feel of the forest and keep the air around cooler and more pleasant than the normally hot Rajasthani summers.

We spotted many monkeys and peacocks all along but they failed to fascinate us as they are a regular sight in Ahmedabad. Our NRI friends though were happy to click pictures of a peacock doing a courtship dance to a group of peahens that had fallen prey to his charms! Where the rough jungle road ends is a lake, almost dry from the harsh summer this year. We learnt that wildlife generally come there at twilight to take a sip from the lake waters. But some how they had decided not to show themselves to us that day. We started on the return journey containing our disappointment, when in the distance one of us spotted a Nilgai as it continued to eat leaves from a tree. It raised hopes of seeing more animals around. In a short distance from there we came across a falcon that was almost camouflaged against the jungle backdrop. This is a rare bird and probably one that one comes across only in jungles.

By this time we started out journey back to the hotel I was totally out of the fear of riding on rough terrain as the driver of the Jeep had with his careful driving managed to inspire some confidence. At the end of the day we were grateful that we could get at least a few glimpses of wildlife and the trip was not all that in vain. After all no experience, however trivial it may seem is ever wasted!