Tuesday, September 06, 2011

India Day 5 to 6 - Ranthambore

Off we go to our next and my Fav location this holiday!

Ranthambore

Of course the unique location that cannot be missed is the national park: Ranthambore National Park

Ranthambore National Park is one of the biggest and most renowned national park in Northern India. The park is located in the Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan, which is about 130 km from Jaipur. Being considered as one of the famous and former hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur, today the Ranthambore National Park terrain is major wildlife tourist attraction spot that has pulled the attention of many wildlife photographers and lovers in this destination.

The roads to this location is unfortunately a very bumpy and exciting one. As you all know driving in India is almost the equivalent of having a heart-attack every 3 to 4 minutes. The roads to Ranthambore was not just a roller coaster ride, some parts of it was a one way drive but two cars in opposite direction driving at one time could happen! If only there was an airport there! Gosh I so want to go back to this place but the ride is horrendous! Well celebrities have been to the location where I am heading to to hold weddings, royal families used to have that place as their hunting grounds. The only other means there is to stay in the same hotel and fly in by Helicopter.

A few shots I caught on the way there (I slept through practically most of the ride)

Look at how packed the bus is! they even sit on bus tops! So please may the local Singaporeans stop making this SMRT issue go out of proportion! You are considered so much more fortunate compared to them, and have much better lives than them! Wake up!

The India version of push cart....
Road side stores....

Petrol Kiosk in India

Wow looks like they are building something rather luxurious. And check out the India version of Hong tou jing women (sam sui women).

Wow says India has got poor technologies... they also have tractors what! not just camels
3 person to 1 small bike! I wonder how they manage this ... Tsk

Although this part of the town seem to have nicer shop fronts that resembles like Malaysia and Thailand shop fronts... it puzzles me why aren't they open for business in the day....


Alas we reached the hotel!

The Oberoi Vanyavilas

The hotel nests in the natural beauty of the wilds, The Oberoi Vanyavilas is India’s leading luxury jungle resort on the edge of the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve.

It was perfect base from which we rested and went on to explore the territory of the majestic tiger. Tiger sightings are most frequent during the months of May and June. While it is warm during the day, mornings and evenings are pleasant.

The resort setting is picture-perfect with a dramatic watercourse and sun-kissed private decks. The luxury tents with finely embroidered canopies, luxurious bathrooms and private outdoor sitting area and an outside deck as sunbathing area are in perfect contrast to the ruggedness of the jungle. Don't Believe me, I will show you some photos of the room we stayed in later.

They are also in touch with the Forest department. As a responsibility towards conservation of wildlife it has placed a restriction on the number of visitors to the park on a daily basis. Hence to avoid disappointment, i would suggest that you book your jungle drive in advance. Upon reaching the hotel, staffs will ask you if you wish to pay a little more for more experience personnel to bring you around. My suggestion is to pay for it if you wish to see the tigers. As they are more experience and will be able to track the hideout of the tigers more efficiently. Trust me on that (:


P.S all these said are not paid advertisement.

The Leela was the hotel we stayed in when we were in Delhi

Our room!
The Oberio here is awesome! we literally have a full tent to ourselves!
Check out the website to see how the tents looks like!
We stayed like kings and queens or rather princesses and princes!

Even the food there was splendid. They had a chef that was able to put up a table of premium Indian, Italian, Chinese and Thai cuisine. What more can I ask for! Even their breakfast was awesome!
Their dinning hall

The backyard of the dinning hall, where you will be able to spot some monkeys!

Love this drawing on the wall of the hotel!

If you wish to have your honeymoon here, they would even prepare this for you! so Sweet right!They even have their own spice garden! This was the path to the secret garden!





The awesome chef showed us around his playground!










After a long bus ride, we had a awesome dinner prepared by the chef before taking a short stroll around the hotel .... some night scenes of the hotel at night....






We are off to the tiger park in the morning!



Road in to the tiger park on a open top vehicle



Bright
Dark
Darkest!
My goodness this following pictures does the national park no justice! Its so beautiful. I have always watched Nat Geo on TV, but this is like a first hand experience into the scenes of Nat Geo!
We had the most awesome guide and he was there to explain how tigers fight for their own territories unlike Lions we stays as a cluster.

There was a female tiger (no.8) i think that stayed in this area, while other male tigers will come to this area and found her, where she gave birth to 3. She was later overthrown by one her best clubs. Sad but that's life... just like how the past dynasties had their kings overthrown by their best sons...


















The old female tiger was lying and sun bathing here, can you spot her?












These are the food of the tigers....








Caught YA! the guide told us that her stomach looked very flat hence concluded that she have not eaten for days. Cold Sweat when I was on the seat. What if she pounce out and eat me! according to him, Tigers don't like to eat human as they do not have enough meat. Most situation they just attacked as they think their life are endangered, and would just leave the victim alone after winning the attack. Though most of the time, the victim is as good as dead. They hardly devour them after the attack.


Soaking up in her favorite water spot. Guide also told us, Tigers don't like water in their face. so hence this posture.

Finally after a long day at the national park.... time to wash up for a good dinner!


We had one more round at the tiger park before we depart the hotel. These were the elephants that the hotel keep. They are for visitors to ride on them...

(:
We were lucky enough to have them sent us off (; hehee

Some Video Clips on My experience at Ranthambore National Park. Open top vehicle against the tigers! Wonderful and exciting experience!

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