Are you ready for the 2016 phenomenon?

First off, I would like to thanks all my readers for their continued support and feedback, I had no idea I could get the ball rolling so soon and get so far. And as the year 2015 comes to a close, I would like to reflect on some of the stories that caught my attention and yours. I promise to give you better stories next year and keep in touch.

LADAKH
2015 saw a record number of visitors to the region who left a trail of plastic and rubbish behind, despite knowing that there is no one to clean up after them. Our little initiative to encourage travellers to be more responsible is close to my heart and was well-received by you as well. http://ekalpaviram.blogspot.in/2015/10/why-i-chose-not-to-go-to-ladakh.html

IMAGE COURTESY: BRETT COLE

SHAHPUR JAT
The few remaining graffiti works left in Delhi urban village, Shahpur Jat, are fast fading. It is not just the loss of art and soeone's hard work that I rue. I see the lack of empathy on the part of the residents of the village who do not value the art. They are proo that art does not, in fact, affect everyone.
http://ekalpaviram.blogspot.in/2015/08/now-you-see-me.html

RAKHIGARHI
One of the most memorable adventures of the year that I have shared with you was the journey to Haryana. It was my maiden trip to the infamous state. I returned humbled, not only by the people but also having stood at the site of the largest Harappan site in the world. Ongoing expeditions will reveal the true extent of the heritage hidden in the folds of this hamlet.
http://ekalpaviram.blogspot.in/2015/09/i-drove-down-nh10-and-this-is-what-i.html

CORBETT NATIONAL PARK
One of my biggst disappointments of the year, was the realisation that we have failed the Royal Bengal Tiger. While the government keeps announcing new buffer zones around the National Park, loud and irresponsible tourists have been scaring the animals away from their natural habitat. Not to forget instances of poaching and illegal felling of trees.
http://ekalpaviram.blogspot.in/2015/07/the-missing-king.html

BHANGARH
My effort at looking beyond the myths that surround the fort came as the blogpost which was read by many friends and made for great conversations as well. Instead of looking for ghosts, it might be a batter idea to look into the history that fort holds within. The fear you carry with you is all that will keep you scared.
http://ekalpaviram.blogspot.in/2015/12/bhangarh-beyond-curse.html

Looking forward to keeping you engaged through 2016 as well! Happy responsible travels!!

The missing king

On the occasion of Tiger day, I would like to draw the attention of my fellow travellers and environment watchers tot eh plight of Corbett Tiger Reserve.

On my recent visit to the Reserve, I was excited to know that there has been a steady increase in the eco-tourism space around the reserve. More area was being covered under the Buffer zone allowing tourists a grander experience. The Corbett Tiger Reserve is spread across 521 square kilometres and is Asia's first of its kind. If one is to include the neighbouring Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary and reserve forest areas, the complete stretch of this tiger reserve stands at 1,288 sq km which is steadily expanding.

I was booked at the Aahana Resort, which lies in the buffer zone of the reserve. The in-house naturalist took us for a guided safari the next day. The driver of the government-approved vehicle was a local named Suresh Kumar. His family had lived in these part for decades. He was the quiet sort, mumbling sullenly only at the sight of noisy travellers in other jeeps. It was when we stopped in the middle of the reserve as the naturalist from the resort had to relieve himself, to my absolute shock as jeeps are not supposed to stop let alone allow visitors to leave the vehicle in the reserve, that I asked him about life in the jungle.

"There's nothing left here. No one follows the rules. People throw money at us and do what they want. No one wants to work with the reserve for long, there is only so much one can tolerate. People come here day after day and yell at drivers because the tiger did not come out. Visitors wear flashy clothes, shout in the jungle and throw plastic everywhere. Will any wild animal come out? Every year the government declares that new space has been included in the jungle. Then, more hotels come up. More people come and make more noise. The animals run away from them. Only a few men in my village had seen a leopard when I was growing up, now the leopards come at night or day. The animals have started moving out of the forest more frequently and into the villages."

The naturalist had returned and our conversation came to an abrupt break. We carried on to a dried up river bed at the heart of the jungle. We stopped here for breakfast and tea. The naturalist was away to take yet another 'natural' break and I took the chance to pick up the conversation from where Suresh had left it. "There's nothing to say madam," he said. "If the bosses find out that I am talking to you then I will lose my job." Disappointed, I headed up the machan by the riverside to look at the forest and wonder why humans had been so unkind to it.

Just before we left the core area, Suresh stopped suddenly and pointed to the track on which we were driving. That is all I saw of the King, the pawprint.

We spotted a jackal on the drive back but nothing apart from a few birds in the forest.

Then by a stream and in the golden evening light, we saw a tree full of honey beehives.

There was much to ponder over as I watched the setting sun. Was the sun also setting on the happines of the residents of the Corbett Tiger Reserve?

Much needs to be done to restore Corbett's former glory. As visitors, it is our responsibility to treat the forest with respect and pay close attention to our behaviour. Should we not be comfortable to align our manner with those required of us in the forest, we must not venture near it. A friend had once correctly mentioned, "you may not live in the forest but wherever you are, the forest lives in you." We should make amends as soon as we can. Educate ourselves, friends and family to be repsonsible, to be human.