Tribals in Lanjigarh

Recently there was this Vedanta Investers meet in our company. During that occasion we had the local tribals dancing in their costume.. Here are some of the pics which I could take..

Nandan Kanan, Therubali and Chatticuna visit...

I was in Bhubaneshwar two weeks back. It was Valentines Day and I started off my journey to Nandan Kanan wildlife sanctuary which is situated at about 12 kms from the Bhubaneshwar city. Many of them in the plant gave me useful advices before I left: about the zoo, the restaurants, where I can have my lunch and places where I can go after Nandan Kanan. Gayatri, Epsita, Smarak and Ajit were my mobile guides throughout the day. I mean I could call up any of these and they were there to give me the directions.

I reached Bhubaneshwar railway station well before time that is by 5 30 in the morning. I didn’t want to hire a room; instead freshen up in the upper-class waiting room in the railway station and set out. Incidentally the railways station area is also called as ‘The Master Canteen’. I simply couldn’t find out why. There wasn’t any canteen named ‘Master Canteen’ in that area, at least I couldn’t find it.

I had enquired earlier that the Zoo would open only at 9 in the morning and it was hardly 6 30 when I came out of the station. So I decided why not go around the city while I can kill time and have the breakfast as well.

I kept walking and walking only to find the shops closed. Walked to about 2 kms and thought let me walk back to see if any of the shops were open. I felt people of Bhubaneshwar were indeed little lazy to wake up early. The roads had a deserted look. This one on the left was taken at 7 30 in the morning.

There was this shop where I had my morning milk, where a man used two cans hanging over his shoulders to fill water in each of the shops. The shopkeeper says, that is how the shops get their water, they buy it from him.

It was already 8 by then and I took a rickshaw Shailesh Vihar from where I could catch a bus going towards Nandan Kanan. There was this lady or a guy (which I thought initially a girl !!) who was already sitting in the shared rickshaw. She guided me in getting down at the right place.

I could catch a bus to Nandan Kanan from Shailesh Vihar. One thing that I have observed in Orissa is that, we have only two types of buses running. One is the 'Star bus' and the other 'City Ride' which is also called as 'Town bus' coloquially.

I was at the ticket counter by 9. At the counter there were different fares written for different entries.

For Lion Safari: Rs. 15 /-
For White Tiger Safari: Rs 15 /-
For the Zoo
entry: Rs 10 /-
For the still camera: Rs 5 /-
For the Video camera: Rs
200 /-
For a guide: Rs 35 /- per hour

First I went towards the road leading to the White Tigers, Lions, Panthers, Leopards, Hyena and Zebras. It was nice and shady day for them and also the breakfast time. I moved around with my camera and calling them to give me a good photogenic smile!! And guess what few of them actually gave me one.

Here is this White tiger just staring at me or rather my camera.

The great indian tiger was in a lazy mood at that time. I tried hard to make it move but in vain.

There was this White tiger in a ferocious mood, hungry I suppose, moving to and fro.

This was taken when I went for the Safari ride. It is resting with an ease comparable to any street animal..

Next I moved towards the Reptiles section and the other bigger animals. I could find the Rhino and Hippopotamus along with the horned Sambars. I saw the porcupines with their showy spikes. Elephants were given a bath in nearby lake. The Mahouts were making bucks by gesturing the trained elephant to raise the trunk and place it over peoples’ head. It was scary indeed.

The lazy rhino with its usual boooo..

Namaste ji...

The Alligator was really scary. I could even capture a video of it moving out of the water.

The two white tigers waiting for the attender to feed them. Really cute they were.

Later I walked towards the Birds section. I could see the Flamingos, the Pelicans, the spoonbill and many other birds, the names of which I don’t remember.

Few of those whose names I don't

I was lucky enough to see three Peacocks dancing with its feathers completely open. It was an amazing experience to see them dancing, believe me!! You can see on the left. It was just one of those.

I set out for a Safari after completing the zoo experience. It was odd that we were inside a caged bus and the animals moving on the free ground. I could sight very few white tigers though but many lions. Here are some of them which I could capture on my cam.

I returned to Bhubaneshwar by late afternoon.

On the left is the Secretariat of Orissa, and guess what I could see the CM moving in his car.

Late in the evening I visited Indira Gandhi memorial park. A beautiful park with lush green lawn and it was nice to see people utilizing it in that number.

It was at that time that I got the news that Epsita and others have arranged a trip to Therubali and Chatticuna the next day. It was planned that I would be joining them straight from the Railway station at Muniguda.

As it was planned, I joined the group to Therubali from Muniguda. It was a great experience. I can only show you some of the snaps how I enjoyed. Here are some of them.

In the group it is, Epsita on my right and Pratap on my left. Sabita on the extreme left.

The Chatticuna falls. Isn't it looking good..??

Another one...

The Suryanarayan Temple at Therubali, the front view.

Having some lighter moments in the gardens near the temple.

Next post would be on my Sambalpur visit.

Jeevan