Looking For The Place Of My Dreams.....

Hi, I don't know about you, but the first time I can remember knowing about India as a place was watching the Jungle Book when I was a kid.

Now, after a good search through the 'Wildlife & National Parks' forum, I've learned that Kipling based his book on Kanha National Park.

Last night I watched a show on BBC2 about Corbett park, and it got me thinking, which park most reflects the idea I have in my head of Kiplings India? I'm talking about dense jungle, with grassland clearings, scattered temples and ruins, elephants walking single file, singing monkeys, friendly bears, etc.......well maybe not all the above, but you get the picture!

So what would your recommendation be? Where will I find this India that has been in my head for so many years? Does it even exist?

It does exist, just not all in the same place.

ROFL

Conor, see thread on India thru wesTern eyes

OK, point taken. Bijapuri, I read you were planning to visit Bandhavgarh last February. Did you make it? How far off the mark was I?

BR Hills come with everything you are looking for (including the temple on top of the hill). Although, I am not sure abut the "friendly" bears..

Just another question about the national parks.

Is it easy to get away from the crowds, off on your own to explore the parks, or are you constantly been taken here and there, on a set route?

I'm not specifically after Tiger sightings or anything, I just like to get a feel for places like this.

Probably my expectations are such that I'll be disappointed at first (where are all the talking animals?), but that's natural, I know it takes time to get to know anywhere properly, and I'll have plenty of time.

many visual settings in pictures and books are set in cambodia around angkor wat which most temples were hindu.

Just go Kaziranga. Your dreams will come true.

Connor
Bandhavgargh may well fit the bill although there aren't any wild elephants but the camp for the working Elephants should suffice!
The park is beautiful, and is just how you imagine it, lots of sal forest, big mountains, grassy clearings, little rivers,forts, caves, temples and of course if luck is with you a tiger sighting!!
To answer your last question, well in Badhavgargh if you encourage the driver a little then there is no need to follow the circus trying to catch a tiger sighting.
Both Bij and myself spent the best part of a week just driving around this wonderful park, far away from the maddening crowds, this is very rewarding, both for mammel spotting and bird watching, just driving around is a delight in itself!! Try to get a god driver as a few just want to sit around waiting for a tiger to show thereby saving fuel!! Try to get Salim from the Kum Kum Kodge excellent excellent excellent, nuf said??
Oh did I mention a saw 7 tigers here........ yeah I probably did already!!!
Jeez now I feel like going back this year!!!

India is a huge country with lot of variations.
If you are looking for jungle and elephants....KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK is best choice.

Did you mean this kind of Kipling's India?

Take up the White Man's burden--
Send forth the best ye breed--
Go bind your sons to exile
To serve your captives' need;
To wait in heavy harness,
On fluttered folk and wild--
Your new-caught, sullen peoples,
Half-devil and half-child.

Bandhavgarh is rught palce for you. I don't want to emtioned any drivers name. But most of them are driving arourd CHAKRADHARA and near by area. Jeep rates are fixed so drivers don't want to go inside the forest.

Bandhavgarh is beautiful, as long as in the mornings you do not go to where they shepherd the tigers. I think the parks in the southern hills are nicer, tho.

One last observation . . . When the India of one's dreams meets with the India of reality, it's usually a messy affair. India's far more fascinating and "exotic" than anyone's dreams, as long as it is taken on its own terms.

That's an excellent way to put it. I guess what I really meant is the image I used to have in my head, when I was a child. Obviously I realise it won't match up, big deal. I'm more interested in experiencing NEW things, good or bad, not chasing after an idea in my head.

Anyway, it looks like Bandhavargh for me, it'll probably be right on my 'planned' route (which changes daily), but is winter the best time to visit?

Conner
I was there in late December, and it was great, cold in the morning but no mist, though you'd probably want a fleece for the morning part of the trip!

Have fun