Latest news with #JungleCampsIndia
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Meet the 'Tiger Men' of Pench and Tadoba
Gajendra Singh Rathore, MD, Jungle Camps India The forest has a rhythm. But you have to be still. You have to be willing to listen. At the entrance to Pench, the massive gate opens into the Pench Jungle Camp - the very landscape that once inspired Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. But the fiction ends there. At Pench, the stories are real. They walk on four legs. They glide through the trees. And as the Jungle Camp India resort's staff at Pench and Tadoba - from founder to naturalist to chef might tell you, these stories linger long after tourists leave. They speak of the bravery of the unseen, the unheard, the undervalued - those who protect the wild not with fanfare, but with fierce commitment. Lives Rewritten by the Wild The passion for the wild runs deep among the founder and staff. There's Gajendra Singh Rathore, who took an improbable journey from chartered accountancy to conservation. Over two decades, he has built infrastructure, introduced safaris, and mentored a new generation of naturalists across central India. He speaks with quiet reverence about his mission: turning tourists into conservationists. 'Every day, our staff educates guests not just about tigers, but about the rangers who defend nature, about how you can contribute to sustainable coexistence, and about the urgency of habitat loss,' he says. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More Undo 'This is not just hospitality - it's a movement.' Gajendra Singh Rathore, MD, JCI Jungle Camp India's model isn't just about creature comforts or curated experiences. It's rooted in community. From hiring locals to teaching tourists about scientific research, the camps strive to embed sustainability into every aspect of their operations. Gajendra Singh Rathore says,"Every day through our resort, our safaris, and our passion for eco-tourism, we try to make guests understand that we all share the responsibility of protecting the natural efforts are rooted in respect, listening, and patience like the forest itself." Eco-tourism as conservation Jungle Camps India is a constellation of luxurious eco-lodges scattered across Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, two tiger-rich states in central India. From the raw, rugged forests of Tadoba in Maharashtra to the calmer canopies of Pench on the Madhya Pradesh border, these stays do more than just accommodate - they interpret, educate, and protect. Yash Rajput, who now oversees operations at Tadoba, left a career at McKinsey & Company to work in the forest. 'Finance couldn't compete with the call of the wild,' he says. 'Nobody goes disappointed from Tadoba. The tiger sightings here have made it a magnet for true wildlife enthusiasts.' Naturalists here are more than guides, says Raghuveer Singh, GM at Pench branch of JCI. 'We are the glue,' Nayan, who calls himself 'Tiger Man' says. 'Between tourists and the wild.' Indeed, increasing tourist footfall has paradoxically helped tiger conservation by deterring poaching through visibility and awareness. Samrat, a seasoned naturalist, puts it plainly, 'It was never the tourists who undermined the tiger protection campaign. When tigers vanished in certain areas, it was tourists and local nature lovers who blew the whistle. Suagto, a naturalist at Pench, is a trained tracker who has participated in multiple wildlife censuses. But he's just as likely to halt a safari for the humble beauty of a butterfly. 'The forest speaks in many languages,' he says. 'It's not just the big cats. It's everything. You have to be willing to listen.' One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Hindustan Times
15-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Astro-tourism on the rise: Top places to visit and things to do to catch starry nights
Light pollution surging in the cities has obscured the pretty night skies. City lights of the skyline now dominate the night sky instead of constellations, depriving many of natural starry views. Instead, an empty, greyish, washed-out sky looms over the city. City dwellers, tired of this light-flooded, ashy sky, are heading to quieter, darker spots to catch a sky full of bright stars for a change. This marks the rise of astro-tourism, or astronomical tourism, which is rooted in observing the night sky through key activities like stargazing, moongazing, sky photography, and viewing celestial objects and events. Constellations, planets, and meteor showers are best seen in 'darker' regions where city lights don't interfere. High-powered telescopes are also used for closer, much more detailed views of the celestial objects in the sky. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Gajendra Singh Rathore, Founder and Managing Director of Jungle Camps India (JCI), explained how astro-tourism is becoming popular in India. He said, 'Astro tourism is becoming very popular in India. What was once a hobby for a few people is now a common travel choice. According to Skyscanner, it will be one of the top travel trends for Indians in 2025. More and more people are looking for unique experiences like stargazing, night sky photography, and sleeping under the stars. The global astro tourism market, valued at $250 million in 2023, is projected to grow at a 10% CAGR, reaching $400 million by 2030, with India emerging as a prime destination due to its natural dark sky reserves and growing infrastructure.' Several regions across India that have low light pollution are now tapping into the rising interest in astro-tourism by offering celestial experiences in naturally dark and scenic landscapes. Gajendra Singh Rathore elaborated, 'Pench Tiger Reserve, now India's first Dark Sky Park, hosts special tours where visitors enjoy guided stargazing, astrophotography, jungle safaris, and campfire gatherings under clear, dark skies. Locations such as Chopta, Binsar, Leh-Ladakh, Spiti Valley, and Jaisalmer are also launching astro tourism events, making it easier for people to explore the stars while surrounded by nature.' Gajendra further shared this guide for astro-tourism, from the best places to what things one can do in an astro-tourism spot: A post shared by PENCH JUNGLE CAMP (@penchjunglecamp) A post shared by KANHA JUNGLE CAMP (@kanhajunglecamp_) A post shared by TADOBA JUNGLE CAMP (@tadobajunglecamp_) A post shared by Condé Nast Traveller India (@cntravellerindia)
Hindustan Times
22-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Night Safari: Jungle adventures after hours
Did you know that the Uttar Pradesh government is constructing the Kukrail Night Safari and Adventure Park, about 9 km away from Lucknow? Inspired by the Mandai Night Safari in Singapore, this project worth ₹1,500 crore is expected to begin this month. Set to have 38 types of animal enclosures, an amusement activity area, a 7D theatre, an art gallery, and a grand entry gateway, this project is only going to add to India's ecotourism landscape — projected to grow at an annual rate of 15.7% from 2019 to 2027, with a market value of $4.55 billion. Until then, tourists and wildlife lovers can enjoy noctourism, short for 'nocturnal tourism', in Indian national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Night safaris are permitted in 'buffer zones' of national parks, located on the periphery of strictly protected 'core zones.' These after-sunset tours are a great opportunity to spot animals like wolves or porcupines, which are rarely seen during the day. The jungle transforms into a different world at night with unique sounds, smells, and a heightened sense of mystery. 'We organise these trips in Pench and Kanha. In Pench, the dense teak forests, seasonal streams, and open patches are ideal for spotting nocturnal animals like palm civets, leopards, and Indian hares. In Kanha, night safaris in the Khapa and Khatia buffer zones have meadows and Sal tree forest trails where jackals, foxes, and jungle cats are commonly seen,' says says Gajendra Singh Rathore, managing director, Jungle Camps India. With fewer vehicles and a focus on wildlife sightings, the sensory experience is only amplified. According to experts, the safaris can cost anywhere between ₹6,000 and ₹11,000. 'Buffer zones have a good tiger population, and the chances to spot a tiger are better in places like Satpura National Park and Pench these days. Demand is increasing, as every night we can take only six Gypsies. Most of the time they are fully booked,' says founder Harshal Malvankar, whose tour company Share Your Safaris organises safaris in Madhya Pradesh's Pench, Satpura, Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Panna. Madhya Pradesh: Night safaris are available in the buffer zones of Satpura National Park (known for sloth bears and leopards), Kanha National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park, Pench National Park (famous for wolves and jackals), and Panna National Park Rajasthan: Jhalana Leopard Safari Park near Jaipur is well-known for leopard sightings at night. Jawai National Park also offers night safari experience for sighting leopards Uttarakhand: Jim Corbett National Park allows night exploration in its border or buffer areas like the Sitabani zone Karnataka: Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary offers safaris where one might spot black panthers or flying squirrels. Bannerghatta Biological Park near Bangalore also has a night safari in a more controlled environment Kerala: Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary offers night safaris focused on spotting creatures like the Indian star tortoise West Bengal: Sundarbans National Park offers a unique night boat safari experience in the mangroves Inputs by Harshal Malvankar Carry a safari permit and government-issued photo ID for entry Tourists must be accompanied by a certified park guide Always stay inside the vehicle, unless permitted Always avoid flash photography and making any loud sounds, as they will disturb wildlife Do not feed, tease, or chase wildlife. Remember to maintain a safe distance from animals Carry back all waste; plastic use is strictly prohibited within these protected areas Do not carry banned items such as tobacco, alcohol, weapons, or inflammables Dress right in dark, comfy clothes; avoid bright colours Keep your phone in flight mode, and only use it to take photographs and videos Always stay on trails and designated safari routes Use vehicle headlights for navigation and opt for red-filtered lights to minimise any disruption
