Rana and Tim Tim - Leopards of Jhalana

 

A Rebuffed Leopard vents his anger!

While Tigers are striped, Leopards are spotted. Both of them blend well into the surroundings, perfect predators that are adapted for the strike. I was lucky enough to spot a trio of leopards within half an hour of setting out on a drive through the trails of Jhalana. Our guide, Kuldeep, was knowledgeable and promised us that we would be able to spot the Leopards. The Leopardess, Tim Tim, was in heat, and so Rana the dominant male leopard, was besotted by her! They traded loving glances, though at times Tim Tim gave him a cold shoulder, and he felt insulted! The photograph above shows a disgruntled Rana after being rebuked by Tim Tim.

Sometimes an argument can turn into amiable glances!

Spotting one Leopard can be great, spotting two Leopards is amazing, but then spotting three is simply beyond dreams! It was simply an unbelievable experience to spot three of them!

Troika of Leopards sticks together!

Sticking together

Beware of that wagging tail, a telltale signal!

A break is called for!

I learned that Leopards are nocturnal and that spotting them is less likely as the day advances. Surprisingly enough, I was told that the evening safari is more popular than the morning one. However, that day, the Leopards came out of their refuge during the early morning itself. The Leopards were found near a recent kill, and it looks like they did not want to stray far away from it so that they could feed on the leftovers. 

Peekaboo, climbing trees can be fun!

Beware of a disgruntled Male!

In close connection!

A Curious Juvenile keeps watch

Behold, Rana, the hero of our story!

Jaipur Vibes

Mahal Khandela-A Good Place to Stay

This year I visited Jaipur with the extended family after three years. While I was aware of the shopping areas, the place where we would be staying was a pleasant surprise. We would be staying at Mahal Khandela in the middle of the Sindhi colony. Staying in the Haveli was an experience of its own kind. The vibes were of a haveli in medieval times, a squarely built structure with a courtyard in the middle. Jharokas for windows and lots and lots of photographs, pikes, swords, and shields. The interior design seemed to have been done by an expert and is  soothing to the eyes. 

Shopping

Apart from enjoying the stay at the Haveli, there was a lot of shopping to be done. The best spots for shopping were Bapu Bazaar and the shopping areas near Hawa Mahal. Of course, there is a lot of bargaining to be done. One needs to beware of touts and rickshaw walas who will take you to emporiums that are costly. Traditional shoes called nagras are available at an attractive price; moreover, there is a wide range of readymade garments to choose from. 

Forts and Palaces

Jaipur is also famous for its forts and monuments. This time we visited the Amber Fort and then Jaigarh. We gave City Palace a skip this time. The Jaigarh Fort is home to one of the world's largest cannons.

Jhalana Leopard Safari

This time, unlike the previous visit, we had also decided to add the Jhalana Leopard Safari to our itinerary. It was an amazing experience as we were able to spot Rana, a famous Leopard in the area, besides partridges and Asian Antelopes. Jhalan is a unique national forest as it is in close proximity of the city and it is part of a conservation initiative for Leopards. 

Local Sightseeing

A visit to Jaipur would be incomplete without a sight of Hawa Mahal in the evening with the lights on. The illuminated structure takes on a rather surreal aspect. In fact, Bari Chopar and the other places look amazing at night.