Pics: Harishvara Venkat.

My father told me that he first took me to the jungle when I was six months old. It was then that my love for wildlife took root.

Ever since, I have been visiting wildlife sanctuaries in southern India. I would say wildlife is now a part of me.

I realised that after taking up wildlife photography seven years back. One of the best wildlife sanctuaries that I have visited is the Nagerhole National Park on the banks of Kabini River in Karnataka.

One gets to see leopards, tigers, elephants, dholes, Indian gaur, sambar deer and many other mammals and birds there.

After I started photographing wildlife, I developed a better understanding of the animal habitat and most importantly animal behavior, which in turn helps me predict what I can expect of a particular animal in a particular environment.

One of the finest moments I’ve had in Kabini was in June last year. It was my first trip to Kabini after I upgraded to a professional camera.

This time our naturalist spotted two leopards — a mother and cub — on a tree. For the next two-and-a-half hours we saw them devour a deer, play with each other climb up and down the tree, rest and eventually doze off.

Kabini has been a very promising place for me and has never failed to impress even in summer months when there is a drought.

During the hottest part of the year the Kabini River shrinks in size allowing all animals to come over to the riverbank for water, which is a treat to watch from a boat.

I still get to learn so many new things every time I visit the jungle. It’s been a pleasure doing this and it’s so invigorating to get out of the so called civilized world and live with the most organised living beings on earth.

Flashback

The city of Nagarhole was once ruled by the Lingayat kings of Kodagu till 1850s. The British took control of the city after defeating Tipu Sultan.

The presence of derelict irrigation tanks suggests that there were agricultural enclaves within the wooded landscape.

The forest department in 1860 was established by the colonial administration with an authorization to restrict forest burning, control farming, avert agricultural encroachments, and carry out sustainable reap of timber and to raise teak plantations.

Click away

After navigating two kilometres from the confluence of Panamaram river, Kabini forms an island called Kuruva Island, spreading over 520 acres with all kinds of flora and fauna.

It also forms Kabini reservoir bordering Kerala and Karnataka. Between Kabani reservoir and Kuruva island Kalindi River joins Kabini. This area is a photographers delight and a lot of travel enthusiasts go there to enjoy the nature.

Food

The Honey Comb resturant in Kabini is named after the honey gathering Jenu Kuruba tribe. They offer a platter of the cream of international and regional cuisine.

He ambience adds to the entire feel and for all you know, you would want to reach there an hour early for your dinner just to enjoy the location. The resturant is veru popular among tourists.

The beautiful ranges of Baltistan

Also on the charts for the summer are our signature Basic Photography Workshops in Ladakh and our Guided Photo-Tour of Zanskar.

For further details about the workshop, log on to: http://travellinglens.net or call 044-42300478 or +91-9790770679

(The writer is a wildlife photographer and a travel enthusiast)

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Channels> Lifestyle> Wanderlust / by Harishvara Venkat / DC, Chennai/ April 19th, 2012

Coorg a district in the North of Karnataka is well known for its mutton curry. Mutton curry here is made with bones with a slim layer of meat. It is called Yarchi Nad Kanne. The mutton curry has the flavour all the aromatic home grown spices.

Being a hilly area, the spices in most Coorgi recipes are fresh and play a vital role. Yarchi Nad Kanne too makes it spiced with fresh pepper. An innovative twist is added to this Indian recipe for mutton curry. Yarchi Nad Kanne is cooked like a broth of bones instead of a meat curry.


Ingredients For Mutton Bone Curry:

Mutton bones with little meat (ribs and leg pieces) 300 grams

Onion 1 (chopped)

Garlic cloves 7-8

Tomatoes 2 (chopped)

Freshly ground pepper 2 tbsp

Cumin powder 1 tbsp

Cinnamon sticks 1 inch

Cardamom seeds 10

Mint leaves (optional) 3-4

Oil 2 tbsp

Salt as per taste

Procedure For Mutton Bone Curry:

Heat oil in a pressure cooker. When it sizzles, add cinnamon stick, cardamom seeds and onions.
Saute the onions till it turns golden. Add the garlic and stir it for a minute or two.
Add the mutton bones to the cooker. Reduce the flame and let them fry for 2-3 minutes.
Add the tomatoes in the end. Sprinkle salt on it and let it cook in its own juices for 4-5 minutes.
Sprinkle all powdered spices, namely, pepper and cumin powder here. Fry it for 2 minutes before adding 4 cups of water.
You can add a few twigs of mint to the watery curry before fixing the lid.
Cook the broth for at least 5- 6 whistles. The bones need to melt in your mouth and the marrow needs to seep into the broth.
Serve this mutton curry with melted bones as a side dish for steamed rice with special Coorgi meat pulav.

source: http://www.boldsky.com / Home> Cookery> Non-vegetarian> Mutton / Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

Madikeri: Temples and religious centres had a major role to play in creating awareness and social commitment among citizens, said state assembly speaker K G Bopaiah here on Wednesday.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the new ‘Omkara Sadan’ built on behalf of the department of religious endowments and the temple management committee, in the precincts of the historic Shri Omkareshwara temple here.

“Our country comprises a variety of faiths, castes and sects and in this backdrop, the religious centres are functioning to create unity and a firm civil society. Hence the government has been giving generous grants to these centres. Therefore the benefits should be available to people of all faiths and communities,” he stressed.

He pointed out that in the modern set-up, the middle-class and low-income groups were being forced to spend heavily at the time of their children’s marriage. Hence he urged that ‘Omkara Sadan’ be made available to the poorer classes at very reachable rates, without allowing any commercialism to creep in.

He added that religious centres and temples had their own unique place in the society and they should be carefully conserved. They should remain hallowed places of worship and should not merely function as tourist spots.

Madikeri MLA Appachu Ranjan inaugurated the dining hall. MLC T John said that the Omkareshwara temple had a deep historical significance and expressed happiness over the improvements in facilities. While saying that the facilities should be available to the general public, he assured of a grant of Rs 2 lakh from his legislator’s fund.

Temple management committee president K S Ramesh Holla presided over the function. Former president K S Devaiah and contractor Ravindra Rai were honoured on the occasion.

Zilla panchayat president Shanteyanda Ravi Kushalappa, TP president Hosamane Kavita Prabhakar, former MLC S B Medappa, ZP members S N Raja Rao, Ballaranda Mani Uttappa and Beena Bollamma, APMC president Bellu Somaiah, M P Sunil Subramani, renovation committee member G Rajendra and other committee members were present on the occasion.

C N Somesh compered the programme. Arun Kumar welcomed the gathering. Shraddha and archak Subrahmanya Holla made an invocation. Sharada Mandappa thanked everyone.

source: http://www.mangalorean.com / Team Mangalorean- Madikeri / by Ashwini Appaiah with Vartha Pics / April 12th, 2012

Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah said that plans are afoot to develop Rajara Gaddige as a tourist spot in Madikeri.

Speaking after visiting Rajara Gaddige on Friday, he said though Rajara Gaddige comes under archaeology department, Madikeri Urban Development Authority is developing a garden at an estimated cost of Rs 67 lakh.

MLA M P Appacchu Ranjan said the garden is developed in 18 acre land in and around the Gaddige. About four acre land belonging to the Gaddige has been encroached.

Deputy commissioner Dr N V Prasad said the garden can be entrusted to the department of tourism after completing the work.

Additional DC K M Chandre Gowda, Madikeri Urban Development Authority chairman Shabeel Krishnan, and others were present.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / DHNS / Madikeri, April 15th, 2012