Magic of Forest
Nature around me, leaves rustling in the wind,
Dewy green grass in mornings, under my steps,
To breathe deeply the fresh, pure air of forest i enjoy.
I listen the twitter of birds that i so much adore,
I love to walk along rivers,
Blossomed flowers to smell and admire.
I adore the forest, the marvelous trees,
I want to live there forever,
Till the end of my days.
This poem by Cristina Teodor are what connect us to the magic of sheer wilderness, when we visit Churna range of Satpura Tiger Reserve (STR).
Picture this, you are starting your safari on a beautiful day in the enchanting woods of Satpura. You have this wonderful opportunity to spend the entire day in an ancient woodland full of mysteries to explore. This is the trip to Churna, one of the ten ranges of Satpura Tiger Reserve. The trip is a rare privilege among the wildlife enthusiasts.
Satpura was never known for it’s tiger sightings, however, Churna is the perfect tiger country of this wide expanse of forest. It is totally a different type forest than what you normally see in the other parts of the tiger reserve. Everything that crawls, flies, prowls or slithers here flourishes. The place is teeming with life. There are hundreds of sparkling water streams channeling through the entire forest. The prey base is one of the healthiest here.
Lets take a trip down Churna
Where on earth is this place?
It is nestled deep inside Satpura Tiger Reserves core, under the Bori range, and is about 170 kms away from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, Central India.
How does one get there?
- Flight: Bhopal airport is the closest to Satpura Tiger Reserve.
- Trains: Probably the best way to reach Satpura Tiger Reserve. Satpura is best connected by trains. Sohagpur, Itarasi, Hoshangabad, Pipariya are some of the closest railway stations.
You need minimum of two jeep safari tickets of adjacent slots through Madhai gate, or you can take a private 4 WD vehicle not older than five years and enter via Itarasi or Pachmarhi.
Where do I stay in Churna?
Churna Forest Rest house: The main attraction of this trip is the stay. You can spend either a whole day or do a night halt (momentarily and subject to latest forest department amendments).
The campus is British colonial establishment erected in 1910 and has twelve basic rooms. Being in the literal heart of the forest, the facilities here are a bit primitive. However, the rooms are clean and enough to satisfy a short stay.
What can one expect from this trip?
The experience itself is awe-inspiring. The lush green ancient forests, the massive expanse of meadows and driving through the tiger country makes this trip an enthralling experience.
The big 5 of Satpura are the Tiger, Leopard, Sloth bear, Indian Gaur and the Indian Giant Squirrel. All five roam freely in this idyllic world.
Well, its not always about the magnificent creatures. Satpura is home for hundreds of butterflies and one can go butterfly spotting on a beautiful sandy water stream, neighbouring to the campus. The same water stream holds an amazing population of birds and giant squirrels, so look up the tree canopies as well.
What kind of food is served in Churna?
Delicious local Indian cuisine cooked fresh on chullahs/mud stoves.
Churna has an array of wonders to offer and is a treat for the eyes which makes it a total package, worth checking out.
Written By: Swanand Deshpande, Naturalist, Denwa Backwater Escape
