Encounter with Riddhi 🐅

Every trip has something to teach you know those areas of improvement. Literally that's how our day one started.

Day 1 is actually a planning one for me. After much contemplation between a awesome weather hill destinations like Darjelling or Dheradun to hot weather destination like Rajasthan, apparently with a cost effective flying  from Mumbai. We zeroed down on going to a famous safari destination in India.

Day 1 & 2 of trip: Preponed Spicejet flight to Jaipur.

A delayed our hotel check-in coz of late luggage and two uber cancellation. Day ended on a bad check-in note at "The Fren Residency" in Jaipur. Nonetheless our day 2 was quick lunch at ok types Cafe "Step Up" in Jaipur followed by quick shopping spree in Bapu market. Which I could just manage coz Birla Mandir opens at around 5pm in evening.

I had visited Birla Mandir as a kid multiple time in Bhopal but Jaipur was my first. Very well managed by Birla. The beautiful temple of Laxmi Narayan set in white marble.

Day 3 of trip: This is where the excitement of testing our luck begins as we start our journey to Ranthambore national forest in Sawaii Madhopur.

Note: Make sure you book you safari tickets in advance before planning your trip or putting dates in place as tickets get sold out fast and you may not get tickets for desired dates.

Note of caution: Book through Rajasthan Govt official site http://fmdss.forest.rajasthan.gov.in\
and get help from your hotel for tickets pick up from Forrest office.

I am not covering a bit of change in our plan coz of unavailability of safari trip.

We had booked Ranthambore Regency with full board meal option and I am proud of my decision and their aren't any great options available in Sawaii Madhopur.

The property was more than we expected beautiful, green, homely with warm staff and delicious food.

Day 4 we kept our 🤞for THE DAY and with a positive mind we were all geared up for our safari trip in an open Gypsy. Mornings in forest has a different AURA to it. Chill in the air, colorful sunrise, chirping of birds all around and the green look so much fresh. It was a interesting ride with so many stories of tiger and tigress from Gypsy driver and our Guide but our eyes searched The ONLY one and when the hope started fading that's when the love birds surprised us. Here they were lost in love James and Shakti too engrossed in each other's company to even notice the chaos around them. A roar bought all smiles and we felt LUCKY by all means.

Earlier in the morning we have decided that if we spot and tiger we will not take our second safari of the day. But but but we were so trilled after our morning encounter all ready for round two.

Afternoon ones can be tricky and tiring as it's gets really hot in April and I was kinda of grumpy and tired but with a little push and hunger I woke to explore my luck again.

Travel can be surprising in a good way when you go without expectations. So this time we were going in a all ladies zone mom (Arrowhead) along with her two daughters (Riddhi and Siddhi).

Wow! Timing was perfect and while mommy enjoyed her kill or rather her feast all the safari vehicles hover around her.

Beautiful, big & healthy mommy. It was a sight to behold she was in bushes not too visible yet so beautiful. While I was soaking in the fierceness of Arrowhead our driver rushed towards the lake. From afar I saw her sunbathing resting in lake like a princess and that's when I knew I am gonna fall in love.

With eyes wide open we waited from her to rise. When she finally got up and started to walk
oh man! My heart ❤ feel out my mouth..
So beautiful, if only I could hold her, caress her, play with her.

Riddhi was so entertaining from hiding in bushes to appearing and walking along the lake side she just did it all.

After all the entertainment just when wr thought it was over, mommy came out to give us her full view. The Queen of Zone III

I knew my trip was 100% we left the forest happy while already missing few hours that we had spent inside Ranthambore National Forest.

Things to do:
1. Optimize cost and directly drive to to Ranthambore
2. Book multiple safaris. Know your zones. As per locals and Google 1 to 5 is the best, 3 being the ultimate..we did zone 5 in morning and for evening we had two tickets for zone 3 & 2 but we selected Zone 3 as word already did the round on Arrowhead kill and we will have a definite spotting.
3. Avoid booking through agents.
4. Tip your guide and driver coz this their only livelihood.
5. Book a full board hotel.
6. Make sure you have a good camera else phone will also do. After all it's the your experience which will stay with you.
7. Ok one thing don't Book ticket on mobile (it's frustrating) use the link mentioned on laptop and desktop only.
8. RT PCR test
Enjoy your spotting!