TOURIOSITY TRAVELMAG AUGUST - SEPTEMBER I 2012 ` 50 Each forest has its own charisma, something very unique to itself. And this is not with respect only to its physical characteristics, but in terms of the very soul of it. The sounds, smells, whisper and the air of each forest is different. So is true for its residents. Unfortunately, the forest cover of the world is declining every day, thanks to technology advancements, urbanization, increased mining and agriculture. If mankind continues to be fascinated by modern technology to the extent that surrendering the future generations’ wellbeing becomes immaterial, it is not difficult to imagine that forests will vanish some day. Environmentalists today are increasingly concerned about the Climate change – the increase of Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Out of various reasons attributable to this deadly phenomenon, deforestation is one, and this, few of us know. In fact, a fifth of the greenhouses gases results from deforestation, more than that caused by automobile pollution all over the world. This sounds really scary. Many decades back, Mahatma Gandhi had said “What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.” Nobody could have possibly put this concern Rupanjana De, Editor in a better phrase. Those who have spent childhood or at least a major period of life in the vicinity of forests can tell you that forests are not gloomy or fear provoking. Rather it is the city that looks naked – ugly because shades of green are absent. Alarming to an equal extent is the continuous poaching of animals for monetary gains. The list of endangered animals over the years has been expanding. The 2012 Red List updated at Rio +20 Earth Summit lists 132 species of plants, birds and animals in India including the Asiatic lion, Indian elephant and Royal Bengal Tiger as endangered and a few more including leopards and black bucks as threatened. The eternal relation between humankind and trees need no introduction. Our ancestors have seen much more of them than us. From decades we have been constantly told that forests are to be conserved if we want to give the gift of a good future to our children. It is one of those important investments one would like to make for the coming generations. There has perhaps never been a time as important as the present. So, if any steps are to be taken, NOW is the time! We would like to hear from you. Share your thoughts with us at [email protected] Happy travelling! Rupanjana An appeal To ensure the safety of wild animals crossing roads close to forest reserve areas, we request our readers to ensure that they drive slow and take special care while passing by such roads, especially at night. To avoid the risk of devastating forest fires please make it a point not to carry combustibles during visit to forests. LET’S BE RESPONSIBLE TOURISTS. Contents Masai Mara, Kenya Lake Nakuru 10 24 National Park, Kenya 18 Tanzania Safari The Giants of 32 Kanha National Park My Trip to Goa From a mighty fort to a 40 tiger’s den - Bandhavgarh 46 Shades of Green and Wildness at Mudumalai Hitchhiking to the world’s 52 smallest Big City 58 Aarhus, Denmark GUIDE TO THE MAG To make your reading through Touriosity Travelmag better, here’s presenting a quick glance at the various sections and features in the magazine. TRAVELOGUE GLOBETROTTER’S DIARY In this section we bring travel experiences This section explores the world of a globetrotter, of one of our readers from popular places whose passion is to travel, travel and travel more. around the world. It brings to readers unique facts and information from remote corners of the world. Destination It introduces the readers to various destinations in India with an emphasis on at least one AN Artist’S IMPRESSION destination from each region. It provides in- A travelling artist makes it to faraway lands and depth information on the locations. In addition, brings memories in the form of impressive water there is also handy tourist information to help colour paintings. This section is a visual treat as our readers plan ahead of trips. well as interesting to read. Lake Nakuru Sustainable Forestry in Phone: 033-32613664 National Park, Kenya the light of Mobile: +919836511995 24 68 Rio+20 Conference Email: [email protected] Website: www.touriositytravel.com Snapshots 72 Editor Rupanjana De Advisors Pratiti Moulik Dr. Paritosh Nandi A date with Nature at Assistance Sonia Roy My Trip to Goa 76 Jaldapara National Park 46 The UNESCO World Design 82 Heritage Sundarban Raghunath Sharma Publisher & Printer Rupanjana De #E, B/6, Bapujinagar Kolkata – 700092 Printed at B. N. Process, 3B, Krittibas Mukhrjee Road Photo Feature Kolkata – 700067 Gir - The last home of 88 Asiatic lion Distributor 90 K. K. Puri News Distributors Pvt. Ltd. 9, Decares Lane, Kolkata – 700069 Ph – 033-2210-1136 Email - [email protected] Cover Picture Photographer: Amartya Mukherjee Location: Bandhavgarh National Park PHOTO feature POINT OF VIEW In photo feature, we cover the theme of a Here we bring to our readers useful articles with particular issue in photographs from one of offbeat content. The idea is to give you the our readers. stimulus for thinking. It covers important issues that are in some way connected to travel and tourism. MEMOIRS OF A backpacker A new adventure every time in an entirely new place across the globe by a solo female SNAPSHOT backpacker. We follow the locals she meets, the This section is an ideal one for quick browsing. unusual things she comes across, the surprises she It provides interesting information from across gets and the problems she faces in her journeys the globe with a focus on the theme of the with a backpack across the world. issue. CONTRIBUTORS’ PROFILES Passionate about travelling, AMARTYA MUKHERJEE, a Kolkata based Chartered Accountant, has visited 25 countries across 4 continents. His travels have taken him on safaris to some of the wilderness areas of Eastern and Southern Africa. Also a keen photographer and travel writer, his articles and photographs have been published in many leading Indian English and Bengali publications. His photographs have been displayed in numerous solo and group exhibitions at various renown fora in Kolkata and published in leading magazines like BBC’s Lonely Planet and have also been featured in a Bengali TV Channel. Amartya Mukherjee SAMIT BHATTACHARYA, 43, originally from Kolkata, now lives in Dubai, UAE. He started travelling young along with his parents. His career in software consulting has taken him to different countries and places of which Sydney remains his favourite. He loves nature and wildlife, and travels to historical places. His other interests include photography, movies, music and reading. A few of his photographs were published in “Gulfnews”. For the last 15 years, his wife has been his partner in many of in his travels and now his 9 year old daughter shares the same travel bug. Samit Bhattacharya JOAQUIN GONZALEZ DORAO, 50, Madrid, Spain, combines in his illustrated Travel Journals his passion for travel and his skills as a watercolour artist. He replaced his camera with a blank notebook and a box of watercolour. While exploring unknown lands, he fills its pages with landscapes, people, buildings and details. He has been to five continents and has authored and illustrated many books including “Travel Watercolors” (Greece, Australia, China, Croatia & Peru) published by Lonely Planet Publishers and “Ethiopia Travel Diary”. Joaquin has won many awards and held a number of exhibitions across the world. Joaquin Gonzalez Dorao GRETE HOWARD, Bristol, UK, has travelled to 132 countries in 7 continents. She wonders at the traditions and way of life of other nations and is captivated by the beauty of little things. She makes a point of not judging other cultures by their actions, just because they are different to hers. She believes she has been lucky to be able to make seven trips abroad on an average every year for the last 21 years. She appreciates the opportunity travel has afforded her - to gain an insight into other people’s lives, to embrace the world with an open mind and tolerance. Grete Howard 6 AUGUST - SEPTEMBER I 2012 DEBABRATA BISWAS, Kolkata, is a member of the Indian Forest Service, 1981 batch and is presently holding the position of the Chief Conservator of Forest, Government of West Bengal. From 1998 to 2000, he was the Director of the Darjeeling Zoo which abodes high altitude endangered species like snow leopards and red panda. He has wide ranging experience in managing National parks and Sanctuaries. Debabrata Biswas VINOD KUMAR YADAV, Kolkata, is an officer from the Indian Forest Service with vast experience of working in the National Parks and Sanctuaries including those of Jaldapara, Chapramari, Gorumara and Neora valley in West Bengal. He has a passion for photography and has travelled across most of the wildlife areas of the country clicking photos of wildlife and their habitat. Vinod Kumar Yadav PRATITI MOULIK, Kolkata, loves travelling and gathering interesting experiences. A Practicing Company Secretary by profession, she loves music and making collages. Travelling gives her the treasure-trove of ‘stand and stare’ moments. It opens new windows of realization and deepens understanding. During travels she enjoys the moments of small discoveries of her 6 year old daughter as something new unfolds in front of her. Pratiti Moulik SARASIJ CHAKRABORTY is a Kolkata based photographer who specializes in wildlife photography. His passion for photography began in his early teens and later metamorphosed into a full time activity.