Satpura Kusum Tree 1

Satpura National Park: Crouching Tiger, Blazing Kusum

Satpura Sambar Deer 4

I have always been intimidated by the famed jungles of central India such as Satpura National Park, NOT due to their widely publicized but rarely seen tigers, but due to the extreme temperature of the region. It doesn’t seem to cool down much even in the winters and I would never even have planned a visit in April with the mercury already crossing 40 degrees. So, when I got an invite by the Forsyth Lodge to visit the Satpura National Park, I was hesitant. But the itinerary they promised seemed action-packed, and I had nothing better do anyway. So, I decided to go for it. A lot happened in those four days and three nights and I have a feeling that this will be one of my longest posts. In order to keep things under control and not to lose out on details, I am trying out a diary-style narration with a blow-by-blow account.

10th April

5 AM
The early morning flight meant a sleepless night. Also, our destination in Hoshangabad district was still 160 KMs away from the Bhopal airport. I met other bloggers, Neelima, Joshi Daniel, and Roxanne, who were to be with me for the rest of the trip. It was noon by the time we reached Forsyth Lodge and I immediately fell asleep. Nothing was scheduled at that point anyway because the activities are possible only in the morning and evening due to extreme heat.

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12.30-4 PM Sleep-Eat-Sleep

4.30 PM
A jeep safari around the ecozone outside the core area was designed to give us an idea about the things to come. We drove through very dry looking forests. Most of the trees were still denuded and struggling to recover whatever they lost in the winter. However, Mahua trees were in full bloom and their intoxicating fragrance apparently lures in humans and wildlife alike. Humans, of course, go a step further to make liquor out of Mahua nectar but let’s discuss it later.

6.30 PM
Something moved in the bushes. The cars have parked near a small pond, made for the animals to drink water and so it is expected to be a potential sighting spot. My imagination was running wild and I was prepared to get a glimpse of the big one, and then be eaten by it. However, the only thing that eventually came out of the bushes was a barking deer. It drank water, din’t even bark, and went away. There were some birds too but it was too dark for photography.

Satpura Barking Deer

7.00 PM
A pair of eyes shone brightly in the dark, terrifying everyone. But it turned out to be an Indian hare that was even more terrified to even wait for a photograph.

11th April

5.30 AM
I dreaded the heat so much that I hadn’t brought any warm clothing but the morning turned out to be extremely cold. Still, we had to move on because even the animals like the cool mornings to hang out. We drove to the bank of the river Denwa, and crossed the river, paid entry fees, and got into the jeeps owned by the forest department, along with an official guide and a driver. The sunrise was beautiful too.

Satpura 10

6.00 AM
Wild boars, spotted deer, sambar deer, gaurs, and other such herbivores have become used to visitors and they can be easily spotted. Also, easily visible are various water birds such as storks, kingfishers, herons, and egrets of various types. Some spotted owletts were also present but I keep seeing them wherever I go.

Satpura Gaur

Satpura Sambar Deer 3

Satpura Spotted Deer 1

Satpura Sambar Deer 1

Satpura Spotted Owlett

6.30 AM
The guide suddenly asked the driver to stop and drive back a few feet. “Tiger!”, He whispered. I thought I was hallucinating, but then I hadn’t consumed anything questionable of late. But there it was, one of those 2226! It had killed a sambar deer and was enjoying an early brunch. With my limited zoom, I tried hard. Most of the images were disappointing, but at least I saw it and I’d never even come close before in places like Namdapha, Kaziranga, and Corbett.

Satpura Tiger 1

7.00 AM
After that point, I felt very relieved. It felt as if I had achieved something in life although we would just have passed by it had the guide not spotted it. I started enjoying every sight that Satpura offered. That area of the forest was full of Kusum (Ceylon Oak) trees. New spring leaves of Kusum are scarlet, then they gradually become resplendent green after attaining an orange hue for a while. It was the perfect time to enjoy those colours and the sky seemed ablaze from certain angles.

Satpura Kusum Tree 2

8.00 AM
We had our packed breakfast at a forest camp. We clicked a photo of Aadhar Singh Ukey, the guide to spotted the tiger. He can be seen here on the right side, along with Deepak from Forsyth.

Satpura 23

8.30 AM
With the temperature soaring higher and higher, we started our return trip. But there were several stoppages. Twice we stopped for a giant squirrel. It showed us some serious acrobatics but never paused for a good snap. But completely still was the crested hawk eagle and I was very happy about this sighting because I spotted it even before the guide and asked the driver to stop. An Indian Roller was nearby too.

 

Satpura Giant Squirrel 2

Satpura Crested Hawk Eagle

Satpura Indian Roller

8.45 AM
The car stopped and the guide ask us to spot the bird while pointing to the ground. There was a nightjar, one of the few creatures of night that can be seen in broad daylight. But it was so perfectly camouflaged that it took some time to spot. On the positive side, it is overconfident about its camouflage and so it does not fly away easily when human beings come close. As it turned out, Satpura is full of them and we saw them many more times over the next couple of days.

Satpura Nightjar 2

11AM-3.30 PM Sleep-Eat-Sleep

4 PM
Now was the time for a canoe ride along the river Denwa, which seemed as unpolluted and soothing as Chambal, one of my favourite rivers in the Indian plains. It is not a coincidence that this river also supports a large population of Indian skimmers, just like the Chambal Sanctuary.

4.30 PM
The river is primarily dominated by river terns. While other birds maintained a distance from human beings, the terns were all over, flying, diving, and catching fish.

Satpura Tern 1

Satpura Tern 2

Satpura Tern 3

5.00 PM
To be honest, initially I was struggling to differentiate between terns and Indian skimmers. But finally, I realized that the skimmers have much larger and brighter beaks due to their skimming habits. The guide turned boatman reached a strategic location from where we could get a good view of the skimmers.

Satpura Indian Skimmer 2

Satpura Indian Skimmer 3

Satpura Indian Skimmer 4

6.00 PM
Some other sightings included thick-knees, black-headed gulls, and woolly necked storks, and a few others I can’t exactly remember. Overall, it was a good, short ride with enough sightings. The sunset beyond the river was delightful too.

Satpura Thick Knee 3

Satpura Thick Knee 1

Satpura Black Headed Gulls 2

Satpura Black Headed Gulls 1

Satpura Denwa River 3

Satpura Denwa River 2

6.45 PM
I’ve always had a great desire to spot and click hornbills and we were told that a couple lives nearby. We did see them while returning but it was too dark and all I got was this silhouette.

Satpura 48

8.00 PM
A few good pegs of Mahua liquor. Source won’t be disclosed. Good ambiance made it more effective.

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12th April

5:15 AM
We started even earlier, hoping to catch more animals. Guides touring here with various parties keep contact with each other, mostly using their BSNL phones (Other networks don’t work here). In case one of them sees anything, he immediately informs others. So, our guide also got the news of a sloth bear nearby and we rushed towards that spot. After some effort we did manage to catch a glimpse, mostly of its shapely derrière. We were told that the bear sightings are supposed to be very easy here. However, the Mahua season may have something to do with their disappearance in recent weeks. Too much intoxication probably make then recede into denser corners and sleep more. No photographs of the bear.

Satpura 49

6.30 AM
A series of ominous cries shook the jungle. Langurs, birds, and various other animals joined in. After meandering for a while we had finally stopped to catch a glimpse of some fish that looked like a snake at a small pond. But those calls alerted the driver and he started driving like there is no tomorrow. After a while, we reached a point where we saw a sambar deer and a few langurs. However, the guide cleverly followed the line of sight of the deer and predicted where the leopard might be. The driver changed his directions and started driving again. After a couple of minutes the car came to a screeching halt again and there it was! I could see it but it was even further than the tiger was the previous morning. It remained there for a few minutes before slowly walking away. I tried several times but none of the photographs were satisfactory.

Satpura Leopard

7.00 AM
Saw a crocodile in a pond. But only the head was visible. It refused to come out of water.

Satpura Crocodile

7.30 AM
Spotted a brown fish owl. I have seen other owls before but this was the first time I managed to get a clear photograph of a large owl (Not counting the very prevalent spotted owletts).

Satpura Brown Fish Owl

8.00 AM
We reached the hilltop. It is a natural viewpoint with panoramic views due to its elevation. These hills have been formed by 65 million-year-old volcanic rocks. There are no large trees here and the extreme heat made it impossible to last long here. We soon had to leave the place and run for cover.

8.30 AM
We stopped at the elephant camp for breakfast. While there are no wild elephants here, there are a few domesticated ones used for various purposes. Visitors can feed them fruits too.

Satpura 55

8.45 AM
Sirkeer Malkoha. Another noteworthy sighting. Apparently, it is not very frequently seen here.

Satpura Sirkeer Malcoha

9.00 AM
Here I must also express my fascination for the Indian Ghost Tree (Sterculia Urens). Those pale white trunks are a sight to behold. They would be called White Walkers if they learn to move.

Satpura Ghost Tree

9.30 AM
We took some time out to visit the local village. The villages are modernizing nowadays owing to the tourism boom. TV antennas can be seen everywhere and many of them own vehicles. But signs of their ancient traditions can still be seen. Most of these people were probably aboriginal inhabitants of these lands. The pre-historic rock paintings of Bhimbetka are not very far from here and one can guess that the ancestors of these people might have created those ones. We were guided by Varsha, a local girl who is somewhat famous in the area because she taught herself to ride the horse. We had seen her riding the horse at a breakneck speed the previous evening. She took us to several houses including her own and gave us a glimpse of their lives.

Satpura Village 3

Most of the houses seem to be collecting and drying Mahua flowers. As mentioned earlier, the Mahua trees are prevalent here and play an important part in the local economy, so much so that they generally don’t cut a Mahua tree. Villagers go inside the jungle to collect the fallen flowers and they are sold in the markets of the nearby towns. From liquor to oil, it can be used for many purposes.

Satpura Village 2

11AM-3.00 PM Sleep-Eat-Sleep

For a while sat at the backside verandah of my cottage, hoping to see stray animals. But the heat drove me inside very soon.

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3.30 PM
We set out early for a longish drive. We crossed the forests of ecozone to reach a camping site on the bank of the river. We also crossed a small shrine of a local deity called Jamanidev.

4.30 PM
I noticed a large bird on the river. It was probably drinking water. I walked through the treacherous soft sand on the banks to get as close as possible but the bird had its back towards me. After a point it suddenly registered my presence and started flying away, but not before I got a moderately clean snap. It was apparently a honey buzzard according to the guide. A wooly necked stork was visible too.

Satpura Honey Buzzard

Satpura Woolly Necked Stork

7.00 PM
We watched the sunset at that site and came back. In between, the guide spotted a nightjar again, with his torch. This time it was awake and the eyes were open. But still it was nonchalant even though it was disturbed by the torchlight. For a while, I wondered if we should keep disturbing it with the light but considering its lack of response, I think it was fine with it.

Satpura Nightjar 1

13th April

6.00 AM
Finally, just before leaving, we had a walking safari, not very far from the entry point. We walked around for a couple of hours, while consistently hearing alarm calls of langurs and finally spotting fresh pug marks of a leopard. We never saw it, but it was nearby and probably it saw us and ran away. After all, what can be scarier than a homo sapiens? This was practically the last action of the trip.
——-

So, before I wind up, I’d like to discuss a point or two. Firstly, the good people at the Forsyth Lodge took a lot of effort to explain that Satpura has many attractions beyond the tiger and it does. The reason for that is because tigers are generally elusive and you don’t see them too often even at the places best known for tigers. However, tiger was the first significant thing I saw out there, followed by a leopard and a bear. So, I just want to tell everyone that don’t get disappointed if you don’t see the tiger. Feel free to curse me for the incredible stroke of luck I had but rest assured that there is much more to see and do at Satpura.

I do understand the attraction for Tigers. But if that is your primary concern, there are other options too. I recently saw this blog on Ranthambore National Park. So many sightings at one go is hard to believe.

Anyway, what is noteworthy is that Satpura National Park is a comparatively lesser-known wildlife destination in Madhya Pradesh, the land of Kanha and Bandhavgarh. While the jungle is as primal as it gets, the tourism thrust in Satpura has started only in the last decade or so. As a result, the jungle is much less populated and at times, in certain corners, you can be the only person in the jungle (along with the guide). Compared to the virtual traffic jam caused by tourist jeeps in some more famous national parks, this can be a really delightful experience. It can also be combined with a visit to nearby Pachmarhi, sort of hill station and a British era cantonment town and even Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, a UNESCO World Heritage Site somewhere between Bhopal and Satpura.

The other noteworthy part at Satpura is sustainability initiatives by the authority involving local people. There used to be villages inside the core area too but they have now been moved out and settled in the periphery of the park. However, they have been integrated with the developing tourism ecosystem. So, many of the locals work as guides with the forest department. The few we interacted with seemed pretty happy with their lives and this is not something most people can say nowadays.

Satpura National Park Travel Guide

How to Reach Satpura?

The nearest major cities with Airports for Satpura are Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh and Nagpur in Maharashtra.

The nearest railway stations are Itarsi, Sohagpur, Pipariya & Hoshangabad.

There are 3 entrances for Satpura National Park are the one near Pachmarhi hill station, one at Madhai Entrance Gate about 19kms inside from Pipariya-Hoshangabad road, and the third near Tawa Dam but that is only for those staying at MP Tourism: Tawa Resort located on Tawa Dam. We took the 2nd one, that is the Madhai Gate.

Since the stay options are deep inside the forest, public transport is not an option. You will have to hire cabs or take your vehicle.

Where to Stay at Satpura?

Satpura has many great jungle resorts. I stayed at Forsyth Lodge as described above and had a great experience.

How many days to stay?

One day is not enough for Satpura. To completely enjoy the jungles you need to do multiple safaris and also need to have some time for boating in the river. Try to have at least two nights and three days.

Which activities are involved?

Jungle safari using jeeps is the most popular form of exploring Satpura. We even did a night safari. You can also go for a short hike with the guides. Additionally, you can visit the villages of local indigenous people, take boat rides at river Denwa, and make detours

Cto nearby attractions such as Panchmarhi hill station and prehistoric cave paintings of Bhimbetka, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Best Season to visit Satpura?

Satpura usually gets closed for the summer and rainy season between May and September. The normal season is between October and April. While the winters are the most popular, we visited in April and had some delightful colours.

Phone and data connectivity in Satpura?

Connectivity will be an issue inside the jungle. So, keep that in mind.

Jitaditya Narzary

34 thoughts on “Satpura National Park: Crouching Tiger, Blazing Kusum”

  1. Quite an action-packed outing for you…I can’t imagine you’ve put-it-down by the hour!

    Those kusum leaves look so amazing. I remember my fall trips in the US, which bring those colors.
    You did see quite a wildlife…good to see that!

  2. I was just writing about Satpura National park. It sure is one of its kind park in India. I particularly loved the entry to park via boat. I saw black bear, gaur and spotted deers. You are really lucky to spot Tigers , nightjar and skimmers. I need to see this side of Satpura.

  3. Whoa! What an experience! Earlier this month I was in Kabini and managed to spot a leopard. I’ve not yet been blessed with a wild sighting of a tiger still! I really hope to see one!
    Funny experience with the hare!
    Btw, I’m so intrigued by the NightJar! Very interesting bird it is!!! And its a very skilled, difficult spotting as well!

  4. Well I for one am glad that you had nothing better to do and got to share this experience with us. It looks like a magnificent part of India with so much to see and do. The variety of bird life would have me so distracted that I’d miss important sightings like tigers.

  5. The perfect place , perfect post with grand pictures . I think it will seem more beautiful in monsoon but here in hot April it looks nice and a place to visit .

  6. gobeyondbounds

    Safaris have always fascinated us for its offers an opportunity to spot the wildlife in its natural habitat and you seem to have spotted a lot of exotic birds and not to forget the tiger devouring on its catch that must be an incredible moment. The cottage amidst the rustic landscape sounds awesome. Looks like we need to make a visit very soon.

  7. An excellent read with personal thoughts and all the necessary details. I’m often in the same boat as you never really knowing when to travel to National Parks in the country, the heat being the main culprit, but it’s also important to highlight them and I’m glad you did with so many pretty pictures to top it all. So glad that you appreciated the “other” flaura and fauna of the region instead of focusing on the tiger.

  8. Wow, what a detailed post! Loved all the pics, especially of Kusum trees. Till now, the very mention of Satpura would remind me of this famous poem,

    सतपुड़ा के घने जंगल।
    नींद मे डूबे हुए से
    ऊँघते अनमने जंगल।

    But now, thank to ur post, I know more about this offbeat destination!

  9. The trip was jammed packed! Glad you didn’t pass up the opportunity to visit the National Park; you would have missed the tiger otherwise! You captured some great photos of the wildlife along your journey. One I am sure you will happy you embarked on.

  10. Wow you had so many animal sightings on your trip! This may sound a bit naive, but I didn’t realize that India had tigers! That must’ve been spectacular to see in person, even if you weren’t able to get the photo you wanted! Also those Indian Ghost Trees are absolutely stunning! I will definitely take note of this eco-tour for whenever I’m in India! Thanks for sharing your adventures!

  11. You have beautifully described your visit to this National Park. I have been to the nearby Pench National Park few months back and found the topography and the animal life very close to this. But you are lucky to spot the tiger, leopard and many other species of birds. Enjoyed reading your post with your vivid pictures.

  12. I think tigers are next on my list of animals to see. Your photos are amazing and this looks to be quite a safari to go on.I think I need to go there!

  13. I think it would be slightly nerve-wracking to see a wild tiger, however super cool at the same time! I think it’s amazing how many animals you spotted!!

  14. Wow! the trees were incredible! Seeing that Tiger was awesome! I don’t think you give yourself enough credit with your photos. To be able to see any of those rare animals at all is a feat in itself. Seeing a leopard and a crocodile would be neat. The croc can stay in the water though haha. Feeding an elephant would be pretty cool as well.

  15. National Parks are my favorite destinations. I can’t even imagine how exciting it had to be to see the elusive tiger. It looks like even if you hadn’t spotted the tiger, that there was plenty of interesting wildlife in the park.

  16. Wow!This is really amazing.I didnt know India have really cool national parks that are really worth going. Kabini is awesome place to go and it is as good as Johannesburg in south africa.

  17. This reminds me so much of South Africa’s Kruger National Park. I understand your issues with the heat! Would love to visit one day and hopefully see a tiger in the wild.

  18. Siddhartha Joshi

    This looks like so much fun! This national park is on my radar for so many years now…and your post has inspired me to act on it now 🙂

  19. How far or close were you when you were taking photos of the wildlife? I’ve always wanted to experience this but also feel like I need telephoto lens to get good shots. By the way, your sunrise photo is amazing with the sun in full view!

  20. Looks absolutely amazing! How lucky that you got to see a tiger too! I love the little owl you spotted. It’s so cute! That sunset as well, is just the thing that dreams are made of. Thank you for sharing your wonderful and unique experience.

  21. That’s so cool you saw a tiger and leopard! It sounds like you were off to a slow start with the sightings, but it looks like you ended up seeing a ton of really cool wildlife throughout the trip! Love the sunrise and sunset photos, too–gorgeous! I can see where the heat would keep you away, but it’s great that you went anyways and sounds like you had a great time!

  22. I enjoy visiting national parks. You can learn a lot about nature and animals. Personally I’m against Zoos and I wish people are more interested in visiting National Parks to see real nature with real animals.
    It also benefits our health – when you walk for hours in a clean place with fresh air 🙂

    Best,
    Kasia

  23. Who is Ferna?

    There are lot of first that I have read from your experience, and it is an adventure that I want to try. I like the photo of the tiger even though I feel you when you had a hard time capturing it. Visiting the village is one pure thing that I love doing on my travels too and it’s so informative knowing how these locals live and it is as well my first time to learn about Mahau trees, never heard of that, its also great to know locals in this place knows the importance of the tree. I wonder if 4 days is enough to explore the place, I must stay a bit longer to experience the same and more probably.

  24. Pingback: 6 of the best national parks in Africa – The Travelling Slacker

  25. Pingback: 40 Most Unexplored Places in India: The Hidden Wonders of Atulya Bharat | The Travelling Slacker

  26. “I’ve always had a great desire to spot and click hornbills”. So do I. Excellent post with beautiful pictures.

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