Chaitanya Travelscapes

Ever since the Safari became part of our family in 2021, a road trip has been on the cards. Although a few short excursions in and around Mumbai had taken place, a full-fledged journey was yet to materialise. In the year 2023, a last-minute holiday plan at Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) provided the perfect opportunity. We began planning how to maximise the experience and transform it into a proper road trip. This involved shortlisting places to visit, determining the route, arranging night halts en route, and allocating the number of days to be spent at specific locations. After much deliberation and consideration, a week-long itinerary was finalised: Thane – Hubballi (night halt) – Bhadra (BWS) – Baindur (night halt) – Murdeshwar – Karwar – Ganeshgudi (OMH) – Gondawale – Thane. The plan included wildlife observation, birding, visits to temples, and a meeting with an old family friend. The next task was to prepare a detailed list of items to be carried with us. There was consider...

The Red Panda, also known as the lesser panda, is native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. With its soft reddish-brown fur, ringed tail, and gentle demeanour, this shy creature captures hearts instantly. But behind its charm lies a worrying reality. Red pandas are under severe threat from habitat loss, poaching, and fragmentation of their forest homes. Fewer than 10,000 are believed to remain in the wild, making conservation efforts more critical than ever. Every year, the third Saturday of the September, is marked as International Red Panda Day. In the year 2025, it was September 20 - a reminder that these gentle, tree-dwelling mammals need our protection more than ever. But for me, the chance to actually see them in the wild was something unforgettable. It was the winter of 2023 when we went on an excursion with Nature Explorers to Singalila National Park in West Bengal, to see these little angels in the wild. We were a group of 10, travelled from Mumbai to Siliguri by...