Munna Tiger is affectionately called as 'King of Kanha National Park', who has the ability to just walk by, without harming you. He is one of the oldest tiger with greatest patience before targeting his prey through sharp observation. He is known as human friendly tiger, used to spectators watching and clicking pictures of him.
After two days of intense riding in the jungle to have a glimpse of the tiger, I kind of lost hopes on the last safari ride day. Still some gut feeling, made me reach the park at 6am. Our jeep was ready. Riding on the smooth roads of the park, watching the sunrise was mesmerizing. Sun rays filled inch by inch exposing lush plants, trees, grasslands and the thick jungle where birds were chirping.
Our guide Hari bhai, shared a lot about Munna tiger. Once this tiger was injured in the hindfoot. After enough medical attention, the animal limped. That's when he was named Munna, for a slight limp is seen in the Tigers walk. Munna is believed to be a ferocious fighter. His son is called as Chota Munna, who has taken after his father. This tiger is a threat to many nearby villages, for he always hides and then attacks.
Our jeep stopped midway. There was an array of vehicles waiting in silence, when somebody said, “Munna bhai arra hai! Udhar dekho”. Everyone's eyes went towards the pointed direction. With powerful limbs, large head, body full of black stripes, swishing the long tail, from a nearby lake, he walked. Before his paws hit the road, he looked at everyone. Shaking his whole body, stretching his legs, for minutes he stood behind the tree, then started walking. We followed him up to the point where he re-entered the jungle.
Kanha National park is known as Kisli national park which was built in 1955, surrounded by Mandla and Balaghat. Phen sanctuary is also a part of Kanha where you can find lot of swamp deep-Barasingha, dhole and sloth bear. We saw lot of Barasingha, bison and some rare birds.
Baiga tribe are the inhabitants of Mandla who live around the park. They are called as Medicine man, who practice lot of shifting cultivation. Their language is Baigani. Pej is a drink they make out of boiling rice water.
There are totally eight zones, and we travelled to Kisli, Kanha and Mukki zone. From Pune by air reached Nagpur then by road entered Kanha. Another way is reaching Jabalpur by air, and on road in 2hours you are in Kanha. Bamni Dadar, kawardha palace, Kanha museum are places around to visit.
Being my first encounter with a wild animal- Tiger, that too this close, I trembled, looking at it's majestic appearance, slow walking with a powerful look. Today, as I am writing this, the thought suddenly flashed - "Why did the Bison, who appeared suddenly that day opposite to Munna tiger, walked away swiftly?" I am sure there is a story behind this, which I will explore during my next visit.
If you have any such experience amidst the jungles of India, do share it with me in the comments below.
Watch travel stories come to life with Tripoto on Youtube!