The magical world of a forest

A balm for the weary soul

Many years ago, I was to travel to a wildlife national park in Bandhavgarh located in Madhya Pradesh, a state in central India.  And you will not believe why I had to postpone my trip, and that too twice. It was because of a bunch of wild boars! The poor creatures were knocked off by an aeroplane as they tried to speed across its path. And for reasons not entirely clear to me the whole airport area was sealed off for a long stretch of time. I waited a couple of weeks but the airport continued to remain closed. With my patience wearing thin, I decided it was best to drive to our destination. And we did! It was perhaps the best decision that one took that year. The car journey through a picturesque landscape was lovely. It is a road trip that I remember fondly and find myself missing it at times even now.

Spanning over 450 sq. kms, the Bandhavgarh forest is popular for sightings of the Bengal tiger. It is also home to other wildlife animals and more than 250 varieties of birds. The flora of Bandhavgarh is as diverse and enchanting as its fauna. The forest is primarily a mix of tropical moist deciduous and tropical dry deciduous landscape.

Going to a forest is like stepping into a magical world. The early morning safaris are about watching the sunrise, listening to the sounds of the birds, observing the landscape and of course trying to spot the forest inhabitants. The evening safaris are when you can feel the warmth of the setting sun and see the forest slowly winding down after a beautiful day. In all, I have visited six wildlife sanctuaries thus far and all of them have been incredible and enthralling experiences.

There is something about the forest air. As one breathes in the fresh air, it seems to gently take away from one’s entire being the muck accumulated from the city life. It feels to me almost like a purifying ritual, removing the chaos of the city life and replacing it with the calmness of the forest. When the soft light seeps in through trees, it almost feels like the forest is waking up to your presence. These moments are a reminder of our humble existence.

Time slows down in a forest, there is no tearing hurry to get anywhere or achieve anything. Everything has a rhythm, a natural flow like a well-orchestrated symphony. The gentle creatures go about their day, alert to the more ferocious ones, the little birds flit around while the bigger ones soar above in the sky, some prance around adding humour to the moment.  

There is something profoundly healing about the forest. The calm silences, punctuated by the sounds of nature, act as a balm to the soul.  I find these moments of connection with nature deeply nourishing. My forest visits always remind me of the fact that we are a part of something much larger and infinitely beautiful.

©Shital Morjaria

---

Thanks so much for stopping by! If you are already a subscriber, I really want to thank you for your support. If you haven’t yet subscribed to Living Pictures please do subscribe, it would mean a lot to me! These photographs were taken almost a decade ago and I am happy I could finally show them here. I hope to go back to the forest sometime soon again… See you next Saturday.

---