Day 4 – Jan 27, 2015

06:30 AM

Ready for another day full of trekking and birding, we set out at around half past six. Birds had already begun their day. Sunbirds, Bulbuls, Long-tailed Sibias, Pin-cushioned Pigeons, Blue-throated Barbets, Asian Fairy-blue Bird and many small birds (unidentified) were seen within an hour. Whiskered Yuhina and Great Barbet were also spotted further away on the trail. A Great Hornbill flew atop. Though, only Moshang saw it.

12:15 PM

Trailing through thick bamboo patches we halted at a point for lunch. The trek ahead was taking us uphill and downhill through an extremely beautiful part of the forest.

Camp III – Ranijheel (6km trek)

02:30 PM

We reached Ranijheel. There used to be a jheel here once but it was dry now and Indian Gaurs frequented the place. This time in the season it was deserted and we took a quick tour of the jheel. We found an empty but spacious and well-crafted nest. The ground was soggy, under the dried mud layer. We hesitated to venture further. It was only 3 PM, so we decided to walk further down and be back in time for dinner.

The trail ahead led us through thickly wooded area. Sometimes there were tree trunks fallen down in the middle of the path forming a natural bridge. Trees shot out of every available space. Ferns, creepers, orchids, vines criss-crossing each other and clinging to big trees. Parasitic trees consumed the parent tree and grew over it. Such varying shapes and shades of green were thrown upon our vision, that at the moment, green seemed to be the only colour painting the Universe.

The setting was beautiful. There were trees which were so vast in girth that you could camp in them if you just attached a roof on top. Some gnarled with age, some still going strong and sturdy. They seemed to me like statues of gods in temples. They guarded and protected. Only these were the gods and goddesses of nature, sculpted by nature herself and rooted in her temples. They were for always and for ever.

We reached a point beyond which the trail was blocked by dense green growth. We trudged back to the camp. Tents had already been pitched, a kitchen shack was in place, food hot and steaming was awaiting its connoisseurs, elephants were grazing merrily around the camp. And we had a hearty dinner.

A good ten kilometres walk today made all of us eager to disappear and collapse into our tents. Being the third night of camping, I had grown used to the forests and its sounds. I was now comfortable with the darkness of my tent.

(to be continued…)