Day 4 – June 27, 2011

8:30

Ujjain, a holy abode, received us enthusiastically. We refreshed ourselves at a nearby hotel; relished a nice breakfast; hired a rickshaw and were off for the ensuing temple tour. With the Kaal Bhairav and Maha Kaal, Ujjain seemed to be one of the favourite destinations of the Mahadev devotees.

13:30

Our minds and souls sanctified, we left Madhya Pradesh for Maharashtra!

It had been a great trip overall. Our fascination with the wild had started with a dazzling Ranthambhore and now an evergreen Kanha had given us more food for thought. We were spell bound by a beauty that had been hidden to us for so long. We had only learnt about forests protecting the environment in books and videos. We had had just visions of a large clan of huge trees congregated at a certain specific location. But never had anyone tried to embed its grandeur and charm in our minds. Never had anyone enlightened us that away from the accustomed solid cement structures, at a very tangible length, on the breadth of this country, lay a paradise. In fact, there are quite a few, limited paradises scattered in our country that have, for now, been protected from devastation and encroachment. Many others need our protection desperately.

Ranthambhore and Kanha had made my resolute for wildlife and forest conservation stronger than ever. How could any sane person destroy or poach such wonderful jewels bestowed on the country? They necessarily and definitely had to be stopped! And we, from that day on, had undertaken to ensure that in whatever possible way and means we could, would propagate the message and ensure at least an iota of it hits the conscience of every soul affiliated with us.

And the Call of the Wild never goes unheard!