2025 Special: Our Kanha and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserves Visits

Travel is considered one of the best learning experiences. As Indians we’re blessed to witness a huge shift in landscape as well as cultures by crossing few hundred kilometres in any direction. Different types of delicious foods, vibrant handlooms, architectural landmarks and more are waiting to be discovered and devoured. I’m glad that the year 2025 surprised us with few such amazing escapades.

Travel is one of the best ways to recharge our batteries and rejuvenate our minds. Call it an investment in therapy, if you will. A few days away from our hectic lives can work wonders in mending everything from broken relationships to sagging spirits and overworked bodies to tortured souls. Our trip to Kanha and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserves in October 2025 helped us achieve just that, amongst others.

A and I had been toying with the idea of going for a jungle safari for quite some time. Matching our schedules with peak safari season and availability of slots was tricky. However, when the opportunity arose during Diwali vacations this year, we readily grabbed it. We went through a tour operator to offset the planning and booking ordeal but were plagued with so many questions!

Winters aren’t the best time for sightings, or so they say. Would our trip be a waste? We don’t have sophisticated photography gear. Would our phone cameras suffice to capture the natural beauty? Will it be safe or do animals attack visitors? Would it be too cold out there? Riding high on confusion but too invested in the trip to let it dampen our morale, we charged ahead.

I won’t call the jungle safaris life-changing experiences but they certainly calmed us down in ways we didn’t expect. The glorious sunrise at Kanha, the fog enveloping the trees and the slight chill in the crisp morning air were a welcome change from Mumbai’s noise and pollution.

The jungle sounds filled with bird song and animal calls almost made me feel remorse for breaching their private space. Bisons, deers, swamp deers, peacocks, monkeys, jackals, vultures, and many other animals moved around like they owned the place, which they obviously did. We were the outsiders! The cute breakfast basket our resort packed for us made it all the more special. I would’ve posted another jungle wali chai pic but didn’t want to repeat myself.

Bandhavgarh had the Big Cat give us a regal and relaxed appearance. Even as close to ten jeeps queued up to catch a glimpse, the tigress kept put, unflustered. We wished we could get better pictures but couldn’t dare irk Her Highness, could we? Every small movement she made initiated a series of wondrous gasps from everyone. This thrill isn’t going to ebb anytime soon. Honestly, I’m now inclined to visit more.

2025 came with its set of challenges but as a family we spent a lot of quality time together. There was my Mahabaleshwar trip with Angel, our family trip to Karjat, A’s Goa reunion with college friends, endless small outings, lots of new friends, and most of all, gratitude that we survived it all together with a smile. What else does one need?

Going places makes us more accepting and open-minded and also humbles and prepares us for the world at large. The travel plans for 2026 are already taking shape. Keeping my fingers crossed that there’s lot more to absorb and file away for future. Whatever we do, I’ll keep you posted!

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