On a Jeep Ride to the Heart of Ranthambore…
Excitement crackles in the air as the open jeep speeds toward the jungle. It is a short ride through the bustling town that sits just outside the reserve forest.
The journey is filled with anticipation—what will we encounter? The wilderness doesn’t promise, but as I have learnt over the years, it never disappoints.
We’re assigned a zone, but beyond that, it’s a game of chance.
On an early morning safari, the mystery deepens. Tigers roam at night, covering vast distances. Will we cross paths with one? Anything is possible.
An afternoon safari, especially in the scorching summer, shifts the odds. If a tiger was spotted in the morning, there’s a chance it’s still nearby, cooling off in the shade.
The real key to unlocking this wilderness? The guides and drivers—their sharp eyes and deep knowledge can lead us to nature’s most majestic predator. My best adventures were with Mr Pankaj Joshi, a naturalist par excellence, and Mr Subhash Gautam, an equally intrepid explorer.
The adventure begins now….
I live in the United States, having moved here in 2022 after spending 20 years in Hong Kong.
By profession, I am an investment banker with a 25-year career in finance. But at heart, I am a photographer. My true passion lies in wildlife photography, and my favorite place to visit is Ranthambore in Rajasthan—one of the few places where you can see and photograph the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger in the wild.
I grew up in Nagaland, where my father, an avid photography enthusiast, nurtured my interest. He gave me access to his cameras and let me work in the darkroom, developing black-and-white film and printing photographs. That early exposure left a lasting imprint.
When we moved to Hong Kong, my first decade there was spent photographing my kids, capturing their moments as we traveled to different places. Then, in 2013, I discovered Ranthambore—and it changed everything. The forest, the tigers, the birds, the history—it was unlike any place I had ever been.
We don’t usually revisit destinations, but Ranthambore is different. A leopard basking on a hillock in the winter sun. A tiger moving through the tall grass—sometimes two, even three together. The king of the jungle on a royal walk. A queen with her cubs. Each trip is different. Each visit holds new stories.
And that’s what keeps calling me back.
tensixforty@gmail.com
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