Every wildlife photographer's dream is to visit Africa. Also African Bush Elephant lovers has lots of places to visit like Amboseli National Park,Botswana etc...In Africa lots of wildlife sanctuaries You can visit but the most tourist attractions is Masai Mara National Park .The Giants suits to African elephant because of their large body thick skin and legs and big teeth and elephant large ears. African Elephant teeth weight approx. 5kgs per teeth.There are also different species like African bush Elephant and African forest Elephant. Here i saw you some cool photos of African elephant taken at Amboseli national park and Masai Mara National Park.
In Big 5 Africa animals elephant is one of them. African Elephant is really good subject in Wallpaper photos . Also African Bush Elephant is good for portrait or closeup photos too. The Elephants are travel in a group and they are dangerous when they are with their babies. Just stay away good distance to them. Elephants also looks good in black and white.
African Elephant Facts :
- African Elephant is the world's largest land animal.
- African Elephant Tusks are actually their teeth.
- They have very thick skin.
- Their trunk have some good skills.
- African Elephants are continuously eating every time and eat up to 150 kg per day.
- Elephants never forget things.
- African bush elephant height 3.2 m
- African bush elephant weight approx 6000 kg and African forest elephant weight around 2700 kg.
- Lifespan of African bush elephant and African forest elephant is 60-70 years.
Difference of Asian elephant vs African elephant :
- Asian elephant is smaller than African elephant.
- Asian elephant ears are also smaller then African elephant ears.
- Tusk is in only male of Asian elephant. In opposite male and female African elephant both grows tusks.
African Elephant Habitat :
African elephant live in dense forest of west and central Africa. They found most in grasslands, forests and savannas. They found at many regions around Africa and Asia. So Elephant Habitat has long range from Asia to Africa.
Big 5 African Animals : Well when i was on my trip to Africa I questioned my cousin What are the Big 5 Africa animals ?? He knows the animal names but he don't know why they called Big 5 Africa . After google some words I found that the Big 5 Africa animals are referred to the difficulty of their hunting. Mean This Big 5 African animals are arrange in order to their hunting skills. The Big 5 Africa animals are Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Elephant and African Buffalo. Well Hippo is not in Big 5 Africa bcz hippo is not a hunter as compare to big 5 Africa animals. Lions are the kings of Africa and known as King of the Jungle or King of Beasts.
Are Elephants scared from anyone ?
A huge and heavy body of elephant make scared anyone. But yes An elephant can fear from a little mouse. A mouse is very little in body in compare to An Elephant and it climb over the trunk of elephant.
Elephant can kill Humans ? :
Elephants are very respectable animals till they are not tempered. According to National Geographic article approx. 500 peoples are killed in a year in an elephant attack. But the number worry that far more than 500 elephants are killed by humans every year. So we need to be changed.
Where To stay in Amboseli National Park / Accommodation in Amboseli National Park : We stayed in Ol Tukai Resort and its very nice property. Also there are lots of resorts in Amboseli National Park. All are fine and good hospitality. During migration in Masai Mara and Amboseli time all hotels and resorts are full and high price. So if you planning in migration time then book as early as possible.
Read moreTiger is national animal of India. Ranthambore is located in Rajasthan at Sawai Madhopur. It really amazing feel to see tiger in its habitat. My trip to Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan, I was very lucky to see the Ranthambore Tigress Mala T-39 Named Noor in her habitats. During trip i want morning safari because its good time to see tiger during his/her movements. The Tigress Noor/Mala is resident dominant tigress who travels currently in Singhdwar - sultanpur - kala pila pani - khemcha kund. She found in normally Zone 1,2 and 6. She used to share is territory with male dominant Ranthambore Tiger T-24 named Tiger Ustad. Tigress Noor/mala has kid in 2012 name Sultan T-72.
Ranthambore Safari Booking :
For booking safari at Ranthambore National Park you can visit https://www.ranthamborenationalpark.in/online-safari-booking-ranthambore.html
from here you can book your safari. I suggest book Jeep safari morning or evening. Canter safari is cheaper then Jeep safari but there are more than 20 people in it. So by chance if you see Tiger then in canter its over crowd to see Tiger so i suggest book Jeep Safari. There are also some agents who can book your safari in canter or Jeep with taking extra money.
How Many Tigers in Ranthambore National Park ?
Well There are almost near to 80 Tigers/Tigress/Cubs in Ranthambore National Park. Among them there are 20 Tigres , 30 Tigress and more than 25 cubs and subadults approximately. Numbers may change after 2021.
Famous Tigers/ Tigress Of Ranthambore National Park :
T-39 ( Tigress Mala ), T24 ( Ustad ), T-28 ( Sitara ), T-41 ( Junglee ) and Bina 1 and 2 are most famous Tigers/ Tigress of Ranthambore national Park. Now a days T-19 named Krishna is the Queen of Ranthambore National Park. It is female cub of Machli ( T- 16 ) also Queen of Ranthambore. The King of Ranthambore is T-24 Ustad.
I am very afraid while shooting T-39 noor because she was very close to me and passed through our car. It was breathtaking experience a wild animal near you. Generally people says morning safari is the best for animals but we got it in the evening safari. So its all about your luck.
When Ranthambore National Park Open :
Question is When Ranthambore National Park is Open ? Well answer is - Ranthambore National Park safari is open for tourist from October to June every year. During monsoon it remains closed for tourist.
Ranthambore National Park Safari Prices :
For jeep safari in Ranthambore national park is 1700 per person as of now for Indian Citizen and 3500 for Foreign citizens. And Canter price almost 1200 for Indians and 2500 for Foreigners.
Identification of Tigress Noor/ Tigress Mala T39 :
- The first siting of tigress noor was in 2009.
- She is also known as Mala, Noor and sultanpur too.
- She is known for her beauty and amazing wavy pattern on her body.
- The identification of tigress noor/mala is diamond symbol on her body.
- She was in zone 1,2 and 6. Her age is around 14 years.
- For another identifications her left ear was broken.
- Above right eye inverted trishul like mark.
- Two prominent Y on right leg.
Is Ranthambore Worth Visiting ?
Definately yes Ranthambore is worth visiting. Ranthambore jungle is very nice to travel even you can not see the Tiger. There are lots of other spices to see in the jungle. Also travel in a jungle is one of most beautiful experience in a open jeep. Its really trilling experience.
Are Tigers endangered in India ?
Well Yes you can say the Tigers or Bengal Tigers are endangered in India. There are increase in their population during 2006 to 2018 from 1400 to 2900 approx. Tigers are poaching for its skins and other body parts. But Currently India has largest population of Tigers in the World.
About Ranthambore National Park Safari :
Ranthambore national park is good for tiger lovers. Tigers siting at Ranthambore National Park is high. You can book your Ranthambore safari online. Also tatkal booking before 24 hours via agents but its on your luck that you get your safari booking. So book your safari online first then plan your travel. For safari Jeep drive is best. Also kenter mini bus safari available but too much crowed around 20 peoples. So go for jeep drive. Morning time is best for game drive in Jungle all over India. Also evening drive is good. Its all about your luck to get seen tiger. I seen tiger in evening drive. After Ranthambore trip you can go for Jaipur or Agra for next destination. Ranthambore is the best place for wildlife in Rajasthan. Siting of tigers are also good here.
Ranthambore Resorts and Hotels :
There are many options at Ranthambore for hotels and Resorts. Hotels are quite cheaper then Resorts . Hotels and resorts at ranthambore national park are very good and aslo some popular resorts like Fern resort, Regenta resort Vanya Mahal ranthambore , Nahargarh ranthambore, Oberoi Vanya vilas etc are some luxury resorts in Ranthambore. Hotels starting price from 2500-3000 INR to 5000 INR approx. And luxury resorts price around 7000 to 10000 INR depend on season and Time. During diwali time the resorts price are at high. So if you are planning on Diwali time then plan to book early as possible. I stay at Vanya Mahal Resort and its beautiful resort to stay at ranthambore.
Ranthambore nearest tourist places :
Most people came ranthambore for Tiger Safari for 2 days but if you want to explore some nearest places at Ranthambore are Ganesh Temple, Ranthambore Fort, Trinetra Ganesh Temple and Kachida. At Ganesh Temple you can do some hiking at fort side . Also you can see Heritage fort of Ranthambore too. There are some local guides who want to guide to Ganesh Temple and charge high so please if you need guide then make sure about money what he takes first. Otherwise they are misbehaving with you and you have to pay money what he ask.
Location of Photos : Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, Zone 6 Evening Safari
How to Reach Ranthambore : Nearest Airport : Sanganer Airport is nearest Airport, Also you can go to Jaipur and from Jaipur you can go by road.
Nearesrt Railway station : Sawai Madhopur about 10 km distance
Camera Gear : Canon 6 D, Canon 80 D, Canon 100-400 mm lens
Read moreIndian Wild Ass known as Gudhkhur, Khur or Indian Onager in local Gujarati language. The population was estimated around 4450 before 5-6 years. Indian Wild Ass population increasing in numbers and extending its range from Little Rann of Kutch to Great Rann of Kutch. Little Rann Of Kutch where found the world's largest population of Wild ass .The wild ass eat grass, leaves and fruits. Wild ass is very shy animal. If you want to go closer to them they ran away. I shoot photo from far distance with my tele lens. There was very low light at sunset and with tele lens u cant go much brighter image but i tried with sunset and wild ass together. Wild ass with sunset photo looks awesome.
Facts about Indian Wild Ass :
- The range of Indian Wild Ass is western India, Pakistan and Afghanistan .
- In India Indian wild ass found only in Gujarat in Great Rann of Kutch , Little rann of kutch in Wild ass Sanctuary.
- In Gujarat Indian wild ass also found in small numbers in Banaskantha, Surendranagar, Mehsana and some outskirts of wild ass sanctuary.
- Indian Wild ass feed grass, leaves and fruit plants.
- Indian wild ass is the fastest animal of India.
- Speed of Indian wild ass is around 70 to 80 km per hour.
- Monsoon is matting season of Indian Wild Ass.
- Indian wild ass related subspecies are Mongolian Wild Ass, Turkmenian Kulan, Persian Onager and Syrian Wild Ass .
- In India there is another Wild ass spices named Tibetan Wild Ass found in Leh Ladakh and Tibet areas,
About Wild Ass Sanctuary Gujarat :
Little rann of Kutch has two good sites one is Bajana where you can enter LRK from forest office. Another site is Dasada where good wetlands and outskirts area of amazing agricultural lands. From Bajana entrance route you can find amazing migratory birds and wild ass too. Lots of winter visitor birds and raptors found here. Best time to visit for raptors is November to February. Dasada village has good wetlands. Also some good wetlands area outside LRK where you can find migratory birds and some resident birds too. Also short eared owl found here and also endanger Bastard bird is found here. LRK is prefect sanctuary for wildlife and birders. Here you can find all types of birds and mammals. In little rann of kutch spices of invertibrates, insects, spiders, amphibians, reptiles, lizards, snakes etc are found. Sanctuary is in a desert of Kutch.
At the edge of sunset wild ass is beautiful subject to shoot. LRK has good horizon site to capture 360 degree view . Little rann of kutch is very good sanctuary for birders too. In winter season LRK, little rann of kutch is best place to visit for raptors. Lots of migratory birds and raptors are found here . Wild ass is looks like a donkey. Same body structure as donkey but only the difference is color. LRK is good place for wildlife photographer bcz you found mammals , birds, migratory birds, raptors and also owls and endanger spices of Bastard found here.
The running wild asses make frame very attractive. Also a golden light with Indian Wild Ass looks beautiful frame and theme photo of colors of rann.
Best time to visit LRK is November to march. You can go from Bajana wildlife sanctuary gate to enter.
LRK : Little rann of Kutch
Nearest village :: DASADA, BAJANA
From Ahmadabad to LRK distance about 100-120 km
Gear used : Canon 1000D, Canon 6D, Canon 100-400mm lens
Read moreRhesus macaque monkey is one of the intelligent monkey in all spices. It is one of the old monkey spices. Its color is brown grey and it has pink color face. They generally found in India, china, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal etc. Monkey called Rhesus on the name of King Rhesus of Thrace. The females are smaller than the male. The Rhesus monkey is in a group of 20-200 monkey which includes males and females. Rhesus monkey using a various facial expression and vocalization to communicate. Rhesus monkey is very important for scientific experiments. As humans are made from monkey their genomes and anatomy are similar to humans. Also they are easily available due to their population. So Monkeys are been widely used in medical and biological research on human and animal health related topics.
Some Interesting Things to know About Monkey :
- Rhesus monkey is similar to humans as their DNA similar to humans.
- The Rhesus monkey is very intelligent.
- The genomes of Humans and Chimpanzee are 95 % similar as research by scientists.
- Some monkeys are highly intelligent and some are stupid too.
- Orang-Utans monkey is highly intelligent among all monkeys and also most intelligent in animals. In Bangkok safari world there is a Orang-Utan show where two of these monkey have boxing fight and it was so funny show that kids and adults like it most.
- In opposite Lemur is the stupidest monkey among all spices of monkey. Lemur is so stupid that it cant recognize its own reflection. The weakness of monkeys are mischievous and unreliable.
- The Rhesus monkey factor is not limited to humans. Although the Great Apps have same blood group types like humans.
Monkey Bite :
- It is proven that monkey bite is deadly.
- It cause anaphylactic shock in humans and it can kill humans.
- As discovered by scientist a monkey which come out at night is more dangerous and its bite can kill humans.
- Monkeys sleep sitting on trees.
- Bonobo monkey is closest relative to humans according to research by scientists by matching DNA and genomes of humans and Bonobo monkey.
- The difference between Humans and Monkeys is Hands.
- Humans are not the only animals to possess opposable Thumbs.
The animals in their Habitat :: Animals in their habitat OR Animals in their environment is one of the good siting for wildlife photographer. During my trip to Jim Corbett National Park i found lots of Rhesus monkeys and Rhesus monkey baby in their habitat. They are jumping all over on the trees. Some of them are on the ground and got something to eat at ground level. So i didn't miss that moment. Some good images i capture of Rhesus monkey which explain the behavior and habitats of monkey.
At the end the baby Rhesus monkey baby try to get down from tree . Now he is able to climb and jump over trees without help of his mother.
Location of All photos : Jim Corbett National Park, Dhikhala
Gear Used : Canon 6 D, Canon 100-400 mm lens
Read moreIn the canidae family of Jackal there are three types of Jackals.
- Black Backed Jackal
- Side Striped Jackal
- Golden Jackal
GOLDEN JACKAL AT CORBETT NATIONAL PARK
Golden jackal is a carnivorous mammals. Native of Golden Jackal is southeast Europe, southeast Asia and south Asia. Golden Jackal looks like a Indian Wolf but it little bit smaller in size compared to Arabian Wolf and Indian Grey wolf. The Golden Jackal's coat can vary in color from pale. In summer its color pale creamy yellow and dark tawny beige in winter. My first siting of Golden Jackal was in Jim Corbett National Park. I found a Golden Jackal during my morning safari at Corbett National Park. Golden Jackal is from biological family Canidae.
Golden Jackal facts :
- Golden Jackal is similar to Grey wolf but smaller in size.
- Shorter legs, short tail, muzzle is narrow and more pointed and less prominent forehead of Golden jackal in compare to Grey wolf.
- Golden Jackal Male length approx. 70-85 cm and Golden Jackal Female length around 68-73 cm.
- Male Golden Jackal weight around 6-13 kg and female Golden Jackal weight around 7-11 kg.
- Shoulder height for male and female golden jackal is 17-20 inch.
- The skull of Golden jackal is smaller then Grey wolf and also weaker too.
- Golden Jackal develops a horny growth on a skull which is known as " Golden Jackal's Horn ".
- The Jackal's fur is short and golden in color so its called Golden Jackal.
- The Jackal moults twice in a year. Spring Moult and Autumn Moult. The spring moult starts from February or middle March and Autumn moult starts in September mid.
Black Backed Jackal :
During my Kenya trip i accidentally get Black backed Jackal at Lake Nakuru. Lake Nakuru is very famous for Rhinoceros ( Rhino ). Here i found Rhino and also a Black Backed Jackal . Also African Vultures i found in a group.
- Black backed jackal found in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa and Kenya.
- It is listed in IUCN least concern spices.
- It is also called Fox.
- Black backed Jackal has two sub spices
1 ) Cape Black Backed Jackal
2 ) East African Black Backed Jackal
Side Striped Jackal :
Till Now i doesn't get side striped jackal but it also found in southern Africa. It is smaller than black backed Jackal. I have no images of it and no more information about it.
Please feel free to comment and any suggestions for my blog article and any content related query. Also if you like then share it to your friends too.
Scientific name of Golden Jackal is Canis Aureus
Camera gears used : Canon 6D with canon 100-400 mm lens
Read moreIt is the largest species of Flamingo bird family and also a most widespread species of flamingo family.It is found in India ,south east , middle east and Africa. It is migratory bird. They also breed in India. In Gujarat they breed in Rann Of Kutch , Little Rann of Kutch also found in Thol Bird Sanctuary. I often visit Thol sanctuary so got good shots of them. Best time for shoot them is may-Jun at Thol bird sanctuary bcz of water level is too low . It is been recorded that some flamingo birds are resident in Gujarat at many places like LRK, Khijadia sanctuary, Nalsarovar and Thol Sanctuary. They also breed here and stay for all seasons. So you can find greater flamingo birds in all seasons in Gujarat at many places.
Flamingo bird facts and description :
- Greater flamingo bird is the largest living spices of flamingo.
- Greater flamingo has no subspices.
- Flamingo color most of pinkish white in plumage. Wings are red and feathers are black in end.
- Greater Flamingo bird call is like honking.
- The average lifespan of flamingo bird is 30-40 years.
- Main Difference between Greater flamingo and lesser flamingo is height . Lesser flamingo is shorter than greater flamingo. Also Greater flamingo has pale pink bill and black tip. In other case lesser flamingo has dark crimson bill. Lesser flamingo is also more red in color than greater flamingos.
Greater Flamingo birds In Thol Lake : Thol sanctuary is often i visit. Flamingo birds are stay here all seasons. I got good numbers of Greater flamingo and lesser flamingo bird images in a group when i visit Thol. This is my best time with flamingos. Also i got some beautiful pictures of flamingo birds with group and also in duo with some masti. Flamingos looks very good in frame bcz of their color. Thol lake is good place for birders because more than 150 birds spices found here. Also some mammals like Blue bull and black buck also found here. Lots of water birds and tree birds found here. Also sanctuary is not so big so you can find all birds in around 6 sqkm area. Best time to visit thol lake is November to March. All migratory birds are visit in winter so that is best time. Early morning is best for birders.
Timing And Fees of Thol Sanctuary :
Thol Sanctuary open at 6 AM in morning and close at around 5 PM
Fees of Thol Sanctuary is 50 INR per person and camera fees are 200 INR. Car fees are 500 INR.
Weekend fees may change that actually i don't know about it.
Two flamingos with little egret in between of them with down head all. The images of flamingo bird making a good frame. Because of its color flamingo birds images are very attractive and also their grouping make a perfect frame of flamingo bird picture.
A morning pared time for flamingo birds. A beautiful Greater flamingo birds are in a raw make image nice and show their unity.
Perfact wingspan of Flamingo bird looks great. Pink Wings make image more attractive.
Solo Greater flamingo bird
Some masti time for two flamingo birds .
Above image shows the discipline of Flamingo Bird and looks like a morning pared they are doing .
https://youtu.be/9dVBrR9NSOo
A group of Flamingo Birds at Thol Lake make your frame awesome.
Location : Thol Lake, Gujarat
Thol lake is just 25 km approx. from Ahmedabad. You can visit one day for Thol lake is enough. Also you can find another migratory birds like pelicans , bar headed goose, river tern and many more resident spices.
Ahmedabad to Thol lake distance about 25km
What is HORIZONS ? :: The horizon is the apparent line that separates Earth from sky. The true horizons can observed when it lines on the sea surface. Also many locations this line is made by Lands, Trees, Buildings, Mountains etc.The Horizon line divides all visible directions into two categories : those that intersect the Earth surface and those that don't. The horizon line is horizontal like to feel like end of earth no end of Earth surface . The Images of Horizons or skyline taken at Little Rann of Kutch . I tried to shoot many locations but sometimes not gonna happen that. Little Rann of Kutch is good place for Horizon photography bcz flat surface and 360 degree view. Above photo we passed thorough rann and i saw car trek on ground and line goes end of surface looks beautiful.
Horizon Height and distance calculation :
Well if you want to see horizon then you have to observe from 5-7 feet above sea level. Also you need clear land about 3-5 km distance then you can see clear Horizon line. In cities there are lots of disturbance like buildings, trees, towers etc so you can not see the clear horizons. For horizon line to see you need clear land area or water area. Best area for Horizon line is in between sea. In ocean there is clear Horizon line you can see easily. Also sunrise and sunset time horizons are amazing to see because of Twilight sky colors. Well all of these photos are not taken from 7 feet height and distance may not 3-5 km but its still you can see Horizons clearly. Photos taken from ground level but the rann area is clear so you can see horizons line from ground level.
For calculation of Horizon distance equation is :: Square root ( Height / 0.5736 ) and the result you get distance of Horizons.
Best Place To See Horizon lines :
The best place to see horizons are beaches. Because you can see clear line between Sky and Earth. Well where i live in Gujarat i have also one place name Little Rann of Kutch where i can see clear Horizon line as you can see in photos of Horizons. Little rann of Kutch is best place for me because its very near to me like about 2 hours car drive. Here there are huge number of raptors you can see in winter seasons. Lots of Migratory birds came here and the most important about Little Rann ot Kutch is Indian Wild Ass. Indian wild ass found only in Gujarat in this region only.
All Images taken at Little Rann of Kutch, Guajrat. Little rann of kutch known as LRK also famous for raptors and Indian Wild Ass. Lots of migratory birds coming here in winter. So never miss a change to visit LRK in Gujarat. LRK also very nice place for Star Gazing and Star Trail Photography, Time laps Photography.
Camera used : Canon 6 D, Canon 100-400 mm lens, Canon 50mm lens, canon 18-55 mm lens
Spiti Valley located in Himachal Pradesh. It is a cold desert mountain valley of Himalayas. Spiti distributed in 2 parts Lahaul and Spiti. As per my last post of Spiti Valley Tour Itinerary there are lots of places to visit during spiti valley tour. It depends how many days you want to spend in spiti valley tour so you can much more places to cover in spiti valley. But i think 7 days are enough for Spiti valley tour to cover all major attractions. Most of time you spend in car during spiti valley tour. But definately the route is memorable for all. The view of Himalayas and the scenery is beautiful. Most people take 7 days tour from Chandigarh or from Delhi.
Best Places to Visit in Spiti Valley :
- Chitkul
- Nako
- Tabo
- Dhankar lake
- Kaza
- Chandratal Lake
Well in Spiti Valley Trip there are lots of places to visit but i will suggest you some of them to make shorter your trip. Also most attractions and must visit places i share here. If you want to spend more time then you can visit local village and enjoy village life too. If you want to know about Spiti Valley Tour Cost and Spiti Valley Tour Itinerary then i had written a post of it.
Honey Bee Farming :
From Chandigarh to Spiti you will have to pass Kinnaur District. It is very beautiful route with amazing greenery and scenery. During the route of Kinnaur valley there are lots of people do Honey Bee Farming on road. you can see the boxes of honeybee on roadside. They have different types of Honeybee and have different honey if you want to purchase pure Honey for home. They also saw you how they farming and do all procedure of making Honey.
Chitkul :
Actually we skip Chitkul because its out of our route and spend one more day. But Chitkul is must visit place. It is really beautiful place in the valley of Himalayas. Also Chitkul is known as India's Last village at Indo - Tibet Border. Border is about 90 km from Chitkul. Also civillian movement beyond Chitkul is prohibited. Best time to visit Chitkul is March to June. Also have a cup of tea at Hindustan Ka Akhri Dhaba at Chitkul. They also serve food with Rajma Chaval and roti.
Kalpa Or Rekong Peo :
If you visit chitkul and stay their then kalpa or Rekong Peo you can skip. Or if you do not visit chitkul then stay at Rekong Peo. Good to stay here very neat and clean hotels and also food is good here. Next morning you can see amazing sunrise in between of Himalayan mountains coverd with snow. Stay here for a night and leave next morning or you can visit local village and bazar.
Nako : Places to visit Nako
Nako village located near Indo-China Border. In Nako you can visit Nako Lake and Nako Monastery. Also you can visit some Buddhist chortens. Nako Monastery is must visit place with beautiful atmosphear at height. The Monastery founded in 11 th sanctuary .Monastery location is amazing where you can see 360 degree view of Himalayan Mountains. Spend some time at Monastery and go for Gue Mummy Stupa in the way to Tabo.
Gue is a village where 500 years old mummy preserved of Sangha Tenzing. Sangha Tenzing was Buddhist monk from Tibet. At stupa the mummy found in sitting position with his skin and hair intact. The road to Gue Mummy is out of Tabo route so you can take extra 1-2 hours time while leave from nako. At evening you reach at Tabo village.
Tabo : Places to visit Tabo
Tabo is a small village on bank of Spiti river in spiti District. Tabo is famous for operated continuously oldest buddhist enclave in Himalaya and India. Most famous attraction of Tabo is Old Tabo Monastery which is 1000 years old and also considered as one of the holiest by Dalai Lama himself. Also another monastery in Tabo in the center of village you can visit. Tabo caves you can visit while visit monastery and if you stay for day more then you can go at river bank to feel nature. That was amazing view of spiti river near to the village and other side the big mountain.
Dhankar Lake and Dhankar Village : Places to visit Dhankar
From tabo to kaza route you can visit Dhankar Village. In the village there is a capital of spiti valley in Himachal Pradesh. It is at 3894 mt height. Here you can visit local village , Monastery and if you want to go for trek about 3 km then go to the Dhankar Lake. Dhankar village total houses are around 65-70 and population around 250-300 .
Dhankar Lake :
Dhankar lake is high altitude lake in himachal pradesh. It is located around 4140 mt height. From monastery you can go to Dhankar lake by trek about 3 km and it will take around 1-2 hours depends on your mountain skills. Trek route is very easy but its at more than 13500 ft height so high wind blows and low oxygen level make your trek difficult. Also here UV index is high so do not go in open skin or use sunscreen lotion. High UV index may damage your skin. At the end of trek you can see a beautiful green color based lake surrounded by mountains and open land. The view of lake is awesome and you can spend more time to make a peace to you mind. Crystel clear water in the lake. We take some photos and get back to village and drink lemon soda from local villager to get energy. Local peoples are so supportive and good nature.
Kaza :
In Kaza there are several places to visit so you visit all in a full day. Also kaza atmosphear is very cold in summer also so enjoy it.
Places to Visit In Kaza
- Sakya Tangyud Monastery : It is one of the highest altitude Monastery in India. It is at 4550 mt height. It is at komik village.
- Kaza Kye Monastery : Kye or Kyi monastery is a tibetian buddhist monastery. It is set on top of the hill and its height aroun 4166 mt. It is the largest monastery of Spiti Valley.
- Langza : Langza village is also known as Fossils village. It is believed that spiti was submerged under the tethys sea so that huge quantities of fossils found here. In Langza there is a 1000 years old Buddha Statue is major attraction. The Buddha statue at Langza located at 14500 ft height. It is serene golden large Buddha Statue. From the Buddha statue at Langza you can see 360 degree view of Himalayas.
- Hikkim : Hikkim is located at 14400 ft height in lahaul spiti district. Hikkim village remains cut off during winter due to heavy snow fall over mountain passes. The Hikkim village has a post office at 14400 ft height. So it is also on of the highest post office in the world.
- Kibber Village : Kibber is famous for Monastery, kibber wildlife sanctuary, the highest post office and the highest motorable road. Kibber is located 19 km from kaza. Kibber is also famous for Snow Leopard. There are almost 25-30 snow leopards In Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Komic : Komic is also one of the highest village in the world located at 15050 ft. It is also connected with World's Highest Motorable Road. So it is known as Highest Motorable village in the world. There is a restaurant their named World highest restaurant Komic. You can take rest have a cup of coffe or tea and have some snake, meggy etc.
- Chicham Bridge : Chicham bridge is highest bridge of Asia. Bridge is located at 13596 ft height. The Chicham Bridge connect 2 village one is Chicham village and Kibber. The bridge is suspension bridge and is situated across a deep gorge around 1000 ft. Chicham Bridge is one of the spectecular bridge in the world.
- Kumzum Pass : While return from Kaza to Manali you will pass through Kumzum Pass. It is one of the best route for enjoying nature very closely. The car speed is very slow due to bad road condition but at Kumzum pass we face fresh snow fall and fell zero degree temperature. Amazing view at Kumzum pass. Also Kumzum Mata Temple located at 4590 mt height. There is a myth about Kumzum mata temple you need to do a circle and after go through your journey to Chandratal Lake or Manali.
- Chandra taal Lake : As per Hindu Mythology Chandra taal is the place where Lord Indra came down with Chariot to transport Yudhisthira in his mortal from to Swarga or Heaven. Also local believed that fairies visit lake at night. Chandratal Lake is open in summer after may end or June start. So if you want to visit Chandra taal lake then plan in June. Also there are limited option for staying at Chandra taal Lake.
Things to know about Spiti Valley Tour :
While you planning for spiti valley tour you did not need to book hotels or homestays. There are lots of homestays and hotels every where. You can also book your homestays and hotels via Spiti Tourism or Himachal Pradesh Tourism. They will help you a lot for entire trip. Local peoples are so supportive and kind nature. They will aslo help and guide you to your destination.
Which Mobile network works in Spiti Valley ?
Most people have a question about network connectivity at Spiti Valley. I will take 2 simcards for my Spiti Valley Tour one is Reliance Jio and one is BSNL prepaid. After kinnaur vally pass all major networks are down but BSNL and Reliance Jio is connected to everywhere in spiti. Reliance Jio has better network connectivity even in internet also. So i suggest take Reliance Jio sim card for your trip. Only it fall down during Kumzum pass route. Otherwise in Kaza, Tabo, Nako all places covered by Reliance Jio network.
Best time to Visit Spiti Valley :
Well the Chandigarh to Kaza route open all year but sometimes landsliding may occer and also some heavy snowfall then it will take 4-6 hours to clear road. Road managed by BRO ( Border Road Organisation ) . Plan during mid of may in spiti valley because there is low crowd in May. But in May there may be return route block via Kumzum Pass and Chandratal Lake. June is more better for Spiti Valley tour to visit all the places. Some bikers may visit spiti valley in December for adventure too.
Road Condition In Spiti Valley :
From Chandigarh to Kaza there is a clear road. At some places road condition is not good but main road is very impressive and no hazitation during the entire trip. Some village route is not good but it will manageable. The Kaza to Manali Via Kumzum pass road condition is not good so you need to travel whole day for Kaza to Manali.
Star Gazing At Spiti Valley : Spiti Valley Night Sky
Well spiti valley is dark area where you can do stargazing verywell. Here you can see milkyway clear during no moon days. For milky way Langza is the best place in Spiti Valley.
Spiti Valley Food Option :
I will recommand The Himalayan Cafe in Spiti Valley for food. Well managed cafe and food options are amazing. Must visit place in Spiti valley.
You can visit my blog http://bit.ly/3zYFdVv about spiti valley tour itinerary and total cost with details. Also provide hotels and homestay options. You can write me if you need any help about spiti valley tour at nirajhack@gmail.com
As per my previous post for Basic composition rules for Photography here i give you some advance rules for photography. Before know the rules first you should know your gear. Whichever camera you use first understand your camera. As there are lots of camera brands in the market like Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, Sony, Olympus, etc... all cameras have different body types and keys in different area. But whichever brand of camera you use there are same rules applied for composition in photography. The techniques and settings and rules are same for DSLR cameras or Digital Cameras. Also for different types of photography like Abstract, Portrait, Landscapes, Wildlife, Product, Wedding , Fine art, Sports etc the Rules for photography are same. If you want to capture good pictures follow some rules i mention here and it will help you for being a professional photographer.
How to become professional in photography ?
The answer is too hard work. To become professional you should work very hard in any types of photography. Understanding your camera and using basic rules and after that advance techniques helps you lot. Without follow some rules your photos cannot noticed by others. You should try to capture something new and something creative with good composition which attract users to see your images.
Rule Of Third : There is a cross line in every camera in display. If you are new then on that cross lines while shooting. After you can understand off that feature. While shooting photos the position of your subject is on cross lines for better pictures and better look for your photos.
In above image i use a water drop as a subject. if you use grid lines in your camera then you can see the cross lines on your screen is total 4 and you can put your subject on those 4 cross line and leave other space thats the rule of third. Same in below image using bird as a subject in the lower crossline. Thats make your image attractive and perfact if you use foreground apropriate to your subject.
Repetition : Look for repeat subject in a raw . Your object may be pole light, street light, pile of fruits, chain of poles etc. The repetition of subject or object makes image unique.
Repetition is also a good subject like electric pole, walls, roads, trees in line and also a birds of mammals. My image is not perfact in repetition but its gives you an idea for it. repeat your subject at regular interval and space in your frame.
Negative space : Always leave some space with your object in your frame. Some people make closeup shots with crop image but its not looks good . The subject need some negative space to move into. For ex. If you shoot solo bird on tree then you should leave some space in the direction of birds eye. That will make your frame perfact.
Balancing Elements : Balancing elements means balance your background interest with your foreground subject.
Symmetry : Symmetry means Half of your image is a mirror of other half image. Shoot your image like a mirror image or reflection of the subject .
Follow these advance rules for capturing images and i am sure you will definitely get better results. I will give you one more Bonus tips except this 5 rules is
Depth ( Layers ) : The position of your subject in front of and behind of objects to create 3D depth.
Housefly is a small insect which is found anywhere around us. It is most common fly spices. Binomial Name of Housefly is Musca domestica. Housefly is very well known for carry pathogens which can cause serious diseases in Animals and Humans. There are also different flies like fruit fly , Drain fly , Lesser Housefly, Blow fly, Common Green bottle fly etc. It is an insect and it has an important role for ecology for breaking down organic matter. They can carry lots of organisms on hair, mouth and feces. Also they carry parasites with them and cause diseases like Typhoid, Cholera ,Diarrhea etc.
About Housefly : It is the most common fly spices found in the houses. They have red eyes and black in color. They have small hairs on their body and single pair of wings. Females are little larger than Male. Adult housefly length about 6 to 7 mm and 12-15mm with wingspan. They have 3 simple eyes and pair of antennae.
Some Facts about Housefly or Flies :
- Flies multiply quickly
- Flies can spread diseases.
- Flies test with their feet.
- Housefly don't chew
- Flies pollinate plants.
Things to know about Housefly :
- Female housefly mates only once and it store sperms to use it later on.
- It lays eggs on waste food or carrion and lays eggs in 100 of batches.
- After eggs they soon hatch into larvae which is known as maggot.
- After 3 larvael stage they turn into pupae about 8 mm. and then become housefly.
- Housefly generally lives 2 to 4 weeks.
- They feed different liquid, semi liquid substence. They can feed some solid meterials which can soften by housefly saliva.
- Houseflies process visual information 7 times faster than humans.
Life cycle of Housefly :
Female lays Eggs ----- after 1 day 1st instar larva ----- after 1 day 2nd instar larva ----- after 1 day 3rd instar larva ----- after 2 or 3 days Pupae/ pupa ----- after 3.5 to 4.5 days it turn into adult housefly
Housefly is very difficult to catch in your frame. Its flying speed is amazing so you can not catch them easily. You need to stable where housefly repeatatly came and sit. Wait for your shot on tripod or on handheld. Its all about timing. I generally use handheld shots. Also i use flash rarely when light is too low.
How to get rid of Housefly ?
The best spray for get rid of housefly is natural oil sprays like citronella oil, neem oil, peppermint oil, lemongrass oil etc. Get mixing these oils with alcohol or water and spray it in your house .
Gear Used : Canon 80 D , Canon 6 D , Canon 100 mm macro lens.