Mesmerising Assam: 2009

9th October, 2008; Vijaya Dashami, Jorhat.
Time: 6.30am
" Hello, Bijay!!!"
"Yeah, Heart (thts me) tell!!"
"What r u doing today?? Want to go for a long drive??"
"Can't say, buddy..have to send the DPR, otherwise my boss will kill me!!!"
"What the hell!!!Today is holiday dear..tell me when u will be free..??"
"I should be free by 11am"
"Ok then..try to get the things done as early as possible.. and give me a call when u r free..we can drive to Sibsagar"

I recently learnt driving and was very keen to go for a long drive. Bijay is working in ONGC as a Geologist and we were batchmate in our MSc days in IIT Kharagpur. At around 11am i drove to ONGC colony and picked him up. It was Dussera, so I was expecting a chaos on the road, but to my great surprise i didn't encountered anything like that.

"Bijay, lets change our plan. Its 12.30. We are having 2 options: Kazirnaga or Sibsagar??But Kaziranga is closed now for monsoon"
"Hmmm...Kaziranga National Park!!!"
"Ok!! Lets go..."

Lying along the mighty Brahmaputra river, the Kaziranaga National Park covers an area of about 430-sq-kms. It was inscripted as UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 1985. In 2006 it is also declared as the Tiger Reserve. It is inhabited by the world's largest population of one-horned Rhinocerouses, as well as many mammals, including tigers, elephants, panthers and bears, and thousands of birds.

Its around 100kms drive from Jorhat to Kazirnaga. The NH-37 runs through small towns, lush green paddy field and tea gardens, beautiful landscape with hill peaks; a long drive can't ask for more.

On the way, we shared a lots of new experiences after joining job. I would be highlighting a few of those.

Very soon we crossed Dergaon. Firing Range, Police Training Centre, Dergaon, Golaghat District

Well, the most striking fact Bijay observed in Jorhat is most of the guys dating a girl.

"Heart, I cant understand how it can be that you hopeless din't have a girlfriend. Here, wherever I see, every guy is dating a hot chik!!!"

"Hard luck buddy, there is a proverb you know "love is something which comes when you least want it, and leaves when you desparately want it!!!" When luvly gals r around I never thought of it, and when I want one, all got engaged...and thats life.."

Smooth, straight road; allowed me to manoeuvre at 100kmph

I don't know why, but I really like this line "Live and Let Live". Like this more quotes are there, one of them is "Speed thrills but it kills", which I like to read as "Speed kills but it thrills!!" wuzzaattt!!

Bijay didn't had lunch. So, we had a small halt at A-1-Plaza for lunch and coffee. When we resumed it was 2.10pm.

And the conversation continued. In the last Bihu festival, Bijay saw a lots of beautiful Assamese girls and the way he described them, I won't be suprised to a see a Assamese Nabou (big bro's wife). He told how he already started getting indirect invitation to marry assamese girls. Here is example:

"Mishra, (title of Bijay), how r u planning for ur marriage? There is a girl I can show to u if u r interested."

"Mishra how do spend ur weekends. Come to our home sometimes. You can also go out with my daughter!!!"

ONGC tag ....huh...

Bijay has a passion to travel as much as possible. Unlike others he liked being posted in Assam. It gaved him ample of opportunity to go places where even being a local guy I would never go. Afterall, he is escorted by CRPF. And he started telling his exciting experience. He was suprised by the respect of the local people for ONGC.

While I was checking the air-pressure of the tyre a few buffalos passed by. Provided camera charged and enough memory space, Bijay don't miss a chance!!!

Curvy roads put charm to the my drive!!!

If you zoomed into this photo you can see the effect 'coz of speed.

The sign board says we are approching Kaziranga :)

Assam is the highest tea-producing state in India. Proud to be an Assamese.

Bingo!!!! we are at the main gate of Kazirnaga @ 3pm. Hey, this is not the gate for Kaziranga, the road is opposite to this gate. We could not able take a snap of the main gate!!! (din't thought of it actually...now missing it!!!)

Welcome to World Heritage Kaziranga

When the park is open, one can drive upto 20kms inside the park. As rainy still is still on, nobody is allowed to go inside Park.

Grazing land of Kaziranga. and that's Burha-pahar (meaning old-mountain).

Throughout my description I mentioned about a creature, here is his physical appearance: Bijay

A dead tree. Had it been Africa it could be said as Giraffe. heehee.

We saw 4 rhinos inside the park grazing in swamps. Even with 10x optical zoom on I can capture only this much. Thats why I want to buy a SLR camera at earliest.

Clouds playing with the Sun, while I was playing with my camera. Kudos to my tiny Kodak camera!!!

I was trying my talent as a wildlife photographer!!! U know what, badly screwed up. Nevertheless clicked few birds..and now I am bad in identifying birds :P

After about an hour stay inside park we started our retrieving journey. But, I was still in hunt to get a better picture of rhino. A number of time while traveling from Guwahati to Jorhat, I saw few rhinos grazing near highway.

"Bijay, I want to take a chance!!! Lets drive a few kilometers towards Guwahati. If we r lucky We might see a Rhino or two."

On the way, model of a pair traditional "Horai" made from bellmetal is displayed to show the Assamese culture. (I showing only one here)

No matter whether we see Rhino or not to our delight we came across few Swamp Deers

Bijay told me a story of buying a Rhino momento at a cheaper price at Nagaland:

"When I stopped by the shop, commandos equiped with Carbine came with me and the shopkeeper thought I am a army officer!!! and the commando asked:

"Yeh genda kitne me de rahe ho?" (at what price this rhino is selling for)

"Rs. 150 sir"

"100 lena" (take Rs. 100)

and I got is for 100 Rupees"

"Bijay, its bad, missuse of ur power. For another customer the shopkeeper would have got atleast Rs.200, first he told a reduced price seeing commandos and second u bargained rather forced him to give in ur price!!!"

Oh, Boy.. how much I like pulling Bijay's leg. Heehee.

It was about to sunset, and Bijay was very much insisting on getting back. I asked for a privilage of 5 more kilometers ahead. :)

After driving aroung 3-4kms I got what I anticipated. A rhino grazing in swamps. Well, this time I know those birds... thats pelican, in assamese called Bogoli :)

He had a good look at us. I guess he had been clicked so many times that he knows how give his best pose. Hahaha

And concentrated back to grazing. No no, gave his side pose!!!

and now I am Happy. Took U turn and cruise back to Jorhat with a resolution to come back when park is open.

Cheers,

Hriday

5.00 AM

Tong Tong Tong Tong Tong… The time bell rang from tea garden manager’s bungalow put the entire world in a rush.

“Baba, wake up. Its 5o’clock in the morning!!!”

“Oooo..maa..few more minutes!!please..”

“No, wake up!!! Get yourself brushed and go to your study table. I am preparing breakfast for you.”

Momma’s order, I woke half asleep knowing that what would happen to me if don’t. Putting the brush inside mouth, I came to the gate. It’s the month of November and the tea garden gone under mist. Birds were playing a melodious morning raga. Behind the mist the Sun was also trying to join this party. The whole atmosphere was so overwhelming.

“Baba, what are you doing there? Breakfast is ready, have it quickly, I must see you on the reading table in 10 mins”

“Coming maa”

I came inside and washed my face, but still feeling so sleepy. On the breakfast table all were waiting for me.

“Wake up Bro!!!”

Bro pat on my head and left for tuition class.

I put my reading table near window of my room and just behind the window there was a small mango tree. I opened my books and tried to do some algebra. After solving a few sums to freshen up I just looked outside the window. Two sparrows were playing there. They were jumping in joy from a branch to another making some happy note. I started gazing at their activities for a while, but suddenly they flew to another tree. So, I got back to my books.

Tong..Tong.. the time bell rang again for 8 o’clock. It is the time when all tea-garden workers have to report in their head office. Also, it’s the time for me to get ready for my school.

“Baba, don’t go inside tea garden today! A tigress with two cubs was seen yesterday. She allegedly also killed a cow.”

Dad told warned me before I leave for school.

Tigress with two cubs!!!

Sounds scary, isn’t it??? Well these were almost regular warning in winter days when I was a kid. I grown up in a small village near this tea garden called Baghchung Tea Garden.

Baghchung means Tiger Habitat (Bagh=tiger/leopard; Chung=Habitat). Leopard often changes it habitat. This tea estate was such one. But, in the last 8-10yrs nobody witnessed a tiger here. I am not sure whether they were killed or all their paths are closed because of human encroachment.

Baghchung Tea Estate belongs to the Bezbaruah family, the famous tea gardener of Assam. To be frank I don't have much information about this tea garden, but I can assure next time when I go home I will collect some for sure. Till then enjoy a few sanps..