Jhalana Forest is popular for Leopard Safari in Jaipur and it has a Hunting Lodge. The first three pictures were clicked before the onset of the monsoon season. Clicked from the forest, giving you a clear picture of the surrounding area!
Clicked from the opposite hill.
Clicked from the forest – a close-up!
The following picture was clicked during monsoon season and shows a change in topography; the forest is all green!
History – Hunting Safari In India & The Lodge in Jaipur
This hunting lodge was built many years ago by Jaipur royalty during the pre-Independence period. Tiger hunting excursions was a norm, back then. A Large number of hunting lodges near Jaipur were built during the rule of Maharajah Sawai Madho Singh II. I could not obtain any recorded information about the construction year of this hunting lodge. In the local language, they were called Shikaar Odhi.
Hunting in India by the British & Princely rulers
It is well known hunting was one of the favorite sports undertaken by the Rajput rulers as well as other princely rulers. Many pictures of hunting excursions of erstwhile rulers are on display in the museums and palaces in Jaipur & elsewhere, with their prized catch. These excursions were sometimes undertaken along with foreign dignitaries, visitors or with the British officers. Often, these hunting excursions used to last for days. This hunting lodge sits on a small hill providing an excellent view of the surrounding area.
The wild animals like leopards, tigers, deer, Neelgai once ruled Jhalana forest. However, all that has changed! The population of wild animals has fallen drastically due to many reasons. Jaipur Royalty used to engage in hunting sport on a regular basis. Later licensed kill permits issued by the government till 1980s was also responsible for the fall in the wild animal population in Rajasthan. Lately, increasing human footprints in the forest areas and dwindling natural habitat has been a major contributor towards this cause. The hunting lodge in Jhalana Forest is currently maintained by the Forest Department and has now been opened to the public as a part of ticketed visit of Jhalana Leopard Safari.
Ranthambore near Sawai Madhopur was a tiger hunting reserve of Jaipur Maharaja. The name Sawai Madhopur also come from the Jaipur ruler, Sawai Madho Singh. Ranthambore is now a foremost tiger reserve in India. You can read a complete blog post on visiting Ranthambore – Ranthambore National park Chasing the Arrowhead
Is Hunting allowed in India?
Hunting for sport is prohibited in India. Government banned hunting under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, except for some specified purposes.
This post joins other bloggers post in Weekly Photo challenge- From Every Angle
JaipurThruMyLens 
The last pic is gorgeous…i agree, the whole scene has changed!
I wish we preserve nature for we will be lost without it!
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thanks! That’s true!
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Lovely pics! Long back in 90s we visited Ramgarh lodge and liked staying there away from the din of the city. I have no idea about this lodge you have photographed…is it the same?
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thanks balroop2013! yes, Ramgarh lodge does exist – It is now know as Taj gateway and run by Taj group. unfortunately, the Ramgarh Dam (near which this property is located) which was once a huge reservoir supplying water to Jaipur city has gone dry – for many years now! ….vested interest and human greed!!
The lodge in this picture is a different lodge and quite small one vis a vis the Ramgarh lodge. This one is loacted in the forest whereas the other one overlooked a dam.
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It looks like a very wild and beautiful area. It is sad the wild animals are diminished. That seems to be happening in many places around the world as the population grows.
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It is unfortunate that human race is the most destructive race on this planet! for its gains it has wiped off many species -directly or indirectly, without fully understanding its consequences on nature and on humans too!!
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Lovely views!
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thanks ladyfi!
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Wow, what a change between seasons ~ and such a beautiful area, fit for all of nature and its animals.
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Dalo 2013! it always feel great to be ‘lost ‘ in lil bit of jungle we have close to the city!
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Amen to that ~ sometimes these little oasis we find amid the concrete jungle is the perfect retreat.
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Hunting excursions. That sounds like quite a different kind of activity – not many dignitaries and visitors might have done such adventurous outings before 😀 And lasting for days…that really is quite a trip for them. Beautiful photos, great captures 🙂
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Thanks for checking it out and comments as well ! Maybe hunting excursion were relevant in those times, preserving wildlife is our major concern today ! 🙂
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Great read! Thanks for the inspiration.
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You are welcome, Trent 🙂
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