Velavadar National Park

I just went to Palitana for the weekend which is a place of worship for Jain people but on our way back, we decided to stop over at Velavadar National Park.

A 35square kilometre land is super small for a sanctuary, but for the black bucks? It's big enough.

The savanna makes you feel like you've been teleported to Africa. Due to less rainfall this year, the grasses weren't as tall but they still glistened golden. Parts of them had mood swings and were red, yellow and brown.

Before you go into the heart of the savanna, there's a 10km drive which eases you into the surrounding. Black drongos are seen in plenty. We got really excited when we saw a herd of black bucks grazing but little did we know there was much more to come.

Black bucks have this really cute way of jumping on all four legs. The only way you can see it is if they cross the road to go on the other side. We were lucky enough. Imagine forty of them, skipping away right in front of you. What's really crazy is that even though you keep moving the car ahead, they manage to keep the same distance from you. If you come into their zone of safety, they run even farther till that zone is maintained.

We also saw two white-black bucks. I think that's the coolest.

Apart from BBs, we saw a neel gai (which isn't actually blue), a crane all the way from Siberia, a black and white striped bird that had migrated from Israel (its national bird) and the Indian crane . The Indian crane is always in sync with its other half. Standing at about 5ft tall with a red crown on its silver body, it's a sight to see.

The common crestal kept coming into view and there was a Harriet as well. This sanctuary is the biggest resting ground for them. They come at night and move around together in circles. I wish we were allowed to see that.

Now incase you're reading this because you're planning to go there, here are a few tips.
1. Go there early in the morning around 7. That's the only time you'll get a chance to see a wolf or hyaena since they're night predators.
2. Black bucks cross roads in the morning and at around 4:30. Make sure you're present around that time since that's the closest you'll get to see them, and that too in action.
3. There are lodges to stay inside. Although we didn't stay there, the guide told us you need to send a demand draft atleast a month before and it isn't really easy to book.
4. It isn't allowed to get out and take pictures in between but *cough* request *cough*
5. The best time to come here for bird watching would be in December or January as many immigrants can be spotted.
6. Food available inside is only vegetarian.
7. Timings are 7-1 and 3-6. You could cover one side in half the day, and the second wetland part of it in the second half.

That's all, guys. It's definitely a place you should visit. Not many people know about it and the solidarity just adds to its charm.

Will write some more out here soon.
Thanks for keeping up with me <3
Kanksha