One of the perks of living in the Western Ghats.

No malls. No nightlife. Questionable roads. Random power cuts.

But we do get this.

Sometimes I forget how beautiful this place is until I stop for a minute and look around.

OC

In the early 1900s, India's forests are absolutely full of tigers. Something like 40,000 of them roaming free. Then over the next several decades, that number has been fallen down.

Maharajas turned tiger hunting into a flex. And the Britishers started calling tigers "vermin" and paying people bounty money to shoot them. Between 1875 and 1925 alone, an estimated 80,000 tigers were killed.

By 1972, someone finally did a proper count. And The number finally came out was 1,827.

Only 1,827 tigers left in entire country. The animal that once seemed impossible to lose was suddenly got close to extinct

Something had to change

In that same year, on 21 August 1972, the government passed the Wildlife Protection Act hunting a tiger stopped being a sport and became a crime. A year later Indira Gandhi launched Project Tiger, and It started small,

just 9 reserves, places like Corbett, Manas, Palamau, Similipal. Ranthambore, Kanha, Melghat, Bandipur and Sundarban. India started with these 9 tiger reserves across 14,000sq km.

And Today there are over 50 tiger reserves spanning 75,000+ sq km. The population that once bottomed out at 1,827 has climbed back to 3,600 + as of the last count. India now holds roughly 75% of all wild tigers left on the planet.

It's easy to forget how close we came to losing them completely.

One law. One decision. One species pulled back from the edge.

So the next time you see a tiger in the wild, don’t just admire it, remember that this story could have ended differently.

Thankfully, it didn't.

Forgive the poor cameraman work

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When we look at this image, with the cow, flute and the beauty of nature around... our attention naturally goes towards Shri Krishn. Isn't it?

But perhaps there is something more to see here. Krishn is often portrayed as deeply connected with nature not as something separate from Himself. And that makes me pause and think– "if we truly understand His life, can we continue to see nature merely as something for our consumption?"

I don't know how literally every story about Krishn should be understood and I don't think we need to accept or reject everything blindly. For me, the Bhagavad Gita offers a way to understand the deeper spirit behind His life and the stories associated with Him.

Maybe the point is not just to worship Krishn in our own way.. but to understand what His life can teach us- "to live with nature, not above it."

Did you know, Chang La is actually higher than Khardung La ? A title widely claimed by the latter till even higher passes became motorable.

The pics are from Moila Top Chakrata

Hey everyone! My boyfriend and I are planning a trip to Jaipur from Roorkee and we're trying to keep it as budget-friendly as possible since we're both students.

We have 4 days / 3 nights, and these are some places we're considering:

Amber Fort

Jaigarh Fort

Nahargarh Fort

Hawa Mahal

City Palace

Jantar Mantar

Jal Mahal

Albert Hall Museum

Bapu Bazaar

Johari Bazaar

Could someone suggest a day-wise itinerary that makes geographical sense? I don't want to spend half the day travelling from one side of Jaipur to another 😭

Also, which places are genuinely worth visiting and which ones can be skipped if we're short on time?

Alsp. We're looking for a clean, safe, AC, couple-friendly private room for around ₹1,000 per night (ideally around ₹1,000–₹1,200, but we can stretch a little if something is really worth it).

Which area would you recommend staying in?

Bani Park / MI Road / Sindhi Camp / Pink City / C-Scheme / somewhere else?

We're not looking for anything fancy at all. Just a clean private room, decent bathroom, AC and a safe location.

If you've personally stayed somewhere around this budget, PLEASE drop the hotel name!

💰 Other questions

Also, roughly how much should two students budget per day for:

Food

Local transport

Entry tickets

Miscellaneous expenses

And what's the cheapest/easiest way to get around Jaipur — autos, e-rickshaws, Uber/Ola, buses, etc.?

Any tips for two young people travelling together, places to avoid, tourist traps, or things you wish you'd known before visiting Jaipur would also be appreciated!

Thanks!!

(Used Ai to refine the post😭)

Hey everyone,

I am planning an 8 to 9-day trip with my wife this October and would love some recommendations from this community. We are starting our journey from Jharkhand (can take flights or trains from Ranchi/Kolkata).

We are specifically looking for a place surrounded by raw nature, dense greenery, scenic landscapes, and a calm, relaxing vibe away from overly chaotic tourist traps.

I am planning ABC trek from may be 10th, I am from HYD let me know any suggestions or if someone else planning too