Slow Revelations In The Wild

Sometimes, the most unforgettable journeys begin with no expectations—just a quiet desire to pause. When I planned a surprise trip to Bandipur for my husband’s birthday, I didn’t have too many expectations. We both longed for a little quiet time in the wilderness, away from deadlines, screens, and the ever-growing noise of city life. What we found, instead, was a story, one that will stay with us for years.We stayed at a place called Dhole’s Den, an eco-conscious homestay tucked into the borderlands of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve. Unlike resorts that promise ‘luxury in the wild’, this one offered something rarer—humility in the wild. It’s the kind of place that doesn’t try to overpower the forest but listens to it instead.The dhole is the name given to the wild Indian dog. This animal often goes unnoticed and is usually overshadowed by tigers, elephants and other wild animals. The dhole is loyal, highly intelligent, and tragically endangered. The people at Dhole’s Den have made it their mission to raise awareness and protect these incredible animals. The property is a quiet homage to this forgotten species—free of loud entertainment, fences, or forced interactions. Here, conservation isn’t just a cause, it’s a way of life.Wandering around the property, we met seven Chippiparai dogs, a stunning sight to behold. These ancient Tamil hounds, sleek and statuesque, moved like royalty. The Chippiparai is one of India’s oldest sighthound breeds known for its loyalty, dignity, and endurance. And yet, like the dhole, it is fading from public memory, pushed aside in favour of foreign breeds. Watching these dogs run across the open fields with grace and pride, I found myself wondering—why do we, as a nation, forget to celebrate our own? Yes, things are changing…but as a collective, we will always think of the foreign as the ‘cooler’ option. Sigh!.We went on two safaris whilst we stayed there. Each was marked by early morning wake-ups and hopeful hearts. The jungle was peaceful—almost too peaceful. We spotted gentle herds of spotted deer, a lone mongoose darting through the bushes, proud peacocks dancing in the distance, and a couple of elephants quietly grazing in the shadows. But there were no big cats, no dramatic sightings. A little part of us felt that familiar tourist twinge of disappointment. Had we missed the magic?But Nature, as we soon learned, has a sense of humour, and timing.On the drive back to Chennai, winding through the border roads of the forest, something extraordinary happened. Just as we were settling into the rhythm of the highway, we caught a glimpse of movement through the trees… a black bear, ambling across the road, entirely unaware of our awe.A few kilometres later, a wild gaur stood majestic and unbothered, as if carved from stone.And then, just when the forest was beginning to fade behind us, a tiger emerged, fluid and magnificent. She looked at us for a brief second and before I could get my phone to take a picture, it dashed across.There were no other vehicles, no cameras—just us, the road, and the wild, showing up in its own time. We were stunned into silence. All the anticipation of the previous days melted away into that one pure, fleeting moment. It felt as though the jungle had waited to show itself only when we stopped asking..That, perhaps, is the real lesson of Bandipur. The wild is not a performance. It doesn’t appear on schedule. It reveals itself to those who are willing to wait, to watch, and most importantly, to listen.As we drove home, I found myself thinking back to the Chippiparais at Dhole’s Den. Noble, overlooked, deeply rooted in this land—and yet, largely forgotten. Their story is India’s story too. In our rush toward modernity, how much have we left behind? And how much of it, if we simply paused to notice, still waits patiently for us to remember?Our trip to Bandipur was meant to be a quick escape, a birthday surprise, a change of scenery. But it became something deeper—a slow unfolding of stillness, a reconnection with what’s wild and worthy, and a reminder that sometimes the forest doesn’t show you what you came looking for.It shows you what you didn’t know you needed.

Slow Revelations In The Wild

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