Into Kipling Country

India has an amazing variety of wildlife from teeming insect colonies to majestic herds of elephants. Its diversity of animals is only second to Africa and there are currently 80 National Parks and over 400 Wildlife Sanctuaries. Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book conveyed the sense of dark dense jungles, crackling campfi res, nights under starry skies and his inspiration was the land nestling at the foot of the Seoni Hills. Today this is encompassed by the picturesque Pench National Park. Its more famous neighbour, Kanha, also boasts Kipling connections and is considered to be one of Asia’s fi nest protected areas, whilst Bhandhavgarh, with forested hills interspersed by savanna is arguably the best place to see a tiger in India today. To conclude, this unique arrangement evokes ‘Kim’, with a train journey to Varanasi (ancient Benares) to witness dawn prayers on the ghats of the Ganges.