Chambal River – Ecosystem & Ravines
Chambal Ghati & its Ravines
You hear the word Beehad all the time in reference to Chambal Valley that is notorious for its Dakus or Bandits. In fact most of remember the word Chambal from phrase ‘Chambal ke Daku’ and the most famous of them being Phoolan Devi. Come to think of it women could be bandits in this Beehad. Chambal Ravines provide enough contours on its landscape for the bandits to live happily. Chambal bandits have had a long history of surviving multiple governments since the ancient, medieval and modern times. I remember many tales of my parents traveling through this area as a young couple when my father was posted in Bharatpur and they would come to watch films in Agra.
As I walked on these ravines as part of large travel writers’ group and with UP tourism taking care of us, I wondered how it would be to walk alone on these Chambal Ravines. Would the ghosts of well known bandits who call themselves Rebels instead of Bandits speak to me? Would I be able to hear stories of their hay days from the villagers? Those questions remain but it was an experience to walk on those uneven surfaces and go down the ravines to meet the river.
Walking to the river we saw it flowing as silently as possible. It was like a band of blue in the middle of muddy ravines. Boats plied between the two shores taking villagers from one end to another. With no road or bridge connecting the two shores, a mid sized boat made rounds between the two shores.
Mythology Of Chambal River
Chambal region was originally called Charmanyavati – as it is referenced in Mahabharata also. It is said that during the epic period, the land around Chambal River belonged to Shakuni – the maternal uncle of Kauravas. It was somewhere here that Pandavas first lost to Kauravas in the dice game and the disrobing of their queen Draupadi took place. Draupadi it seems cursed anyone who would drink the water of Charmanyavati or the Chambal River. Since then the river is considered cursed.
However it seems today the very curse has become its blessing. Chambal River is the most pristine of rivers in India today. If you want to see the riverine eco-system of a unpolluted river you need to take a ride down the Chambal River.
Geographically, Chambal River originates from Vindhyas near Indore in Madhya Pradesh. It travels about 1000 kms carving boundaries between MP and Rajasthan and then MP and UP before merging with Yamuna.
Riverine Ecosystem of Chambal River
When you take a boat ride on the Chmbal river, you get to birds on its banks. There are various species of storks, falcons, babblers etc. In the river, be prepared to meet Ghariyals – many of them would be swimming or taking a siesta on the banks of Chambal River.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20cFgZbfTKE?feature=oembed&w=640&h=360]
If you are lucky you can meet the freshwater turtles. In a 45 minutes or so that I spent on the boat, I saw birds flying all around. Ghariyals made an occasional appearance and they almost played hide and seek with our cameras. Their uneven body surface was their marker both inside the water and on the adjoining mud. I am told that the chambal is also home to River Dolphins that have become more or less extinct in River Ganga.
It is one of the best places to watch birds and crocodiles in India perhaps.
Sunset at the river was as beautiful as the sunsets I am used to watching on the Arabian sea. Sun was retiring for the day as we said bye to Chambal River and started walking to our cars. I felt I have just visited a mysterious corner of the country. It was a corner that I always knew about but probably never thought I would be able to visit one day. It was like a bit of romance slipping away from the stories of Chambal.
Chambal is a unique river that is not only cursed as per the traditional beliefs in a land that worships its rivers. It is a river on whose banks, outlaws ruled for the longest of time.
Stay – Chambal Safari Lodge
We stayed at Chambal Safari Lodge – some distance away, but in a place where you can see lots of birds. I got up in the morning to see hundreds of flying foxes hanging on the tree outside my room. Check out their website for a history that is woven around animal fairs when it was called Mela Kothi. Today of course it is an eco-lodge that lets to enjoy the yet unspoiled beauty of Chambal and they have a team to assist you.
On my morning walk through the fields around Chambal Safari Lodge, I came across a whole lot of peacocks also taking a walk.
Overall, after visiting Chambal River, I was damn happy to see a living river, a clean river and a river that had humans, birds and aquatic life all in it – a complete ecosystem of its own, that is so rare to see now. However, how long will it remain clean is another question.
Recommend you to read following Places to visit in Uttar Pradesh.
- Taj Mahal – Most Photogenic Monument of the World .
- Fatehpur Sikri – City rooted in the Saint’s Blessings .
- Rhythm of Chaos on the Ghats of Ganga in Varanasi .
- Must Try Food at Varanasi .
- Gems of Mathura Museum .
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