Friday, January 4, 2013

The Living Root Bridges of Cherrapunjee, India

The lower reaches of the southern slopes of Khasi and Jaintia hills, in Northeastern India, are humid, warm and streaked by many swift flowing rivers and mountain streams. On the slopes of this hill, among the dense undergrowth, a species of Indian Rubber tree – (Ficus Elastica) -  thrives and flourishes. These trees shoot out many secondary roots from their trunks. The trees, supported by these secondary roots, can comfortably perch itself on huge boulders along side the riverbanks or in the middle of rivers and send its roots down to the riverbed.

Root Bridges
Root Bridges


The ancient War-Khasi people, a tribe in Meghalaya, had noticed these qualities of this tree and had adapted it to serve their need for building bridges across rivers and streams. In order to direct the roots in the desired direction, the Khasis sliced betel nut tree trunks half in the middle for their entire length, hollowed them out and passed the thin and long tender roots through them. The roots start growing towards other end of the stream and when they are reached they are allowed to take root in the soil. Given enough time, a sturdy, living bridge is produced.
Root-bridges in day
Root-bridges in day

Some of these root bridges can carry fifty or more people at a time and can be over 100 feet long. These bridges take 10 to 15 years to become fully functional, and they keep growing in strength by the day. Some of these bridges are well over 500 years old.

Woman washing cloth under root bridge
Woman washing cloth under root bridge

These bridges are unique to Meghalaya only and are being used daily even today by people living in many villages around Cherrapunjee. One special bridge has two bridges stacked one over the other. The villagers of Nongriat where this bridge is located at the bottom of the valley call it 'Umshiang Double Decker Root Bridge’.


Side look root bridge
Side look root bridge


Chand Baori Stepwell in India


Chand Baori in Abhaneri village near Jaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan,, India, is one of the most overlooked landmarks in the country. It is one of the oldest stepwell in Rajasthan, and is considered to be among the biggest in the world. Chand Baori looks like anything but a well. This incredible square structure is 13 stories deep, and lined along the walls on three sides are double flight of steps. 3,500 narrow steps arranged in perfect symmetry descends to the bottom of the well 20 meters deep to a murky green puddle of water. Built during the 8th and 9th century by King Chanda of Nikumbha Dynasty, provided the surrounding areas with a dependable water source for centuries before modern water delivery systems were introduced. As the green water at the base attests, the well is no longer in use, but it makes for an interesting stop-over to an architecturally impressive structure that is over 1000 years old. There’s also a temple adjoining the well for visitors to explore.
Chand-Baori-Stepwell-Rajasthan
Chand-Baori-Stepwell-Rajasthan

Stepwells, also called bawdi or baori, are unique to India. These wells have steps built into the sides that can be descended to reach the water at the bottom. Stepwells are generally larger than common wells and are often of architectural significance, just like Chand Baori.
Stepwell
Stepwell

The well’s sheer endlessly appearing geometric complexity made of stairs and steps ensured that Rajput people had access to water at any time of the year, and from all sides. The reasons behind building such an elaborate step well is not fully clear. Some believe it was used as a water harvesting site. Rajasthan is a dry place, and hence, every ounce of water is precious. The large mouth of the well functioned as a rain catching funnel that contributed to the water seeping in from the porous rock at the bottom. In addition to conserving water, Chand baori also became a community gathering place for the Abhaneri locals. The townsfolk used to sit around the step well and cool off during the summer days. At the bottom the well the air is always about 5-6 degrees cooler than at the top.
Close-Chand-Baori
Close-Chand-Baori

The steps surround the well on three sides while the fourth side has a set of pavilions built one atop another. The side that has the pavilions have niches with beautiful sculptures including religious carvings. There is even a royal residence with rooms for the King and the Queen and a stage for the performing arts.
Steps
Steps of Chand Baori

Chand Baori was featured in the movie The Fall and also made a small appearance in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises.

Water inside well
Water inside well
The well is now a treasure managed by the Archeological Survey of India.
chand-baori-wall-figures
chand-baori-wall-figures
chand-baori-cleaners
chand-baori-cleaners
chand-baori-stepwell
chand-baori-stepwell

Vivid-colors-of-Chand-Baori
Vivid-colors-of-Chand-Baori

Thursday, January 3, 2013

The style of Indian wrestling-Kushti

The style of Indian wrestling, also know as Pehlwani and the person referred as  Pehlwan. kushti:Traditional Indian wrestling take place in “Akhada”. “Akhada” is a place for practicing the Indian wrestling, in other words the school of wrestling. Indian wrestler or pehlwan live under some strict set of rules made by the trainer or ustad.There are very few Akhada’s are remaining in India. Some dedicated peoples are still working to keep alive The India Wrestling.This is very popular sport in India as well as in neighbor countries .India has won titles in Commonwealth Games held at jamaica.India has hosted the world wrestling championships. The famous Indian wrestler, Sushil Kumar has won medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Sushil Kumar has made an history by reaching in the final of London 2012 Summer Olympics. The Indian World Champion wrestler Sushil kumar is the winner of the gold medal in the 66 kg freestyle competition at the FILA 2010.
Pachad in Kushti
Pachad in Kushti

Sushil Kumar: 

The Famous Indian wrestler from Jat family in a village called Baprola near Delhi. The Indian World Champion wrestler and winner of gold medal and a bronze medal in the 66 kg freestyle competition at the FILA 2010 World Wrestling Championships and  Wrestling event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The Indian Grappler is one verge of creating history by reaching in the final of 66 kg freestyle wrestling championship and only hope of India to win a gold in London Olympic 2012 . He is one of India’s best-ever individual Olympian by assuring at least a silver or hope for gold.Yogeshwar Dutt another Indian wrestler has won a bronze in London Olympic Games 2012. Other good Indian male wrestlers as Amit and Narsingh are out from freestyle wrestling game of London Olympics campaign 2012.
Sushil-Kumar-Indian-Wrestler
Sushil-Kumar-Indian-Wrestler

In Indian wrestling physical training means to build strength and develop muscle.There are some specific exercises that wrestler should do on daily basis, Surya Namaskara, shirshasan,the dand and bethak. The freestyle type of Indian wrestling is one of the most popular and traditional sport from India. Punjab is well known for its wrestlers or Pahalwan and its one of best place to learn Kushti or Indian wrestling.
Dwand-Yuddh Kushti
Dwand-Yuddh Kushti

Diet’s of Indian wrestler are very restricted it contains ghee milk along with almonds,green vegetables,banana,apple and water melon in fruits.Consumption of tobacco and alcohol are strongly prohibited for the Pahalwan of India.
Kushti practice in Akhara
Kushti practice in Akhara

The Great Khali : 

The Giant wrestler from India real name Dalip Singh Rana also know as Giant Singh. Khali the great is a professional wrestler of WWE. Khali is the first Indian professional wrestler to be signed a contract by World Wrestling Entertainment. The great khali was a police officer in the Punjab state police.The Great Khali has face many challenges to its entire journey from Dalip Singh Rana to The Giant wrestler.He has also appeared in three Hollywood film.
Dalip Singh Rana aka Khali
Dalip Singh Rana aka Khali

Eco-sensitive traditional transport in India


The Eco-sensitive transport Rickshaws and Tangas are banned in most of the cities in India. Delhi has completely replacing tangas the oldest form of transportation in India. All major cities like Mumbai and Calcutta used these oldest forms of transports for many years. In villages of India pulled and cycle rickshaws are still one of the major forms of transport. These types of transports are the life line of the poor peoples who pulled rickshaws to survive. As of changing world these traditional transports are disappearing from the country.

Rickshaws: 

The Runner-pulled rickshaws were the local form of transportation used for traveling. The last sizable fleet of rickshaws can be found in Calcutta only. Runner-pulled rickshaws have mainly been replaced by cycle rickshaws and auto. In south India pulled rickshaws can be visible as goods carrier.
Rickshaw-puller-Kolkata
Rickshaw-puller-Kolkata

Cycle Rickshaw: 

The cycle rickshaw is one of the oldest existing forms of transportation in India. Cycle rickshaw is the replacement of runner pulled rickshaws and auto is another replacement for cycle rickshaws. Now a day’s cycle rickshaw is not allowed to use in the metro cities but in town or villages of India this is the best transport carriage. Rickshaw is used for goods as well as for public transport and mainly for school childrens. A cycle rickshaw is also known as trishaw or tricycle.
Cycle-rickshaw-India
Cycle-rickshaw-India

Tanga: 

One of the best rides which has become rare with the changing world. May be the cycle rickshaw has replaced tanga at many parts of India but still The tanga or horse cart still visible in many areas of India. Delhi “The Heart of India” was famous for Tanga, but now due to the heavy traffic in Delhi, tangas are not allowed to use. It’s good that the village side area of India still nurturing horse-drawn carriage.
Tanga-India
Tanga-India

Bail Gadi: 

Bullock cart or bail gadi used for transporting grass or goods in villages of India. Farmers have been using bullock carts for taking their yield to market and to ferry people. Bail gadi is the only vehicles for rural peoples of India to travel from one place to other villages. Bullock cart race is also organized by the peoples of villages in some part of India. These bulls also used for farming. A ride on bullock cart should not be missed while visiting villages of India, because India lives in villages only.
Bailgadi-India
Bailgadi-India

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Holy Animals of India


Animals have been traditionally considered sacred in Hindu culture, The symbolic significance of animals in India are as vehicles of god or deities themselves. Bull, the vehicle of Lord Shiva,Tiger the vehicle of “Maa Durga“, mouse is also considered as one of the holy animals in India, It is vahana (mount/vehicle) of the Lord Shri Ganesh. The Karni Mata Temple is very popular as the temple of rats in Rajasthan. Indian Eagle Garuda and peacock are considered as the sacred bird of Hindu. Not only animals are worship as sacred in India, Holy rivers, Sacred trees, land and birds are also worship in Indian culture. Street show of animals like monkey, bear and snakes used by the tribe people for living hood. Still in the rural parts of the country,buffalo, goat and chicken’s are sacrificed to deities by the various tribes. The animals are sacrificed as part of an old annual tribal custom or tradition in India and some time there are incident of killing of wild animals by the villagers too. To describe the Significance of animals in Indian culture “Sacred Animals of India” book has been published. The book “Sacred Animals of India” authored by Dr. Nanditha Krishna and released by Maneka Gandhi the animal rights activist.

Cow: 

The cow is holiest animal in India and their slaughter is banned throughout India. Cow is one of the most worshiped animal in India, she treated as the gods in the shape of animal. Cow the “Sacred Animals of India” is even more than a mother in the sense that it fulfills all the needs of her children. The cow in India is believed as a gift of the gods to the peoples.
Holy-Cow-in-India
Holy-Cow-in-India

Monkey: 

Monkey is believed as the form of God Hanuman or Bajrang Bali, the god of power and strength. Many Indian temple’s like Durga Temple Varanasi and famous Monkey Temple Galta, Jaipur is the home for thousand’s of monkey’s. The biggest monkey is known as Langur or Hanuman Langur, is the most sacred in India. There is a famous Ubud Monkey Forest and temple complex in Ubud, Bali which is one of the most tourist attraction in Bali and Swayambhunath in Nepal.
Holy-Monkey-in-India
Holy-Monkey-in-India

Snake

The worship of serpent deities is present in several old cultures, In the Hindu religion’s the Lord Shiva wear the Nag snake “Indian Cobra” as an ornament around his neck. Indian Cobra is the most sacred snake in India. Nag Panchami, the festival of snakes, is a Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of snakes and serpent deities. It is an important festival in India, peoples offer puja, Milk and worship the snake.
Snake-worship-in-india
Snake-worship-in-india

Elephant: 

The elephant is vehicle of Indra and “The elephant-headed God” Shri Ganesh, deity of success and education is worship by the Indian peoples. The elephant in India is part of Hindu ethos and culture. It was used as an instrument of war and also as a log carrier in the woods. The Great Indian elephant is decorated and worshiped in Kerala, Many major temples own elephants others hire or are donated elephants during the festival seasons.
Elephant-worshipin-South India
Elephant-worshipin-South India

Tiger

The Royal Bengal Tiger “National Symbols of India” is one of the sacred animal in India. The National animal of India Tiger and Great Lion are the vehicle of Hindu deity “Maa Durga“. The Bengal tiger is Worshiped by the tribes and by the sundervan people as well.
Indian-Sacred-Tiger
Indian-Sacred-Tiger

Top 10 National Parks for Wildlife Safari in India


India has more than 200 wildlife sanctuaries and about 100 of them are classified as National Parks. However some are better than others and still unexplored. National Parks in India spread across the country offer a fascinating diversity of terrain, which is houses of large number of wild rare and giant animal species. India is a great tourism destination in world. It attracts tourists with its unique cultural and geographical features.

Jim Corbett National Park

Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest national park in India, located at Uttaranchal. Corbett has been a haunt for tourists and wildlife lovers for a long time. Its dense forest is the home for various species. The Corbett National Park is a heaven for the adventure and wildlife seeker. Tourists are not allowed to have a walk inside the park. Story of Jim Corbett to kill an Indian leopard is very famous. The pride of India, Great Tiger can be spotted here with some luck.
Deer in Jim Corbett National Park
Deer in Jim Corbett National Park

Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga National Park is located in Assam. It has the highest density of Royal Bengal Tigers in the world. The park also hosts two-thirds of the world’s Great One-horned  Rhinoceroses, Indian elephants “The holy Animals“, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer. Kaziranga has achieved notable success in wildlife conservation as compare to other protected areas in India.
Buffalo in Kaziranga-National-Park
Buffalo in Kaziranga-National-Park

Sundarbans National Park

Sundarbans National Park is one of the largest reserves home for the Royal Bengal Tiger. This area is covered by dense rain forest,sunder ban is located in west Bengal. The park has got protection since its creation. The core area is free from all human disturbances and is habitat of many toxic reptiles in India. Man eater tigers stories belongs to sunder ban national park.
Ghadiyals in Sundarbans-National-Park
Ghadiyals in Sundarbans-National-Park

Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park is Tiger reserve park and located in the Mandla, Madhya Pradesh. The park has a significant population of Royal Bengal Tiger, leopards, Barasingha and Indian wild dog. A documentary has been cover by discovery on Indian wild dogs in Kanha National Park. This is one of India’s most visited wildlife area and best place to encounter with wild animals.
Indian Wild dog in Kanha-National-Park
Indian Wild dog in Kanha-National-Park

Gir Wildlife Sanctuary

Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is the single home of the pure Asiatic Lions or Indian Lion and is considered to be one of the most important protected areas in India as well as in Asia. Ecosystem of Gir is prefect to support all species. The lion-count in Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is 411, an increase as compare to 2005. Gir also includes Sloth bears, Jungle cats, Striped Hyenas and some time black bucks also appear.
Striped Hyena in Gir-Wildlife-Sanctuary
Striped Hyena in Gir-Wildlife-Sanctuary

Periyar National Park

Periyar National Park area lies in the middle of a mountainous area of the Cardamom Hills in Land of Attraction Kerala. This protected area is well famous for its diversity and natural beauty. Around 70% of the area is well covered by evergreen or rain forest,which is also home for the biggest snake in India, the Giant King Kobra. Periyar is one of the 27 tiger reserves in India, there are an estimated 53 tigers. A large number of Indian elephants can also be tourist attraction in periyar.
Giant King Kobra in Periyar-National-Park
Giant King Kobra in Periyar-National-Park

Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh National Park located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. Bandhavgarh has the highest density of Royal Bengal Tigers known in the world. A female Tiger known as Sita was covered by the National Geographic and considered as most photographed tiger in the world. The park has a large breeding population of monkey also called Langur “one of the holy animals of India“, Leopards and various species of deer and smbhar.
Langur sitting in Bandhavgarh-National-Park
Langur sitting in Bandhavgarh-National-Park

Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary 

Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for its Royal Bengal Tigers and is one of the best places in India to see these Great Cats in the jungle. There is Ranthambore fort inside the park,hence its name become Ranthambore national park. Padam Talao is the biggest lake inside the park,other major wild animals are hyena, wild boar, sambar.
Wild boar in Ranthambore-Wildlife-Sanctuary
Wild boar in Ranthambore-Wildlife-Sanctuary

Hemis National Park

Hemis National Park is located at the high altitude in Ladakh region of J&K. This is the only national park which contain largest protected area in India, thus become the largest national park of India. The park is home for number of species of endangered mammals including the Indian Snow Leopard. Population of Snow Leopards in Hemis National Park are around 200. Tibetan Wolf, the Eurasian Brown Bear, Sheep and the Red Fox are also present in Hemis. The big flying Predators like Golden eagle and Vulture are also best part of Hemis.
Golden eagle flying high in Hemis-National-Park
Golden eagle flying high in Hemis-National-Park

Sariska Tiger Reserve

Sariska Tiger Reserve is one of the most famous national parks in India, located in Royal Rajasthan. It is home for wild animals leopard, chinkara, wild boar and plenty of bird species and unique reptiles like big snakes, monitor lizards and turtles. Sariska is famous as bird sanctuary in India. It was selected for tiger reserve under Project Tiger scheme, but now its finally declared that Sariska indeed did not have any tigers left.
Flamingos in Sariska-Tiger-Reserve
Flamingos in Sariska-Tiger-Reserve

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy New Year 2013

Bharat Expedition 
wishes its readers a very 
Happy New Year 
2013

Monday, December 31, 2012

Unexplored wildlife sanctuaries of India


Wildlife Sanctuaries of India has a unique status worldwide, It has the second largest base of bio diversity in the world. These calm and peaceful wildlife sanctuaries are the home for some very giant animals and rare species of birds. India has some of the biggest National Parks like Hemis, Sundarbans and Gangotri National Park. Rann of Kutch, also known as the Indian Wild Ass sanctuary is the largest wildlife sanctuary in India.

Area wise wildlife sanctuaries of India:

Desert National Park: 

Desert National Park, Rajasthan covering an area of 3162 km. It is one of the largest protected areas for wild animals in India. The famous Desert National Park lies on the vast ocean of sands near Jaisalmer. Its is one of the major attractions of the Jaisalmer city another one is Jaisalmer fort. This is a only desert sanctuary of India, famous for its endangered species like the Great Indian bustard. An excellent example of the ecosystem of the Thar Great Desert and its rich habitat area offers the desert animals & birds including flying predators black and grey eagles, vultures, Indian peafowl, species of antelopes, monitor lizard, Russel viper and krait the most venomous snake in India.
Indian-peacock-Rajasthan
Indian-peacock-Rajasthan

Namdapha National Park: 

Namdapha National Park is the largest protected area in the Eastern area of Arunachal Pradesh, lies on the Patkai range. It offers a wide spectrum of plants and animals and one of the richest areas in biodiversity in India. Namdapha is famous for its untouched wilderness, unexplored place and unseen natural beauty. It is the only one national park in which four Big Cats – tiger, leopard, snow leopard and clouded leopard are found. Other large predators are wolves, and Asiatic black bears. The great Hornbills and Red Giant Flying Squirrel is often seen in park.
Giant-Indian-flying-squirrel
Giant-Indian-flying-squirrel

Khangchendzonga National Park: 

Khangchendzonga National Park is the largest wildlife reserve in Sikkim in the bless by nature area of 1784 KM. It lies on one of the grandest and most unspoilt Himalayan mountain ranges called Khangchendzonga the third highest peak in the world. The park, along with its surrounding forests and mountains offers best beauty of nature. The park has the right mix of mountains, glaciers and forests, Snow leopard is the one of biggest cats found here.
Snow-Leopard-Himalayan-Region-India
Snow-Leopard-Himalayan-Region-India

Sanjay National Park: 

The Sanjay National Park in Chhattisgarh is spread over an area of 1471 km and is surrounded by Vindhyachal Mountain Ranges and rivers. After partition form madhay pradesh its name is now Guru Ghasidas national park. Main wild animals are Jackals, Sambar, Four-horned Antelopes, Jungle Cat, Monitor Lizard,Monkey, Striped Hyena and wild Dogs. It is also an ideal place to watch migratory birds. Sanjay National Park is one of the most important wild animal sanctuaries in central India. Indian Rock Python, Cobra and Russell’s Viper are the dangerous reptiles found here.
Indian-Monitor-Lizard
Indian-Monitor-Lizard

Indravati National Park: 

Indravati National Park is located in the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh in area of 1258 KM. The park is known for the wide species of animals, birds and reptiles. The major wildlife attractions in Indravati National Park include the rare Wild Buffalo, Tigers, Leopards, Gaurs, Barasinghas and barking deer. reptiles in the park are freshwater crocodile, Indian Rock Python, Cobra and Russell’s Viper. It is the finest and most famous wildlife parks and also the only Tiger Reserve in the Tribal State Chhattisgarh.
Indian-rock-python
Indian-rock-python

The Big Cats of India


Felidae is the biological family of cats and member of this family is called Felid. Big Cats Tiger, Lion, Leopard and jaguar are define this family. The only cats able to roar are come under big cats family.These “roaring cats” are also sometimes called as “Great Cats”. Big cats also includes cheetah, snow leopard, and cougar. The Asiatic lions or some time called Indian lion is one of the four great cats  found in India, the other great cats of India are the Bengal tiger, Indian leopard and the snow leopard. There is an Cheetah reintroduction plan running by the Indian government, to bring the cheetah back to India. Seven sites in the four states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh have been shortlisted as potential homes for the cheetah.The Great Indian Tigers in are a bit larger than those Panthera found in Indonesia or Bali.
Tiger
The Big Cats of India

Great Indian Lion: 

The Indian lion are quit similar to African in looks, Asiatic lion are smaller and lighter but are equally aggressive as African. The habitat of the Asiatic lion is very small they survives today only in the Gir National park of Gujarat and only about 411 lions are left. About 150 yeas ago Asiatic Lion was found in large parts India along with Cheetah. Big cats of India lost their jungle habitat in India because of rising human population which almost convert their habitat area to farmlands.The Palpur-Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary was selected to relocated the lions form Gir National Parks.The Gujarat state has been resisting the relocation, since it would make the Gir Sanctuary lose its status as the only home for big cats in India. Indian lions are highly social animals, living in small units called prides with just two or three females, these prides are smaller than Africans.Indian lions prey deer, nilgai and chinkara.
Indian-lions
Indian-lions

Royal Bengal Tiger: 

The Bengal Tiger is  the largest one from the four “Roaring Cats of India”.The Bengal tiger is the second largest subspecies after the Siberian tiger, recent studies have shown that Bengal Tigers are, on average, larger than the Siberian Tigers. Tiger do not live in prides so every tiger has its own territory to live. Tiger habitats usually include dense forest area, proximity to water, and full of prey sources. Bengal Tigers live in many types of forests, including wet and evergreen jungle like Bengal, the mangrove forest of the Ganges Delta. The Royal  Bengal Tiger also found in Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. Bengal tigers eat a variety of animals found in their natural habitat, including deer, wild boars,water buffalo etc.The Bengal Tiger is the national animal of India.India is the home for the world’s largest population of tigers.In the Big Cats dairy of India there are only 1411 Royal Bengal Tigers left as per record.Conservation efforts called “Project Tiger” is on his way to Save Bengal Tigers. Bandhavgarh national park has been an excellent habitat of tiger and is known for the highest density of tigers in the world.
The-royal-bengal-tiger
The-royal-bengal-tiger

White Tiger: 

White tigers have been known to inhabit many parts of East Asia and in India. The habitat range of while tiger’s in India is much reduces due to poaching. While comparing to orange tigers ,white tigers tend to be larger both at birth and at full adult size. Hundreds of white tigers are in captivity in India, and good news is that their numbers are on the increase. The nandan kanan national park is one of the park where White Tigers are found in India.
White-Bengal-Tigers
White-Bengal-Tigers

Indian Leopard: 

The range of leopard has decreased because of hunting and loss of habitat. There are also fragmented populations in India, Sri Lanka, Indochina, and Pakistan and because of its population, it is listed as a “Near Threatened” species.  Compared to other members of the Felid family, the leopard has relatively short legs and a long body with a large skull.  It is similar in appearance to the jaguar. The leopard is an agile and stealthy predator. The leopard is known for its ability in climbing, and it has been observed resting on tree branches during the day.Because of loss of habitat  and continuously deforestation leopard and human interaction can occurred.Basically leopards avoid targeting humans as prey, healthy leopards prefer wild prey but injured leopard can do. Two extreme cases occurred in India, Leopard killed 125 people and another one killed more than 300 after injured by a poacher. Both the man eater leopard were killed by the hunter Jim Corbett.In India the leopard preys on deer such as chitals and muntjacs. Indian leopards are distributed all over in India. Jim Corbett National Park is the best place for Indian leopards. A variation of  leopard is black leopard also known as black panther found in India.
Indian-leopard
Indian-leopard

Black Panther: 

A black panther is a large black cat, Black leopards or black panther are found at most densely forested areas of Assam and Nepal, from Travancore and other parts of southern India. Number of Black panther’s in India are very less, can be appear some time in rural area of India.
Black-panther-In-India
Black-panther-In-India

Snow Leopard: 

Snow leopard also know as  Ounce in India.  Snow leopards are the king of mountain. Snow leopard very less studied member of “The Great Cats” family. Snow leopards bodies are stocky, their fur is thick they are perfect for living in a cold mountainous environment. Its currently occupied range is poorly mapped but as per the record Snow leopard found in Himalayan regions of North India. The diet of the snow leopard varies across its range and with the time of year, and is dependent on prey availability, In the Himalayas it preys mostly wild sheep and goats  and some smaller prey such as hares and birds. Population of the snow leopard was estimated 200-400 in India. Hemis National Park  Ladakh is one of the conservation park for snow leopards in India. Because of disputed border with Pakistan create additional conservation challenges for snow leopard areas. Conservation programs for Snow leopard in India is supported by the native peoples as well.
Snow-Leopard-Himalayan-Region-India
Snow-Leopard-Himalayan-Region-India

Clouded Leopard: 

The another felid of Himalaya is “The clouded leopard” found from the Himalayan foothills through mainland northeast India to neighbor countries. The powerful predator of hills has been classified as vulnerable with suspected to be fewer than 10,000. The smaller length felid is more beautiful in appearance with longish body and tail. The rarely seen in wild, Clouded leopards are threatened by habitat loss due to deforestation, illegal hunting.
Clouded-leopard
Clouded-leopard

Asiatic Golden Cat: 

The Asiatic golden cat is one of the medium-sized wild cat found in Southeastern Asia. The feline species is comes very close to fall in the category of Vulnerable due to fastest regional deforestation, hunting pressure and habitat loss. Arunachal Pradesh and some part of its neighbor states are the only place for Indian golden cat to spot.
Indian-golden-cat
Indian-golden-cat