Badlands
Discover India|December 2016

The wild riverine tract of the Chambal, more famous as the former haunt of dacoits, is a national sanctuary teeming with birds, mammals and dulleyed, toothy amphibians. It also hosts the oldest mela in India.

Anurag Mallick
Badlands

It’s no secret that bandits love borders. If Veerappan operated in the Satyamangalam forests at the intersection of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Chambal at the tri junction of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh has been the original haunt of dacoits for decades. The labyrinthine ravines were once the lair of dreaded dacoits like Sultana Daku, Daku Maan Singh, Paan Singh Tomar, Phoolan Devi and Nirbhay Gujjar. Carved out by the Chambal river and weathered over centuries by flood and rain, the beehad (wilderness) of mud cliffs and scrub forest runs in a two to six-kilometre-wide maze either side of the 425-km-long river. Straddling three state boundaries, what better hiding place for rebels?

From Rajput chieftains escaping Muslim persecution after the fall of Kannauj and Delhi to rebellious sepoys and freedom fighters during the 1857 war of independence or villagers absconding after caste and property disputes, the Chambal became the ultimate refuge of renegades for centuries. But there’s a distinction between dacoits and rebels, as Paan Singh Tomar elucidates in the 2012 Bollywood flick, “Beehad mein baagi hote hain, Dakait to milte hain Parliament mein!” After many dacoits surrendered (some ironically joined politics), the wild riverine tract was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1979 to help revive gharial and marsh crocodile populations. Chambal, once notorious for its wild life, began to be recognised for its wildlife!

Denne historien er fra December 2016-utgaven av Discover India.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra December 2016-utgaven av Discover India.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA DISCOVER INDIASe alt
New Gear For New Travels
Discover India

New Gear For New Travels

Here’s our selection of some nifty new gear that’s certain to add extra oomph to your next vacation.

time-read
9 mins  |
November - December 2021
10 Hidden Gems Of India
Discover India

10 Hidden Gems Of India

The last two years have prepared us to expect the unexpected, so why not explore the unexplored in 2022? India boasts some of the most culturally abundant and visually spectacular places in the world. Pick one or more of these 10 indian destinations to travel to and discover new lands in the coming year.

time-read
8 mins  |
November - December 2021
When Travel Heals
Discover India

When Travel Heals

Going for a holiday just after you have lost your mother to COVID-19 may not be the most popular idea, but it was the only way for a grieving family to escape the agony with which they were living. And so, they headed to the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu in search of peace and recuperation.

time-read
5 mins  |
November - December 2021
BOOKS FOR THE BACKPACK
Discover India

BOOKS FOR THE BACKPACK

Journey across India through these books that shed light on the intriguing history and vibrant culture of the country.

time-read
2 mins  |
November - December 2021
Masks of Glory
Discover India

Masks of Glory

Charida is not the most popular tourist spot in West Bengal. But its obscurity is one of the reasons we choose to discover the undiscovered ‘mask village’ of India.

time-read
4 mins  |
November - December 2021
Palace of Grandeur
Discover India

Palace of Grandeur

The Grand Mercure Bengaluru at Gopalan Mall offers a slice of Karnataka’s rich architectural and culinary history and culture. We check-in at the palatial property for a plush staycation.

time-read
4 mins  |
November - December 2021
The Road to My Roots
Discover India

The Road to My Roots

A family finds harmony and plenty of nostalgia in the hilly forests of Ramgarh, Uttarakhand and the Kumaon Himalayas.

time-read
6 mins  |
November - December 2021
GARDEN of FABLES
Discover India

GARDEN of FABLES

On the fringes of Darjeeling, Kurseong is home to India’s most expensive tea, the world’s first tea factory, and a mystical natural phenomenon.

time-read
5 mins  |
November - December 2021
MORE than just FOOD
Discover India

MORE than just FOOD

Kochi’s boutique cafés go beyond the traditional meal to o er artisanal experiences that reflect the port city’s varied expressions. From artist residencies to couverture masterclasses and upmarket design stores, there’s much to explore and savour.

time-read
5 mins  |
November - December 2021
Magical Moments
Discover India

Magical Moments

Travel blogger and dancer, Nina Okhotina, is also the founder of the clothing brand, The Dress Stories. Her fl owy, one-tone dresses add a touch of magic to her Instagram pictures from her Indian trips. The Russia-born social-media star reminisces about her time in India and the people that made it special.

time-read
3 mins  |
November - December 2021