Chitwan National Park - Animal Watching from Hides

In addition to safaris on foot and elephant back, hides offer animal watchers another way of pursuing their passion. Known as machans these wooden towers are usually erected in clearings crossed by game paths. Dawn and dusk are the best times for observing red deer and rhinos. Big cats, on the other hand, are seldom seen (ask the game warden whether a night vigil is likely to bring any reward). Until a few years ago it was possible to watch these magnificent creatures from the safety of an observation post at the "Tiger Tops" resort, food being put out every night to lure them into the glare of floodlights. This irresponsible practice, wholly inappropriate for a reserve, led to the tigers becoming spoilt by feeding. Losing the knack of hunting more fleet-footed animals, they came to rely on easier prey such as grazing cows and goats, increasing the likelihood of attacks on human beings. The possibly fatal effects of feeding were eventually realized and the practice was stopped. As a result it is now difficult to catch a glimpse of a tiger. Even so, a night spent in a machan surrounded by the noises of the jungle can still be a uniquely worthwhile experience.