My jaunt around Abu these last few days

The heat has been really oppressive this last fortnight and I could not make up my mind to brave the direct scorching heat of the summer sun. I did venture out after 6 pm. I wanted to see how the water holes were fairing this summer, the situation is grim , all water bodies that serve as watering spots for the animals have run bone dry ,there is just enough water in one or two spots to last for may be another 10 days. The pictures I’m posting will give you an idea of what the bleak future for the wild animals will be in another few weeks if the monsoons are delayed.

The water level at the Trevor Tank in the heart of the sanctuary is only 50%

Another few days to go before the Dhoondai stream runs dry

The Minni Nakki lake bone dry

The lake on the way to Achalgarh Bone dry

The minni Nakki Lake "Some Lake"

The Jawai Catchement area on the way to Guru shaker

Another few days to go and a village with depleated water supply

The Nakki lake a sight for sore eyes

A lake with all its ribs exposed

Tankers waiting in line at Oria

Another lot at another fuitful water well Oria

Nakki Lake, Mount Abu

The legendary heart of an ancient hill

Even though I am an Abuite, one would expect me to know the true story of this lake that rests like a jewel in the heart of our town. And yet, its origins slip through my fingers like water itself.

They say fingernails carved that Nakki Lake out—by a lone, determined soul who took on an impossible task to win his beloved. A story etched in endurance, in longing, in a love that refused to yield. Another telling speaks of the Garasia tribe, who still gather here in quiet devotion during Shukla Paksha, in the soft months of April and May. They come not as tourists, but as keepers of memory—honouring their ancestors, consecrating their nails, and perhaps preserving the very spirit that gave this lake its name.

 And then there is my imagination.

For years, I believed this lake to be something far older, far wilder—a forgotten volcanic cradle, born of fire and fury. The hills of Abu, with their strange, molten shapes, seem to whisper of a time when the earth itself was restless here. Rocks frozen mid-flow, like waves that never reached the shore. It is easy to believe that Nakki Lake was once part of that ancient story.

But I drift.

Because today, the lake tells a different story.

Not of love, nor legend, nor fire—but of neglect.

Weeks ago, camera in hand, I stood at its brink, seeking to photograph the Abu I’ve always recognised. However, I found something that was less loud and felt heavier. The water no longer gleams as it used to. Its quietness has transformed. The lake is showing signs of fatigue.

Look at the photographs that follow. They speak more honestly than I can.

And what they say is difficult to see.

Nakki Lake 29,April 2010

Another View of the Lake

At a different angle, Nakki Lake 29, April 2010

Pathetic state, at a different angle, Nakki Lake 29, April 2010

Gray langur escaping the summer heat

The playing field for the geese at Nakki Lake

Gulmohar tree at the lake

The Prowling Leopard Mount Abu

Leopard on the prowl

Mrs Stephen Moyer took this beautiful photo while a guest at the Lair in February 2010. 
She used a Canon EOS 500D, 

I have spent many a sleepless night hoping to snap the leopard that has been on the prowl for the last month or so in our area of Kumārwāla. Liz, who had over two dozen cats has now only a few remaining, as this wily carnivore picked most of them up for a late-night snack. It was in late Feb when I first saw this elusive Leopard; I cursed myself for not taking my camera with me. He was sitting on a rock behind the house near our water tank a distance of 20 feet. He had obviously come for some easy prey, our domesticated cats that hang around the house at night.

He has attacked and mauled two of Walter’s dogs that sleep outside in the church compound. Three days ago, he picked up a bitch full-time from Walter's house. By the way, Walter is my brother-in-law, and we know him as the dog man in Abu–He takes care of more than a dozen and a half Pariah dogs and had some classy ones at home. These Pie dogs are the caretakers of the church properties. Last week the leopard paid a visit to my daughter’s house near the Neel Kant Temple, he caught hold of her half-breed Alsatian by the throat, his squealing woke her up and she immediately put on all the lights and began shouting at the top of her voice. The panther left the dog and scooted, which seemed like an inexperienced animal. Probably a mamma's boy.

My next blog will be on the sloth bears of Abu. 

May Day celebrations St.Mary’s School Mt. Abu

How many of you celebrate May Day. Well I went to good ole SMS and found the boys busy as bees doing chores that normally would never be done at home. Even the teaching staff were there putting an all out effort at helping the boys. Now one might wonder what I’m getting at well it’s like this every year the working staff in all fields like the chief cooks, bottle washers, carpenters and overseers, etc get a holiday and go on a picnic as a bonus, this year they have gone to” Sundamata” a place close to Revdar . The teaching staff and school borders take over their jobs for the day.


Groups of boys along with the class teachers and Brothers busy themselves with brooms, pitchforks, dustbins and mops. The work is very well distributed among all present on the premises. One group takes over the kitchen, and prepares the food for the boys, the working staff and the workers. Another group busy themselves in cleaning up the premises, the compounds and the playing fields. The dormitory in charge the sisters and Sir Ivo get the boys to sweep and swab and get the junior and senior dormitories spic and span. I took a liberal walk through the school and I tell you it sure was a wonderful feeling to see the place so clean and well organized. The senior dorm was literally shining with Ivor and his class X boys having done an astonishing job.

I’m posting some pictures of the various activities that I happened to witness. The boys and staff who partake in this ritual every year learn the value of humility, teamwork and that no work is menial. This enables students and staff to build healthy and lifelong relationships with each other, and experience close accountability. Three Cheers to the Marians !!

The Group of Students and staff inthe kitchen

Lunch time serving the students

Boys helping out

Mopping the senior dorm

Missed most of the action this the fag end of the cleaning

Sir Ivo n the class X boys n a shining dorm

For once no toe jam stench

Relaxing after a job well done

Thats the way aha aha

In action small dorm

Are the brooms accounted for?

Class X boy in action

Relaxing

Here take this I'm done

Punished outside the ref

Its more fun posing it takes our mind of lunch

When will you have lunch? After all have finished, we are punished for

Yapping too much

Recent ex-students at the back

Lower Kodhra dam /school dam

Only 25 feet remaining

Hey look carefully  Gunda Pitch exposed