Set in the heart of Rajasthan between Udaipur and Jodhpur, Bera is a picturesque piece of land set against the backdrop of the Aravalli Hills. It is also known as Leopard Land. Most fascinating thing about Bera is that villagers and leopards have been harmoniously coexisting for centuries now. This makes it a unique and must visit village in India!

We drove from Udaipur to Bera. The entire area is almost barren without much vegetation. Since Pali district falls under Mewar there isn’t much greenery around. When you reach the Bera town it looks like a luxury in middle of nowhere

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We were well received by the host, a friend of mine. Since both of us were wild lifers the conversation about the local wildlife went on for while before breaking for Lunch. We had one of best Rajasthani food here made by the local Rabari community. This resort is called as Bera safari lodge.

Hundreds of Leopards roam this area freely without any interference with the locals. Although they have never harmed any humans in this region but they are very much wild and live on feeding on other wild animals like Nilgai, deers and others. Also on domestic animals like goat, calf, dogs and many more.

We went for our first safari and the safaris here are slightly different. The sightings tends to happen on the hills and there are few watcher who keep a look on the movements.

We went around the Mandir side and there where few alaram calls but soon it died out. Almost towards end of the safari we got our first glimpse of the Leopard walking down the hill in very low light.

After a happy sighting we returned to the resort in the evening and had discussion on various travel topics sitting around the camp fire. The dinner was one of the best with Laal maas and keer sangri.

Next morning woke up at 5 am for the safari and went around looking for the cats again. We could see two leopards eyes lit up for the torch light the guides used but it was  extremely far from where we were. Whole morning seemed very dull without much sightings. Towards the end we got our jackpot of a sighting. Mother Zia and her cubs moving one by one from the rocks to their safe spot inside a cave like formation. That made our day and the driver Narayan ji was very informative and knowledgeable so we could get this sighting.

Jawai Bandh is a scenic place amidst the hills is home to some of the biggest crocodiles apart from a number of resident and migratory birds. We wanted to visit the Bandh for it’s sheer beauty. It looked in magical colors in the evening with lot crocodiles basking on the rocks. While we were there got an information that a huge male Sher Khan was sitting very close on the rocks. We rushed and lucky to get a glimpse of him before he moved away.

The Rabari tribes consider these big cats as the gaurds of their local deity.

Their unique way of dressing along with the colorful turban is something to be experienced here. The women wear lot of bangle shaped ornament.

Next morning we had some wonderful scenery views from the mountains. We went to a totally different area saw a lot of Nilgai running. The area was definitely worth visiting with so many colors during sunrise in a slightly foggy morning. Within sometime we were alerted that two cubs were roaming on the proximity to the railway track. After combing the area we saw both of them on a rock cavity but man these of kind sighting you get to see only in Bera!!!!

The action unfolded once again a huge male suddenly appeared from the top and started descending to towards the cubs. There were lot of roars going on and the mother was also somewhere near by. Suddenly the sounds became silent and we waited for a long time nothing much happened after that nor we could see any Leopard. It was time to get back to the resort and start the onward journey to our next destination. Bera was one of the best wildlife experiences I have witnessed and definitely worth it.

One intresting story I heard from locals is that once a Leopard took a girl baby from the near by village but left her back within few yards away unharmed. Still the girl has bite marks in her neck.