Amusing trees of the Bhadra wilderness

The animals are the biggest attractions of a wildlife sanctuary. However, my visit to Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka, had a spread of unusual 'tree sightings' to show me....
Bhadra Trees
Bhadra Sanctury's Unusual Trees

Our safari into the Bhadra Tiger Reserve in Chikmagalur was supposed to be a look into the rich fauna of this wildlife sanctuary (although we didn’t get to spot the tiger). Equally rich is the flora of this green patch in Karnataka. What you may not know about this sanctuary is that it is home to some unusual trees.

We spotted these trees during a safari through the sanctuary. I was really thankful for the naturalist who accompanied us on the safari for he kept pointing out at some interesting trees in the Reserve. While one was notable for its bark another was notable for not having on its bark but a strange albeit amusing feature. One stood out for its long life, yet another for being a tree-killer. And then there were trees with some natural sculptures on them.

If I’ve seen them, it means you get to see them here on Tipsy from the Trip- the blog. So here are some of those unusual trees that turned out to be some amusing points-of-interest inside the Bhadra wildlife sanctuary:

Unusual Trees

Crocodile Bark Tree

Unusual Trees : Crocodile -bark Tree
Crocodile-Bark Tree.
CROCODILE TREE, BHADRA
Up close: the bark Now you know why this tree is called the crocodile bark tree.

The elephant-headed tree

Bhadra Sanctury's Unusual Trees - Elephant Head Tree
This is a dead and naturally debarked tree. But look — there’s an elephant on that tree!

An ancient Teak

Bhadra Sanctuary's 300 year old Teak Tree.
A 300 year old Teak tree.

Strangler Tree

Strangler Tree, Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary.
Strangler tree. Look at that parasitic tree strangling the host tree.

Sculpted Trunk

Unusual Trees - Sculpted Tree
And here is a naturally sculpted tree trunk.

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Fauna and FloraIntriguing Sights & SitesNatural Wonders

Dee (Divya): Blogger, Freelance Content Writer & Content Strategist. | 📸 Loves tripping.🛣 Tipsy from every TRIP!😬🫣 | 🏞Follow > for intoxicating virtual trips!🥂😉
57 Comments on this post.
  • untraveledroutes
    31 March 2015 at 1:22 pm
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    Elephant on the tree is my favorite 🙂 Will add Bhadra to Untraveled Routes list

    • dNambiar
      31 March 2015 at 4:11 pm
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      That tree did stand out. Quite unbelievable, right?
      I hope you get to see Tigers. And stay at the 'River Tern lodge.' It is a beautiful property.

  • Andrea Priebe
    31 March 2015 at 2:12 pm
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    OMG, these are so awesome. Every one is unique to the location … we have nothing like them where I live. And the Elephant, how cool. I wonder what caused it. You win the prize today, on Monica's first Tree and Shrub meme. Love them all …

    Andrea @ From The Sol

    • dNambiar
      31 March 2015 at 4:24 pm
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      Really interesting, aren't they?
      The elephant was almost unbelievable. That trunk on the trunk looks perfect, don't you think. 😉 I believe its got something to do with the tissues getting collected in one place. I'm reminded of what tree trunks look like when they are grafted.

      Thank you for your kind words, Andrea.

  • Meta
    31 March 2015 at 5:06 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Vilka härliga trädstammar den med elefanten är för kul
    Ha en fin dag
    Meta

    • dNambiar
      1 April 2015 at 5:37 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Aren't they some interesting trees? 🙂
      Everybody seems to be getting attracted to the elephant.
      Thank you, Meta. You have a great day, too.

  • Uttpal K
    31 March 2015 at 6:06 pm
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    • dNambiar
      1 April 2015 at 5:38 pm
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      Thank you, Uttpal.
      🙂
      I'll come by.

  • Ela
    31 March 2015 at 6:23 pm
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    Wonderful pictures !! Thank you for showing this gorgeous place !!
    Greetings

    • dNambiar
      1 April 2015 at 5:39 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you so much, Ela.
      My pleasure. And Thank YOU for visiting and for following this blog. 🙂

  • Laura
    31 March 2015 at 6:42 pm
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    Such beautifully twisted trees! I love the close up of the bark too 🙂

    • dNambiar
      1 April 2015 at 5:42 pm
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      🙂
      I'm glad I took that picture of the bark. As I was putting up that picture, I was admiring the texture of it. Interesting bark, right?

      Thank you Laura. 🙂

  • Gunilla Bäck
    31 March 2015 at 6:55 pm
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    Beautiful! I love the different textures.

    • dNambiar
      1 April 2015 at 5:43 pm
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      🙂
      Thank you visiting, Gunilla.

  • Powell River Books
    31 March 2015 at 8:27 pm
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    That a really nice burl on the dead tree. People who live near me look for them in the woods to make beautiful bowls and furniture. – Margy

    • dNambiar
      1 April 2015 at 6:11 pm
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      That tree is almost dead.
      I found another tree in the vicinity the following day. It looks like they are not very rare around this forested area. I'll put up some pictures one of these days.
      I'm sure they'll make great pieces with all that natural sculpture on them.

      Thank you for visiting again, Margy.

  • NatureFootstep
    31 March 2015 at 9:51 pm
    Leave a Reply

    lol, first time I´ve seen an elephant on a tree 🙂 So cool. Love your trees. Thanks for joining 🙂

    • dNambiar
      1 April 2015 at 6:15 pm
      Leave a Reply

      I couldn't believe my eyes. 🙂
      And I couldn't almost believe that just as I was getting ready to put this post up, you came up with a meme for trees and bushes. 🙂 I'll link some tree posts every now and then.

      Thank you, Monica for hosting. And thank you so, so, so much for bringing back the lights. 🙂

  • Lmkazmierczak
    1 April 2015 at 2:44 am
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    Those are fantastic specimens…♪

    • dNambiar
      1 April 2015 at 6:17 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Hi again, Laurie.
      I'm glad you liked them and I'm sure you thought of all the photo art you could do with trees like these. 🙂

      I hope you are having a good week. 🙂

  • Mridula
    1 April 2015 at 7:11 am
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    The elephant on the tree is my choice!

    • dNambiar
      1 April 2015 at 6:17 pm
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      That one seems to be stealing the show. 🙂

  • AmitAag
    1 April 2015 at 7:17 am
    Leave a Reply

    Wonderful indeed!

    • dNambiar
      1 April 2015 at 6:17 pm
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      Isn't it?
      I hope you are doing well, Amit. 🙂

  • Fun60
    1 April 2015 at 8:53 am
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    I think you would have to travel a long way to see another elephant on a tree. Brilliant.

  • Fun60
    1 April 2015 at 8:55 am
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    I think you would have to travel a long way to see another elephant on the tree. Brilliant and unusual trees in the sanctuary.

    • dNambiar
      1 April 2015 at 6:21 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Yeah, I guess; like you went to see the Monarch butterflies in migration. 🙂 What a story! I can't get those pictures out of my head.

      Thank you so much for visiting and leaving comments. I'm sorry you had to do it multiple times. Thanks again. 🙂

  • R Niranjan Das
    1 April 2015 at 9:50 am
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    Interesting natural formations. These are nice little things we miss out while on a safari. All that we would like to see is a wild cat. 🙁

    • dNambiar
      1 April 2015 at 6:25 pm
      Leave a Reply

      That was interesting, indeed. Who ever thought I would go on a wildlife safari and come back with a story on the trees in the wildlife park! Haha!!

      I owe it to the naturalist. I'm so glad he showed us these trees in the middle scanning the wilderness for the big cat and the lesser mortals of the forest. 🙂

  • Meoww
    1 April 2015 at 2:27 pm
    Leave a Reply

    That elephant really popped out on me! Good find 🙂 Love the first shot the most!

    • dNambiar
      1 April 2015 at 6:27 pm
      Leave a Reply

      That's the tree that seems to be standing out. 😀 After all, it is the Elephant, ille?

      And Bamboos always make a pretty picture.

      Thank you, Devi. 🙂

  • indu chhibber
    1 April 2015 at 3:49 pm
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    Amazing variety 🙂

    • dNambiar
      1 April 2015 at 6:27 pm
      Leave a Reply

      🙂
      Thank you for stopping by, Indu.

  • Prasad Np
    1 April 2015 at 6:25 pm
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    Crocodiles and elephants on trees it seems the whole nature is connected just like in the movie Avataar…. The best part is that these little snippets make kids interested in nature …

    • dNambiar
      1 April 2015 at 6:36 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Back from your trip, DT? I'm sure you would like a tour on the trees in a forest. 🙂
      Avatar! I'll have to see that movie again.

      My 5-year old wanted to see the Bhadra tigers, most of all. 🙂 But seriously, with little sights like this, kids pick up some cool info. and it'll stay in their young minds for a long, long time.

  • Shweta Dave
    1 April 2015 at 9:03 pm
    Leave a Reply

    I loved the crocodile bark tree, even if you didn't see the tiger but it was all worth it 🙂

    • dNambiar
      2 April 2015 at 11:29 am
      Leave a Reply

      That was a cool tree.
      Yeah it was a different kind of a safari this time. Having a good look at the trees and plants in a wildlife sanctuary, was a first. 🙂

  • magiceye
    2 April 2015 at 12:47 am
    Leave a Reply

    These were really amazing takeaways from a tour in the forest. Thankfully the naturally formed elephant head tree has not been sanctified into a temple 🙂

    • dNambiar
      2 April 2015 at 11:31 am
      Leave a Reply

      Not yet. And most probably it won't happen this time because it is in the middle of the wild, or at least, I hope it wont. 🙂

  • Shrinidhi Hande
    2 April 2015 at 1:41 am
    Leave a Reply

    Interesting. Didn't pay close attention to trees during my last visit

    • dNambiar
      2 April 2015 at 11:32 am
      Leave a Reply

      Next time, Shrinidhi.
      I'm sure you will be headed that way again. 🙂

  • Ramakrishnan Ramanathan
    2 April 2015 at 6:14 am
    Leave a Reply

    That is an incredible tour and an amazing variety of trees. Any wild life sightings Divya ?

    • dNambiar
      2 April 2015 at 11:34 am
      Leave a Reply

      Incredible trees indeed.

      I see that you later visited the post on the safari. So yeah, the answer is yes, but there seemed to be no sign of the Tigers. 🙂

  • Rahul Bhatia
    2 April 2015 at 7:24 am
    Leave a Reply

    So much beauty of nature well encaptured, Divya!

    • dNambiar
      2 April 2015 at 11:35 am
      Leave a Reply

      It was interesting to look at the trees also (during the safari).
      Thank you, Mr. Bhatia.

  • joshidaniel.com
    3 April 2015 at 2:19 pm
    Leave a Reply

    so beautiful to see them 🙂

  • Saru Singhal
    12 April 2015 at 5:46 pm
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    That's why I always want someone knowledgable to accompany me on such tours. Beautiful place to spend time. Lovely capture too, Dee. That elephant protruding out of trunk is beautiful.

    • dNambiar
      15 April 2015 at 1:05 pm
      Leave a Reply

      That's the thing. Somebody who knows the environment can add a lot of value to a trip like this. It was like having gone to see some wildlife and come back with knowledge from the plant kingdom. It was interesting.
      Thank you so much, Saru.

      The elephant really does stand out (pun intended) :D, right?

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  • Sneh Asnani
    30 May 2016 at 7:32 am
    Leave a Reply
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  • dNambiar
    17 April 2019 at 11:59 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Yeah, Sneh — the elephant head seems to be quite an attraction.
    Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment. 🙂

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