Palamu in Jharkhand is tiger country, its name tied to the Palamu tiger reserve and the Betla forest where sal trees, mahua and the Koel and Auranga rivers shape a landscape that feels older than its towns. Daltonganj, now Medininagar, is the busy headquarters, the old Palamu fort still stands in the hills and the road to Ranchi or Garhwa carries steady traffic. Summers are fierce and the...