The lure of the Jungles have always been my clarion call. With the onset of Monsoons, the site of the graceful lion in its regal glory flashed in front of my inner eye and I was on the road to ‘Corbett Tiger Reserve’, home to the largest numbers of Royal Bengal Tigers in India (174 at the last count). Though Good old folks back home as per conventional wisdom advised me not to venture that far, as most National Parks are closed from Mid June to Mid October, I in bunny tradition acted on impulse and found the proverbial worm with one of the reserve forest gate ‘Jhirna’ open for the Jungle Nomads during monsoons.
Map of Corbett Tiger Reserve
The forest was a delight with wild Jasmine in Bloom and ‘Bel’ Fruits lining the jeep tracks. The animals after the scorching heat of summers seemed happy and well fed on the abundant greens. The lord of the forest though remained elusive and one had to be content only with its pug marks and territory marking claw marks on the tree barks. I however ran with the deer, rummaged with the wild boars, danced with peacocks, sang with ‘bulbuls and Huckoos’ pranced with monkeys and Langurs, fished with the Kingfisher and caught flies with the Paradise fly Catcher. And as if the gods had answered my prayers. The safari guide asked the jeep to stop suddenly and pointed towards the fresh “pug marks”. The tiger has just gone from here, he whispered. There was rustling in the bushes and lo and behold there was the royal Bengal tiger in its full majesty striding past the watering hole. My trip was at last successful.
Solitary kingfisher (left) and Pack of langurs (right)
Tiger Claw Marks in the Forests
The Uttarakhand Forests are improving each day as what I saw was a vast improvement over my last visit. Our jeep Safari guide, Mr Dayanand Negi was a repository of native lore and a master of his craft. Very polite and firm with noisy tourists he also rewarded them amply with his ‘Phantom’ Like knowledge of the forest. A jeep ride though a tad expensive (Rs 4000) for a registered jeep with the guide is worth every penny. Besides it provides for those (Oh! So Macho!!) photographs. My jeep driver Saif Qasim (a local young man) loved driving on ‘Katcha’ tracks and point out photo opportunities. I really had a ball in the forest and on its periphery by the day and in the night watching the stars.
Jeep Safari at Corbett National Park
Corbett Riders
Corbett Tiger reserve besides being a testimony to concerted efforts of the state is also atribute to the early efforts of Jim Corbett, whose pioneering work with community development and building eco sensitivity is subject of my deeper ruminations that I will share with you shortly. For the time being though I must say that his winter house at ‘Kaladungi’ (now made into a museum) is an example of correctly building value around the scattered heritage of a nation. I do wish that the heritage of great adventurers and pioneers like that is recognized and edified so that it inspires young and not so young with our wonderful past and gives inspiration to create an even better future.
I get invited by the property owner to come stay with them. I explore their world and share my experiences with the world. To send an invitation, write me at bunny@theotherhome.com .
If you want to be notified next time, subscribe to the RSS feed or say hello via Twitter @theotherhome. You can plan your dream holiday with us, visit The Other Home.
No comments:
Post a Comment