17 th May was the after effect day of Cash crunch for the recent havoc created by “Ransom Virus”. In the beginning We started with few cash and were depending upon ATM cards but things were not in favor. Though the center tries hard to make a cash less society but without infrastructure it seems a long way. Lets visit the Corbett through my words and photographs.
From the beginning maximum filling stations, eateries, hotels were in the clasp of occasional server down. So we were depending largely upon cash and that day when I tried to avail them from ATM, things went wrong when I realized that all the machines in between allahabad and Raebarely were dry and stopped at Raebarely, filled the tank full, had our lunch and went to S.B.I branch to avail the green channel facility. All set, and lastly we started from Raebarely well late for Bareily at 1600 hrs.
allahabad to Bareily
Bareily
J M Vistaraa, the hotel we stayed at Bareily was good with positive vibe with an modern touch. It was a budget friendly hotel. We stayed the night very well and started late for next days comparatively short journey to “ADB Rooms A Resort” near Ramnagar.
At the hotel, Bareily
The 149 Kms journey was very much eventful as the hilly terrain began with some good highways. As our destination neared the outskirts of the jungle made our minds relaxed. The resort was inside the jungle area, around 5 kms from Bail Parao.
Bareily to Corbett
The manager guided us to the resort which was heavily fenced with electric wires along with other resorts.As the national Park was not enclosed so animal sighting was quite frequent in the area, thus the protection for the occupants. We had a booking for two nights over there and the booked jeep safari was for the second day i.e. 19th may evening. 18 th afternoon, we went for the Corbett falls nearby.
It was a 20 m water fall situated 25 km from Ramnagar, and 4 km from Kaladhungi, on the Kaladhungi–Ramnagar highway. The water falls is surrounded by dense forests and pin drop silence and under the protection of authority.
Corbett falls
The night went well, the morning was a heaven for bird watchers, even inside the resort premises we saw variety of birds and tried to photograph them. We spend the morning, till breakfast by enjoying the tranquility and presence of nature all around us. As the Sun went up we went out for Garjia Devi Temple. It is a noted Devi temple located in the Garjiya village near Ramnagar, Uttarakhand, on the outskirts of the Corbett National Park.
Garjiya Devi Temple
The temple is situated over a large rock in the Kosi River. It is a sacred Shakti shrine where Garjiya Devi is the presiding deity. The temple is one of the most famous temples of the Nainital district, visited by thousands of devotees during Kartik Poornima, a hindu holy day celebrated on the fifteenth lunar day of Kartik (November – December) The first Priest was Pt. Keshav Dutt Pandey who began worship of Devi Girija.There is also a statue of LakshmiNarayan of 9th Century,That statue made from black granite.Many people go there every day, worship in the temple.
Many people bath in the Kosi river situated near Garjiya temple.The photogenic beauty is quite mesmerizing in the place.
Garjia Devi Temple
Jim Corbett National Park
19th evening was scheduled for jeep safari at Corbett in “Dhela” range. Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest national park in India and was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the endangered bengal tiger. The park is located in Nainital district of Uttarakhand and was named after Jim corbett who played a key role in its establishment. The park was the first to come under the Project Tiger initiative.
Inside the forest
The Jim Corbett National park was the first park to start the Project Tiger, the most important initiative taken by the Government of India to protect the Royal Bengal Tiger.
The park has sub-Himalayan belt geographical and ecological characteristics. An ecotourism destination, it contains 488 different species of plants and a diverse variety of fauna. The increase in tourist activities, among other problems, continues to present a serious challenge to the park’s ecological balance.
Corbett National Park
Langoors at Corbett
Corbett has been a haunt for tourists and wildlife lovers for a long time. Tourism activity is only allowed in selected areas of Corbett Tiger Reserve so that people get an opportunity to see its splendid landscape and the diverse wildlife. The number of tourists increased dramatically nowadays. Its very difficult to book a safari also if one is not at the stipulated time.
My suggestion regarding this matter is that if one cannot book a safari then ask the hotels to book, where one is planning to stay. If not possible to stay in the Rest houses located inside the forest then atleast can book the safari even at eleventh hours. It is very much advisable to stay at the forest rest houses at “Dhikala range”
Corbett National Park comprises 520.8 km2 area of hills, river stretches, marshy depressions, grasslands and a large lake. Dense moist deciduous forest mainly consists of sal, haldu, peepal, rohini and mangoe, litchi trees. Forest covers almost 73% of the park.
Our safari driver cum guide has made a wonderful job by describing the facts of the jungle. Understood that Tiger sighting needs a patience and more than one safari but we were not demoralized at all.
Personally I always like the essence of jungle, its tranquility and the adventurous chance of animal sighting rather to watch its occupants as a must.So our beautiful time ended by watching some deerslike hog, barking spotted and sambar deer, many langoors, variety of birds, occasional wild bore. The water hole and grassland sight was excellent, particularly the vast scape from the watch tower drenched in the last rays of Sun.
The ” way to Kumaon” saga would have ended in a harmony except the last days stay at the resort. After the safari, it was late afternoon and on the way we spend some quality time near Kosi Dam.
Many tourists were there like us, spending time in a soothing park at the place and lastly we returned at the resort after the sun down. The night didnt go well as there was a thunder storm started and the temperature fall abruptly which was a cool experience but instead the problem came in a civilized manner.
The storm effected the electric supply which happened in a power cut and unfortunately our genarator back up went wrong and we spend the night without electricity. The electric fence was not working and we heard numarous sounds of wilderness inside the campus along with the barking of pet dogs of the resort.
During 2000-2003, I would have made at least 20 trips to Corbett, and not once we were able to spot a Tiger. But we liked every single time, the jungle, the local life, our drives to Ramnagar to fetch grocery for the night-cooking and all that. We actually knew the area like the back of our hand. I have been going there every other year, since it is very close to my house, but we have not been doing a lot of Safari rides.
I agree that they should make the Safari-booking easier.
From Kolkata to Corbett, quite a long ride you have already done. So do you now take us further or do you return back to Kolkata ?
My next halts were Kausani, Munsiyari, Choukry, Mukteshwar and Nainital. Be for return back to Kokata also made halts at Lucknow and Varanasi on the way, which I may post accordingly.
Nice to read …quite a descriptive sojourn from kolkata to corbett . Going on such a long drive is definitely appreciable……Hats Off to you!!!.
We visited corbett several years back only with an intention of getting a glance of Royal Bengal tiger in nature but felt fortunate to see only their pugmarks which we later realised, was engraved on the ground for visitors. More than us , my father-in-law was excited about the safari and went early in the morning as suggested by the agents. could you manage to see one? looking forward to rest of your memoirs.
Thanks for you comment. As for tiger sighting, we also ended up by pug marks, around which our jeep driver and other jeep drivers were enthusiastically searching for a glimpse of tiger.