Fun on the run at Corbett

Blend a little bit of adventure to the fun and entice yourself to have a lovely time and get spellbound!

Corbett National Park is the oldest national park which was initially established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the Royal Bengal Tiger. Now known as Corbett National Park, it is spread across 521 sq.km and has a rich and healthy flora and fauna attracting tourists from near and far.  This wonderful national park is definitely a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts.

I got a chance to experience the majestic wonders of this alluring national park and realized that the deep dark jungles have a language of their own.  The name of this national park is derived from the name of a famous hunter turned conservationist ‘Jim Corbett’, who was also an efficient writer and a naturalist. I was encouraged to undertake this journey after reading Jungle Lore, a book by the man himself. Being a passionate reader I decided to read the jungles like a book.

Once in Corbett, the gushing streams, lush green forests and constant jungle activity are sure to mesmerize and charm you. One can indulge in short trails into the buffer zone, watch the early birds and get lucky if they spot the mighty cat on the prowl. I had the chance to take a walk into the forest areas of Kaladhungi which still holds its charm from the time Jim Corbett himself strolled it.

It was truly amazing to wake up with the jungle and venture into the virgin forests. With just the wind to disturb me and the jungle sounds to keep me company. I had no worry and no rush; I was extremely at peace enjoying the sights and sounds. It was wonderful to watch the butterflies animatedly sail through the air and feed from the flowers or do mud-puddling. The constantly fluttering birds, with various calls and exotic colors had me captivated, so much so that I used to lose track of time. We came across various species of birds like the laughing thrushes, bee-eaters, fly catchers, owls and exotics like the great pied hornbill, khalij pheasant and crested kingfisher while walking upstream.

I was lucky to visit the elephant belt of Sitabani, a land which has its roots in the rich Indian mythology where it is believed that Lord Rama, the prominent Hindu god came on a vanvas (Exile) with his dutiful wife Sita. We had to wade through the waters of the entrancing Dabka River to reach the banks of the Sitabani forest on the other end. The weather was lovely with clear blue skies, crystal clear waters and the dense green forests waiting to be explored. After crossing the river Dabka, we were greeted with the shrieks of the Great-Pied Hornbill, a definite treat to the eyes. Our resting point was at the temple of Luv and Kush, which has a natural spring on its side. I reached here as soon as the day began losing its light, the source of light in this dark forest at night were the fireflies which came around in millions as if in festivity. I was lulled to sleep in the big hall of the temple while watching the game of the fireflies.

Corbett’s transformation from a wild unexplored destination to a tourist charmer is phenomenal. The credit for this amazing feat goes to the swift urbanization of the area. With the emergence of many 5-star and 3-star hotels in Corbett , the popularity of the area is soaring at an indefinite rate.

With this amazing little experience in Corbett I realized that there is more to observe in nature and appreciate its wonders rather than betting on sighting of a tiger while on a safari. These forests of Corbett are, ‘definitely a Pandora’s Box waiting to be opened’.