Staying in forest.

To those who live in urban concrete jungle, spending time near nature is a dream come true. While New Delhi has it’s share of forest in the form of Ridge forest in central Delhi but being inside the forest and on the banks of a river or its tributary is a different experience. Watching nature from very near is a different experience. This is a Monitor Lizard, we met last month inside Jim Corbet National Park:

Jim Corbett National Park, which is a part of the larger Corbett Tiger Reserve, a Project Tiger Reserve lies in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. The magical landscape of Corbett is well known and fabled for its tiger richness. Established in the year 1936 as Hailey National Park, Corbett has the glory of being India’s oldest and most prestigious National Park.

We were at Jim Corbet Park a fortnight or so ago for a weekend. It is 130 Miles from Delhi. However it is not advisable to visit this place during rains. The main Park remains closed at this time. Check its official site for more details: http://corbettonline.uk.gov.in/

We kind of wandered off on a whim without caring about planning. We stayed in a Government owned and maintained Guest house which was quite good and rather economical. Since Park was closed due to rains, the only animal we could see is the lizard above who has a habitat near the Tourist Lodge we were staying in.  In fact the lizard parred through our steps on a hunting expedition. This tourist lodge is uniquely developed inside natural forest. Various huts have been built at a distance from each other maintaining privacy for all. This is a tributary of Kosi river which was flowing along side:

A view of Tourist Guest House in rain:

A view from the balcony on our cottage:

Another view to the left where a tributary of river Kosi is flowing in background:

A view from inside of cottage room:

The dining room cottage was standing on live trees. See the green leaves on the tree in this picture:

This was the cottage given by Taj nearby. Their tariff was 4 times over what was charged for above cottage. We declined because it was stinky of dampness even though no dampness was visible. It had no view from the window. In fact in all cottages windows were facing walls if other cottages. Who was their architect? But most rather all the other Hotels had same problem. Great rooms with amenities but no view. Perhaps they expect honeymooners only.

How to reach to this place?

First the name of this tourist resort:

Kumaun Mandal Vikas Nigam Tourist Resort.

Location of this Tourist Resort:

This tourist guest house is situated on Ram Nagar Ranikhet Road in Uttrakhand. Since it is inside the Corbet Sanctuary it is accessible only in the moring from 8AM to 8PM or something like that. At night entry and exit is closed. Enter this on Google maps: 29.551424N,79.119515

This is how it appears on Google earth.

The phone number of this tourist lodge is 05947-287851. A caution: The accommodation is comparable to Government Circuit House. Food is simple. Air-conditioning and hot water in attached bathroom, is readily available but no TV or Bath-Tub or swimming pool. Will recommend to carry own shampoo.

A view of variety of breakfast:

A few more pictures of the Nature:

In both the pictures below, the water is flowing over the motorable road and depicts the reason why it is closed in the rains when many road are inundated with water flow.