Corbett Park, Dhikala - Day Five
Trip Start
Dec 20, 2008
1
5
Trip End
Dec 25, 2008
Dhikala (kalagarh), Uttarakhand, India
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
The dawn is still dark. Stars are glittering in the sky. I go out for a little walk along the ridge and to see the waking sky from a commanding location. I brighten up as the cool zephyr gently brushes my cheeks and clear turquoise blue sky wake up with crimson horison.
After a while I sit on a parapet where a local resident joins me. He knows his town very well. He tells me about the wonderful five kilometer long walk from east to west all along the ridge through stone paved streets with very old wooden houses having beautifully carved facades. Once it was a beautiful old town but is much changed now, he laments. The greenery is still intact but it is no more a quiet place. Entire slopes are now crowded with cement concrete houses and number of new roads
Government House, Nainital
. While other towns of Ranikhet and Nainital were developed as hill stations during British rule primarily for their pleasure, Almora has its own identity as the capital of Chand Dynesty who ruled the land long ago. I am refreshed and ready for next part of our journey. A beautiful day yet again! In about less than two hours we are in Nainital. It is popularly known as Lake District because of the lakes - Bhim-tal, Naukuchia-tal, Sat-tal and Khurpa-tal in it's neighborhood. Nainital is incredibly beautiful place and a popular hill resort. The Naini lake is nearly oval in shape with major axis of about 2000 m and minor 500 m. Situated at a height of 1938 m dotted with colourful row-boats and some sail-boats (Yacht) ,the lake is surrounded by shops, hotels, villas on wooded slopes and with tall peaks rising up to 2611 m. Enjoying a boat ride with families in the turquoise blue calm waters rippling in breeze is the great attraction which Nainital offers to the visitors. Earlier the tourists with their families used to flock to Nainital or in hills for cool and fresh air only during summers when the plains become oppressively hot and schools are closed. But now it is crowded with visitors all through the year. Tiffin-Top (2611 m), Laria Kanta(2481 m), Snow-View (2270 m) are the tall peaks in the surround of Naini lake. From Snow-View panoramic view of snow peaks can be had. Though it is connected by ropeway (cable car) but trek through wilderness is very enjoyable
Nainital (Lake)
. After a visit to the quiet and serene ambiance of the Government House we come down to the noisy and ever jam-packed flats. The mall-road follows the periphery of the lake. It is ever crowded with men, motorized vehicles and three wheel bikes. The Tibetan Market adjoining Naini Temple is the site one loves to visit to buy essentials or some fancy items or eat mouth watering 'chat' in the open. We, however, went in to the lake and enjoyed the thrill of an exciting boat ride. The Boat House Club is an old club located on the edge of the lake. It has a new look interior now after renovation. The exterior appearance however remains unchanged.
After our lunch in the Boat House Club we leave for Corbett Park. Our stopover in Nainital was short but we enjoyed every moment of it. So much so, we could not keep count of time and forgot that entry in to the Park after sunset is not allowed. However, we made it just in time.
Corbett Park is India's first and finest national park. It is a tiger reserve and a finest haven of tigers. Named after a great hunter of 'Kumaon Man-Eater' fame, 'Jim Corbett', it is nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas
Boating
. Spread over along the banks of Ramganga (west) River, it offers different vegetation zones on its varied topography which comprises hilly terrain, temporary marshy depressions, plateau and ravines. Accordingly, it harbours variety of vegetation and wild life ideal both for nature lovers and wild life enthusiast.The park is habitat of large no of animals, roaming within acres of stately sal forests, brushwood and tall elephant grass. It is home to predators like tiger, leopard and diverse species of cats, wild dogs; antelopes like neelgai and ghorals; variety of deer - hog deer, barking deer, chital and sambhar; the primates - rhesus and langur; elephant, wild bores and other animals. More than 500 species of birds have been sighted in the Park which includes water fowl, king fisher, woodpecker, hawks and kites, peafowl, kalij pheasant, red jungle fowl, minivets, shrikes, cuckoos, bird of paradise, and barbets, in addition to over 20 varieties of reptiles.
The Park remains open between 15th of Nov to 15th of June each year. Inside the park accommodation is available in Dhikala, Surpduli, and Khinanauli forest Rest Houses, dormitories or tents. Those who do not get accommodation inside the park stay in lodges available aplenty outside the park. There are hotels at Mohan and large number of colourful small or big lodges thrown open by the local people in their farm lands on the edge of the Park
Tibetan Market
.Though bursting with tourists, it is all quiet as night falls. There is blissful peace, no honking, and no trills. The silence is only broken by sharp hooter's whoop tearing through the night. All inanimate seem to have gone to deep sleep although some of the night denizens may be out in search of their prey for food. Trees are silent, so are the hills. At times a gush of wind disturbs the tranquility. Some where far away a deer gives a warning call. At times roar of the tiger gives chill down the spine. These animal calls in the thick of dark, dense and silent nights are very fascinating. Thus breathes a living jungle and shows the well being and good health of the environment.
Today is 25th Dec - last day of our wandering in Kumaon. We are out early in the jungle. Dawn is still dark. Thin layer of mist floats in the open area of tall elephant-grass - an ideal haven for animals where they feel safe and secure. The wild life watch is safe and much better on elephant back but all the three Park elephants are fully booked, so we are out in an open jeep. The mist gradually lifts and crimson waking sky gradually improves the visibility.
My heart is filled with joy when we see herds of cheetals and couple of sambhars busy browsing is the open
Naini Temple
. They gracefully raise their heads and look at us with innocent eyes then unfazed continue grazing. We can not sight the entire herd as the tall elephant-grass obscures their visibility. Nearby we see is a large family of monkeys showing their skills of long sky-jumps from one tree to another. In a scrub forest, lone-tall-healthy-red jungle fowl is seen swiftly tearing through the bushes only to disappear in the grove near by. We were not lucky enough to see elephant, tiger or leopard, but saw fresh pug marks of tiger and droppings of elephants. It requires great patience, perseverance and optimism for jungle to respond. We are very happy and contented to listen to the sound of the jungle and to be in such environs which is spiritually stimulating. Finally we are homeward bound. We take the forest road passing through the buffer zone of the Park from Ramnagar to Pakhrao. The section of the road between Dhela to Pakhrao is very bad. Driving on good road from Pokhrao through forest to Kootdwara we again enter into a rough forest road to finally emerge on main highway at Chiriyapur. Though we saw some wild life on way but the drive was no way comfortable.
Our trip to Kumaon though was very short but has been most enjoyable. We were amidst astonishing landscapes, resplendent with panorama of wondrous scenic beauty and of glittering snow-white summits. It has been joy all the way in the serene ambient.
Comments
A very nice post. A very detailed and picturesque account of the journey :)