Jim Corbett National Park

 

It all started with my SSB preliminary interview for selection to the Indian Army Short Service Commission in 1971 in Bangalore. The interviewing Officer asked about what my hobbies were. I told him that I was a vivid reader of books, particularly on wild life, biographies and autobiographies. He responded by asking me why book reading is cited as a hobby by most interviewees? He then asked me to name one author of book on wildlife. I answered by mentioning the name of Jim Corbett. He then asked me to name some books of Jim Corbett. When I started to reel off the names.... Man Eaters of Kumaon, The Temple Tiger, My India, Man-eating Leopard of Rudraprayag, Tree Tops....... Also I referred to how Jim Corbett wrote the now famous lines: "For the first time in the history of the world, a young girl (Elizabeth) climbed into a tree one day (February 5, 1952) a Princess and after having what she described as her most thrilling experience she climbed down from the tree next day a Queen (after George VI had passed away in his sleep in far away England)"...........He stopped me in my track. He intently asked me details about the Man-eating Leopard of Rudraprayag. I gave answers to all his questions on the Rudraprayag Leopard. He asked me if I had visited Jim Corbett National Park. I answered in the negative. Satisfied that I had a genuine interest in wild life, he told me that he would recommend me for the final selection interview in Roorkee in the then Uttar Pradesh State as that will give me a chance to visit Jim Corbett wildlife sanctuary which is closer from there. 

I made my travel plans and train reservations for the trip Bangalore- Chennai- New Delhi- Roorkee. After completing my selection tests in the Army, I went from Roorkee to Ramnagar in Nainital District reaching my destination late in the evening around 8 PM. I was looking for a place to stay for the night as entry into the wildlife sanctuary was not allowed in the night. Since I am a Telugu guy, I was directed to a place where a few Telugus were staying. They were working at the Koshi Barrage Dam on behalf of a telugu contractor who was undertaking the construction work. They were kind enough to provide me free accomodation for my night stay and also help me to go to Dhikala Forest lodge the next morning. They knew the transporter who was sending his vehicle (a mini lorry) to the forest lodge with essential supplies. Since there was no public transport into the forest, I was thankful to my new Telugu friends for arranging with the transporter to take me in his vehicle. I reached the forest lodge by lunch time. Since the wildlife park opened for tourists only a few days earlier, only elephant ride trip into the jungle was available. We (three others and I) took a ride that evening into the forest on an elephant. The mahout himself was our guide on that conducted trip into the woods. We had about an hour and half tour. The park boasted of the presence of Tiger, Leopard, Elephant, Chital Deer, Sambar Deer, Hogg Deer, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Langur, Wild pig, Rhesus Monkey, Jackal, Rabbit, Yellow Throated Martin (mongoose like animal) and more than 600 species of birds. We were able to see only elephants, spotted deer, barking deer, langur (black faced monkeys), peacocks, rhesus monkeys and several species of birds. Elephant on which we were seated majestically walked on the forest pathways often disturbing the small animals in the shrubs on either side forcing them to come out hurriedly into the open and into our view allowing us to see them clearly in close proximity. 

Teak, Silver Oak, Eucalyptus, Jacaranda, bamboo, elephant grass, Bottlebrush were seen in and around forest rest houses inside the Corbett Tiger Reserve area. I was fascinated to see varieties of blooming Orchids on the trees. Being on the back of elephant and perched at a height facilitated watching these very closely. They were laced on the high branches of trees or hanging from those branches. Colorful blooms, tuft of flowers, inflorescences were a feast for the eyes. Back at the forest lodge after a round into the woods, I spent the night in the comfort of the room. Deers gathered all around the rest house in the night which was a sight for Gods. Being a city dweller, enjoying varieties of sounds from the forest in the night I kept awake for most part of the night with intermittent naps. The next morning, I made another round into the forest, again on the back of an elephant. I wasn't any luckier to see tiger or leopard during this trip either. After returning from this second outing, I made a solo trip into a valley on foot. The trip lasted an hour but with no greater luck. The forest officials admonished me after my return to the lodge for my adventurous walk into the valley as no one was allowed to go into the forest without taking along a Forest Guard.

After lunch, I got into the mini lorry which came again that day to return to Ramnagar on my way back to Bangalore. While on our way, suddenly the vehicle stopped as we sighted a leopard about to cross the road ahead. We saw a spotted feline majestically walking from one side of the road to the thicket on the other side. 4 cubs followed their mother. What I missed to see during my outings on elephant, I was fortunate to witness in this unexpected manner. It was thrilling to say the least. My journey to Bangalore was pleasant but uneventful. The trip to Dhikala remains etched in my memory for ever. I am ever thankful to the army officer who made it possible.