The jungle has always held a fascination for me. Pictures from a recent visit to Jim Corbett were developed the other day, although we had visited the place in March of this year. I can still remember my first couple of visits to the park over 10 years ago. Not much has changed, including my enthusiasm to be out there roaming the jungle at the crack of dawn.
It is the entry into the park which enthralls, twisting through the hill sides on a jeep track, crossing small river beds and rolling though the Sal forests to reach the Dhikala camp. It is situated on the banks of the Ramganga river, which forms a lake behind a dam nearby. The river bed is very wide, full of tall grass. Crossing the river on a pontoon bridge in a jeep this time was easy - the last time I had driven across the river in my car, which was quite scary.
It is the entry into the park which enthralls, twisting through the hill sides on a jeep track, crossing small river beds and rolling though the Sal forests to reach the Dhikala camp. It is situated on the banks of the Ramganga river, which forms a lake behind a dam nearby. The river bed is very wide, full of tall grass. Crossing the river on a pontoon bridge in a jeep this time was easy - the last time I had driven across the river in my car, which was quite scary.
The nearby plateau is a savannah grassland, which we covered on elephant back on the first days evening – the high point of the trip without doubt. Never saw a tiger, but I didn’t mind because the beauty of the place and the numerous birds seen made up for it. Saw a crested serpent eagle swoop down on a snake in a tree and carry it off, wrigling furiously, in its talons. The eagle's name is definitely justified.
The second days early morning jeep ride was beautiful. Saw many birds, deer and elephants on the river bed. They were at a distance and were being chased by a tiger, invisible in the tall grass. The big elephants formed a circle to protect the small ones in the center. Calm returned after about a quarter of an hour.
Saw a lot of langurs, huddling two by two on the tree branches, tails hanging down, whether trying to beat the morning cold or for love is an unanswered question.
Just seeing the pictures and writing about it makes me want to visit Corbett again.
And yet, the most memorable part of the trip was when we left the park. Sitting on the banks of the Kosi river which is just outside, a high cliff face ahead of us, watching the swift green torrent gush by, swirling eddies over our bare feet – just great.
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