A Trip to Jim Corbett

A visit to Jim Corbett Forest Reserve is something I had been planning for a long time but every time something or the other used to turn up and the plan used to get cancelled. So, like always, I finally said whatever happens or doesn’t happen, we have to go.
Ever since I was a child I have built up great respect for this creature called Tiger/Sherkhan. I might have been into many adventures but it was the first time I had butterflies in my stomach, a slight nervousness in my mind and lots of cool excitement.
What’s great in being a tiger? What’s the big deal? Why does this animal amaze me so much? No, its not how this strong animal tears open an animal the size of a bull. No, its not because of its 11feet 200+ Kg body. No, its not its muscles, its speed or its ferociousness either. My admiration for this animal is for one single reason – the absolute fearlessness I see whenever I look into its eyes. Going through my adventures, trials and tribulations as part of the wonderful experience that is life I have learnt and discovered one thing ‘You discover Life only after you discover fearlessness’. Till the time we are plagued with fears, fears of not being able to achieve and obtain what we want to, fears of losing what we have, we cannot discover life.
So, I was going to meet my role model as far as fearlessness goes and I was excited. (Now don’t visualise me jumping around J, the excitement was inside.) We (me, khushi and suraj) started from Gurgaon at 11.30 pm. It was a distance of around 300kms and I expected to reach there, after the nights driving, by 5.30am to be in time for a morning safari/drive through the jungle. We were able to reach only by 6am and missed out on the 5.30 am drive in time. Now we would be able to go in only at 2.30pm in the afternoon. We planned to drive on the metalled road that goes through Jim Corbett (rather the outskirts). The jungle was dense and the drive was beautiful. I was looking at the trees and bushes and hoping I might be lucky to see the tiger here itself. We saw a small group of 3-4 kids walking to school with their schoolbags and I said ‘lets ask these kids if they have seen a tiger around’ and as I stopped my car next to the kids the kids turned to look at us and the expression on their faces changed from carefree to fear and they ran like hell. We were laughing that we 3 human beings scared them so much more than the thought of 140 (yes, a hundred and forty) tigers which roam these 1,288 sqkm forests.
A little down the road we met a young boy riding a bicycle and we started talking to him while driving next to him (luckily he didn’t run). Yes, the tigers do cross this road but you got to be luck or maybe unlucky (if you are on a bicycle) enough to catch one crossing the road. He had seen many time and people around (the locals) also get to see enough.
We were able to enjoy our time driving up and down, driving down to the Kosi river and visiting the Jim Corbett museum.
2.30pm came and we got into an open maruti gypsy (SUV on hire) and a driver and a guide. I was put into the co-drivers seat. We entered the the reserve and after making the necessary entries at the gate we started driving down the gravel path which after a while turned into a dirt track. I saw a small village (few huts) on the right and the driver told me that these people have been living here for centuries, even at the time when there were 1000’s of Tigers (Jim Corbett himself had killed over 1300 I was told). From the second I entered the reserve I was excited inside and my eyes were scanning the jungles on both sides. The path started making its way through the jungles and hills and I was excited and hoping that we would make a turn and see the tiger right in front of us. We were heading towards a place called Bijrani, 16km inside the reserve where we would make an entry and move on for the real part. We did that.
After Bijrani the vehicles which had entered moved away in different directions and we started moving along a track alone. The feeling of just being there itself was great. I was spellbound by the beauty of the area. We crossed a nearly dry river bed (only a small stream was flowing. I was very hopeful and positive that we were going to see a tiger (you got to be lucky). Tiger is the strongest and largest member of the cat family and a solitary hunter in contrast to Lions which move in a group, so its not as easy to come across a tiger. We came across groups of Chinkara and Sambar, the two deer species. Our driver would stop the vehicle and switch it off till the time the deer would move out of our way by themselves. I was scanning the jungles on both sides for any sign of tiger, any movement of the grass, any disturbance, any chirping of birds or jumping of monkeys but everything was calm and silent except for the slight breeze. We entered some very dense wood and with the cloudy weather it was quiet dark and scary there. I was hoping and wishing and looking around. Most of our permitted three and a half hours time was over. We stopped for a short break, the necessary one, and it started drizzling with signs of heavy rain coming. The driver quickly tied up the covering for some protection from rain and we started back as the rain became heavy and it got dark. I was still looking around hoping for a rain friendly tiger to be out enjoying the rain but that did not happen so to make the most of it I enjoyed the heavy rain and wind or rather the most of it that got through the partly open window and the flying top. The streams, which were dry earlier, were now flowing fast but our vehicle made through them and we were able to get back. I was intoxicated and I knew the hangover was going to remain.
Hmm, big question – ‘Was I disappointed?’. Friends, no way, not one bit. Firstly, because the drive and the beauty of the jungle was too good, secondly because I spent every single moment feeling the tiger’s strong presence and finally because I know that soon I will be back for a longer stay. Till then it was a small goodbye to the forest reserve