Gairal Log Huts |
The
positive aspect of living in these huts is the path that passes right
past them. All evening and night, if you manage to keep absolutely quiet
and still in your balcony, you can get to see a lot of animals. This includes
tigers and elephants. The best time for wildlife viewing from here is
summer. The riverbanks below Gairal are well frequented by huge flocks
of black cormorants too. Another added attraction is the short drive required
to see the gharials and muggars at crocodile pool. Solar heated water
is now provided at Gairal during the cold winters.
Sultan Forest Rest House (2 rooms): This is the
closest rest house to the Dhangari main gate. It does not have too much
going for it except the fact that it is on the main road and close to
the gate. The surrounding area is quite unique and picturesque. The rest
house faces away from the main road but the opposite hillside, starting
barely a few yards away, obstructs the view.
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Sarapduli
Forest Rest House (2 rooms – main building, 2 rooms – hutments): This
is the most centrally located rest house. The rest house faces the Ramganga
river but one has to walk up to the edge of the hillside to actually see
the water. The rest house itself is a pleasing sight, much like the old
Gairal rest house. It has a pretty large pack of resident jackals, which
keep moving about all day and night.
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Sarapduli Forest Rest House |
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It is located almost on the main jungle road but far enough to blot out
the sounds of passing vehicles. Two other rooms (or huts as they are called)
are also available. These look and feel like simple extensions of the
forest guards living quarters. Very basic and only a last resort option.
Sarapduli is well frequented by many animals due to the proximity to the
river in front and the _____ sot to the right.
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Khinanauli Forest Rest House (3 rooms): This
rest house is also centrally located but in a different sort of way. It
is centrally located in respect to all the exciting spots in the park.
The best tiger sighting locations are situated all around it. It faces
a huge grassland and has the river flowing by to the left. |
Khinanauli Forest Rest House |
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To
the right are located the hills of the central ridge. The building of
a machaan near the river bank has also been approved. The rest house itself
is of excellent quality as it’s visitors mainly consist of senior Indian
and foreign dignitaries. The staff here are extremely warm and helpful.
The main three being Tripathi, Chakrait and Nishar. The rest house has
it’s own ride elephant named Phoolkali (flower petal). Due to it’s location
and environment friendly staff, the rest house surroundings are very well
frequented by all animals, including leopards/panthers, tigers and elephants.
Due to the frequent visits paid here by huge herds of wild elephants,
the vehicle-parking garage is a welcome sight. The rest house is also
provided with two hours a day of generator powered electricity. Solar
heated water is also available for the cold winters. The trees surrounding
Khinanauli are also excellent bird sighting locations. Taking all aspects
into consideration, this is probably the best rest house of the park.
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Dhikala Tourist Complex (30 rooms and 24 bunks):
The Dhikala complex is the largest accommodation facility in the park.
It has many rooms and it’s own restaurant, excellent library and dhaba
( local canteen ). It also has many ride elephants which start opposite
the reception area. With the exception of Kanda, this rest house provides
the largest view on every direction. It is located just above the banks
of the Ramganga river. The huge expanse of the partly dry riverbed is
visible from here as is also the facing northern ridge, atop which stands
the Kanda forest rest house. These riverbed areas are extremely well frequented
by all animals. Especially elephants, deer and wild boar. Another added
attraction is the adjoining huge grasslands of the Dhikala chaur. The
vehicle track leading through these grasslands take you up to the Ramganga
reservoir or the "Dhikala lake". If you approach this lake carefully,
the gharials and many birds like the black necked stork are a common sight.
One of the only places in the park where you can walk is from the Dhikala
complex to the watchtower. It is a ten-minute walk through some grassland.
It isn’t unusual to come across scurrying partridges and other birds looking
for insects on the ground during this walk. Dhikala has many resident
animals of it’s own. Spoilt due to the offerings of ignorant tourists,
these animals walk around the complex like tame pets. Yet, it would be
advisable to keep a safe distance from the harmless appearing wild boar.
In the evening, for the entertainment and knowledge enhancement of the
visitors, a half hour film on wildlife is shown at the open-air theatre.
At one time a sambar deer stood and watched a film on a man-eating tiger
with the visitors. Surprisingly, it did not give it’s famous warning call!
Another attraction that draws the less adventurous to Dhikala is the fact
that the rooms have a constant supply of tap water and electricity. One
very important aspect to keep in mind about Dhikala is that it is the
only place in the park where you can get a punctured tyre repaired. It
is a part time occupation of one of the mahouts there. It’ll probably
cost you ten times what it would cost you outside but then it’s something
you’ll happily pay that much for. Dhikala also has a variety of accommodations.
These range all the way from simple bunk dormitories to pretty impressive
luxury rooms. |
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Kanda Forest Rest House (2 rooms): The most impressive
thing that draws visitors to it time and again is the view it offers.
The view is a full 360 degrees, except for maybe a little bit just north
of west. It looks down upon the entire park and the Dhikala complex is
clearly visible from here. Due to it’s relatively high altitude of 1085
meters above mean sea level, the cool breeze makes it an excellent option
for the summer months.
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Kanda Forest Rest House |
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Due to it being the only rest house in it’s area, the solitude and peacefulness
also make it extremely attractive to those wanting to get away from the
din of civilization. The drive up to the rest house is also an adventurous
and exciting one. It is advisable to only try it in a 4-wheel drive. It
is interesting to keep your eyes open during the drive up as this area
has the highest population density of leopards and Himalayan black bears
in the park. The lucky ones also get to see the mountain goat, the Ghoral,
which in Corbett is unique to this area. One point to be kept in mind
while staying at Kanda is that it is necessary to pay the entrance fee
for the main park every time you have to go down to the other lower areas.
The rest house itself is quite a pretty one although it pales in comparison
to a private residence located atop a hill to it’s north. A couple of
single rooms offering spectacular views have also been built just below
the main rest house.
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Bijrani Forest Rest House |
Halduparao
Forest Rest House (2 rooms): This rest house, although it comes under
the Sonanadi Wild life sanctuary, is a must to keep as an option for the
more adventurous at heart. This rest house is located on the stretch of
land between the Palain and Sonanadi rivers just short of where they meet
up with the Ramganga reservoir. Other than the beautiful solitude and
peacefulness that it offers, it is famous for one thing and one thing
alone. Elephants. It is almost impossible not to see elephants at extremely
close range if you go there in the summer months of April to June. The
proximity to the rivers is also another added attraction.
Bijrani Forest Rest House/Complex (6 rooms ): This
complex is located on the southern ridge of the park. This is the only
area where visitors are allowed into the park for day visits. The complex
itself is very similar to the one at Dhikala, although not as big or picturesque.
It has it’s own restaurant and canteen. During the day, it is overrun
by local tour operators and their customers. The complex offers elephant
rides into the surrounding jungle. The area, even with the constant flow
of humans, still has a very healthy population of animals and birds. The
chances of spotting a sloth bear or the Dhole are the best in this part
of the park. Although, sightings of the Dhole have become extremely rare.
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Malani Forest Rest House |
Malani
Forest Rest House (2rooms): This rest house is located on the southern
ridge and is closest to the core area of the jungle. This core area is
out of bounds to any kind of intrusion by humans. The rest house sits
perched at the end of a relatively small grassland in comparison to the
Dhikala chaur. It faces a valley created by a rainwater stream. It is
said by the forest guards there that the area further upstream is a haven
for tigers and other animals. During summer, when there is less grass
on the bed of the stream and the flat land to the right, the rest house
offers quite a spectacular sight. In winters however, the view is restricted
to the rest house and it’s own grounds. The vehicle track leading up,
through the grassland, to the rest house is frequented a lot by various
animals. Particularly in the early hours of the morning. Due to it’s remote
location, it is a very quiet area and an excellent getaway. One problem
for those requiring the basic facilities, there is no electricity, like
in most of the other rest houses too, but here even the water has to be
brought up from the stream in buckets. It is however extremely difficult
to get reservations for it as it is mostly kept out of bounds to the common
man. An exciting place to visit in this area is the jungle track running
along the fire line.
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Lohachaur Forest Rest House |
The Mudiapani, Rathuadab and Lohachaur Forest Rest
Houses(2 rooms each): These rest houses are all located across the
northern side of the northern ridge. They are situated on either side
of the forest road that stretches all the way across this part of the
reserve forest area. Rathuadab is located immediately beside the track
and is known to be well frequented by elephants in the summer months.
Lohachaur offers a panoramic view of the river Mandal. The rest house
located at the top of a steep climb to the southern side of the main track.
All three of these rest houses are open throughout the year but it is
the access routes that are the problem. The monsoon waters wash away the
stone and wood bridges, spanning the many rainwater streams, every year.
These are then rebuilt only around the end of November. |
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Marchula
Forest Rest House (2 rooms): This forest rest house is located outside
the northeastern borders of the main park. It is situated just above the
Marchula village built around a bridge, across the river Ramganga, at
this spot. The areas around Marchula village and some resorts located
there are world famous for the sport fishing of the mighty Mahaseer. The
rest house has a lovely view due to being near the base of a valley with
the mountains of the lower Himalayas coming down from three directions.
Even the river Ramganga is at it’s picturesque best at this spot, as it
widens here with many twists and turns. This rest house is open and accessible
throughout the year. The fresh water pool formed by the river just below
the bridge very often has it’s own resident Mugger or Gharial.
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Garjia Forest Rest House (2 rooms): This rest
house is located just above the main road leading from Ramnagar to the
main Dhangari gate. It is one of the oldest rest houses and even has the
honour of being mentioned in one of Jim Corbett’s many books on the area.
It is accessible through out the year as it is situated outside the main
park boundaries. |
Garjia Forest Rest House |
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It
is not very well looked after but provides a nice getaway with it’s lovely
banyan tree and being right at the edge of forest. A stream winding it’s
way through the depths of the jungle emerges close to the entrance of
this rest house. Supplies are easily accessible as there are a few small
shops located nearby on the main road. The rest house is high enough and
far enough from the road to blot out most of the sounds of civilization
and mankind.
Jhirna Forest Rest House:
Kalagarh Forest Rest House:
Paterpani Forest Rest House:
Morghatti Forest Rest House:
Pakhro Forest Rest House:
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