Corbett can be one of the most exciting weekend getaways for you if you are a Delhiite. With woods around you, chilly breeze, sprawling forests, luxury resorts, and vacation-like atmosphere, Corbett qualifies to be a perfect haven for travelers and non-travelers alike. I made my first trip to Corbett last weekend, after being sick and tired of making umpteen trips to Jaipur for short vacations. I ruled out going northwards because of the chill in the hills. That’s left for the summers!
As I discovered, the best way to reach Corbett from Delhi is to drive down, if you are comfortable doing intercity driving. The roads are not in the best condition, and traffic jams are normal unless you leave early in the morning, ie around 4. Leaving early morning in the winters is not a good idea as there are chances of having dense fog. I left for Corbett at around 8 from Delhi with friends, and we encountered fog for about 60-odd kms after crossing Hapur. The drive was fun once the fog cleared, and as the day progressed it got warmer also.
If you are going in the peak season, it is wise get your bookings done. We stayed in Woodcastle Resort & Spa which is a pretty good resort with excellent architecture, swimming pool, and located on the riverside. The only downside was the food, which we found very spicy and oily at most times, except the breakfast. Apart from the food, everything was just perfect, including the service and accommodation. Woodcastle comes across as more of a resort tailormade for families, and we were the only all-male group there, but did not feel alienated. Woodcastle is located amongst a horde of resort that queue in Garjia (some 10 kms from Rampur and 8 kms short of Corbett Museum).
Woodcastle Resort
Two days are enough to visit and enjoy Corbett. We left at 8 Sat morning and reached there by 3:30. It took us an hour extra because of bad traffic and fog. Reaching Corbett, we went for a small nature walk and enjoyed our evening at the resort with live music and drinks in a well-manicured and vast lawn. With mercury dipping and bonfire beside us, and drinks and snacks handy, it was a good evening. The live music was good but the singer chose to sing all the melancholic songs from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. The songs were well-sung but it was an overdose of sentiments!
The best part of the trip always is when you have one full day to spend at the place. Our day to do the same was Sunday. With a jungle safari lined up for the afternoon, we spent the first half of the day visiting the Corbett Museum, which can be given a miss unless you are a history/wildlife freak. Then we went fishing at Infinity Resorts. Anybody who loves to fish or would like to must visit Infinity and I am sure you will end up catching a fish. We did after more than an hour of ordeal. It cost us Rs 600/-. It was a patient exercise to catch a fish because the fish would more often than not end up eating the bait and not get hooked. Finally, my friends did manage to get hold of a fish, whilst I dozed off on a bench on the riverside.
With the bust of Late Mr Corbett
Coming to the safari, it was fun in a way that we sat in an open Maruti Gypsy that went thru the jungles. We were told by the driver that there exist some 135 tigers and 35,000 deer in the forest, but we could only manage to spot three spotted deer, and missed tiger by 10 minutes. Otherwise, there was nothing very special about the safari than the fact that you got panoramic view of the hills and forests, and the sun going down in the evening. If you are doing safari in an open jeep in the winters, don’t forget to carry an extra pullover and a cap as the chilly breeze numbs your ears if they remain unprotected. Also, do not go to the forests with a lot of hope because you may return disappointed. You’d be exceptionally lucky if you get to view a tiger.
We rounded the trip off with another musical night at the resort, and another round of tear-jerking songs that would make the most newly married cry in the memory of their ex-flames! As it happens with friends, most sad songs only turned out be a source of humor for all of us!
On our way to the Forest…
All in all, Jim Corbett is a place worth visiting once. For people like me, it acts an unwinding activity away from the noise of city, and also educates a bit on wildlife even if it is nowhere to be seen!