Discover magic of Rajaji Park's jumbo haven
Do you think your life has become a little too monotonous and you need some adventure?
Visit Rajaji National Park where you can explore the wilderness in the company of some 400 wandering wild elephants.See these giant mammals up close that gulp down up to 200 litres of water daily, eat over 200 kg of food and wallow in the mud for hours in this sprawling reserve ensconced in the Shivalik foothills of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand.
And guess what? This fascinating world of elephants is just 260 km from Delhi.
The 800-plus sq km park is home to the largest population of wild elephants in northern India and a cradle for endangered wildlife such as the sloth bear, ghoral goat, jackal, leopard and tiger.
Leisure Hotels, one of India's leading hospitality groups, is helping tourists discover this tranquil world with a range of itineraries at its Forrest Resort, which opened last month near the reserve.
You can take a jeep safari to the park, or hike to one of the villages atop the picturesque hills early morning. You may even choose to laze around or spend time reading books on your favourite subjects while sitting in a reclining chair on the cold concrete porch of one of the luxury tent cottages at the resort, as the gentle breeze nourishes you with the scent of the forest.
If you long for a gastronomic adventure or if you are a bookworm, then also there's plenty for you. You can dig into a range of cuisines prepared by the finest in-house chefs. And you may even get inspired to write after enjoying the romantic charm of the place.
During the parched season, a dry riverbed serves as the only motorable road to the resort. This 12-km stretch from Kodiya village up to Shiargarh, where the resort is located, is in itself an adventure, as your vehicle lurches forward through boulders big and small that form the rugged surface of the serpentine channel.
The dry waterbed skirts through the sparsely forested hills, giving you ! a majest ic view of the Shivalik during the ride. And as you prepare for the night ahead, the afternoon sun gently stokes you with a fresh dose of energy. A deep croak of the great hornbill at a distance will alert you to your entery into her territory; so will her cousins, the oriental pied and grey hornbills.
In monsoon, the movement of vehicles on this stretch is not possible. River water with overpowering force gushes downhill. This abundant seasonal water nurtures the lush deciduous forest of Rajaji, named after the first and last governor general of independent India, C. Rajgopalachari.
"The Balkumari Temple trek is one of the best places here for hikers," says Ajay Ghale, corporate chief naturalist of Leisure Hotels. "You can see a panoramic view of mountains from the hilltop."
The resort, which is gracefully spread in about 10 acres at the base of the Shiargarh hill, radiates in the dim yellow lights that emanate from some 20 cottages at nightfall. The staff helps you unwind and it's time for barbeque and bonfire.
The Shivaliks beckon. And don't get surprised if a wallcreeper comes calling at your cottage. You will at once fall in love with this tiny, attractive little bird. The night soon takes you to another world as you ground yourself near a bonfire.
"We want the resort to be eco-friendly as much as possible. In the next season, we will try to introduce solar energy for all purposes," says Bankim Sharma, one of the partners at Forrest Resort.
"I am fond of nature, this project allows me to do what I like best and it also helps me earn a livelihood," he says.
"We have received a very good response. The occupancy rate of our cottages has been good this season," said Sharma.
The resort is open from November to mid-June.
Created in 1983, the Rajaji park is a haven for wild elephants. Hundreds of elephants roam the forest, managed under Project Elephant launched by the government in 1992 for protection of these animals.
Eleph ants are a symbol of pride and represent India's rich faunal heritage. According to official estimates, India has more than 27,000 wild elephants, which is about half the Asian elephant population.
How to reach: By air from Delhi to Jolly Grant airport in Uttarakhand, and from there by vehicle up to the site in Shiargarh. Or by train from Delhi to Haridwar or Rishikesh and from there by road.
Cost: Rs.14,000 for two nights and double occupancy.
Visit Rajaji National Park where you can explore the wilderness in the company of some 400 wandering wild elephants.See these giant mammals up close that gulp down up to 200 litres of water daily, eat over 200 kg of food and wallow in the mud for hours in this sprawling reserve ensconced in the Shivalik foothills of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand.
And guess what? This fascinating world of elephants is just 260 km from Delhi.
The 800-plus sq km park is home to the largest population of wild elephants in northern India and a cradle for endangered wildlife such as the sloth bear, ghoral goat, jackal, leopard and tiger.
Leisure Hotels, one of India's leading hospitality groups, is helping tourists discover this tranquil world with a range of itineraries at its Forrest Resort, which opened last month near the reserve.
You can take a jeep safari to the park, or hike to one of the villages atop the picturesque hills early morning. You may even choose to laze around or spend time reading books on your favourite subjects while sitting in a reclining chair on the cold concrete porch of one of the luxury tent cottages at the resort, as the gentle breeze nourishes you with the scent of the forest.
If you long for a gastronomic adventure or if you are a bookworm, then also there's plenty for you. You can dig into a range of cuisines prepared by the finest in-house chefs. And you may even get inspired to write after enjoying the romantic charm of the place.
During the parched season, a dry riverbed serves as the only motorable road to the resort. This 12-km stretch from Kodiya village up to Shiargarh, where the resort is located, is in itself an adventure, as your vehicle lurches forward through boulders big and small that form the rugged surface of the serpentine channel.
The dry waterbed skirts through the sparsely forested hills, giving you ! a majest ic view of the Shivalik during the ride. And as you prepare for the night ahead, the afternoon sun gently stokes you with a fresh dose of energy. A deep croak of the great hornbill at a distance will alert you to your entery into her territory; so will her cousins, the oriental pied and grey hornbills.
In monsoon, the movement of vehicles on this stretch is not possible. River water with overpowering force gushes downhill. This abundant seasonal water nurtures the lush deciduous forest of Rajaji, named after the first and last governor general of independent India, C. Rajgopalachari.
"The Balkumari Temple trek is one of the best places here for hikers," says Ajay Ghale, corporate chief naturalist of Leisure Hotels. "You can see a panoramic view of mountains from the hilltop."
The resort, which is gracefully spread in about 10 acres at the base of the Shiargarh hill, radiates in the dim yellow lights that emanate from some 20 cottages at nightfall. The staff helps you unwind and it's time for barbeque and bonfire.
The Shivaliks beckon. And don't get surprised if a wallcreeper comes calling at your cottage. You will at once fall in love with this tiny, attractive little bird. The night soon takes you to another world as you ground yourself near a bonfire.
"We want the resort to be eco-friendly as much as possible. In the next season, we will try to introduce solar energy for all purposes," says Bankim Sharma, one of the partners at Forrest Resort.
"I am fond of nature, this project allows me to do what I like best and it also helps me earn a livelihood," he says.
"We have received a very good response. The occupancy rate of our cottages has been good this season," said Sharma.
The resort is open from November to mid-June.
Created in 1983, the Rajaji park is a haven for wild elephants. Hundreds of elephants roam the forest, managed under Project Elephant launched by the government in 1992 for protection of these animals.
How to reach: By air from Delhi to Jolly Grant airport in Uttarakhand, and from there by vehicle up to the site in Shiargarh. Or by train from Delhi to Haridwar or Rishikesh and from there by road.
Cost: Rs.14,000 for two nights and double occupancy.
Comments