They say that only a biker understands why a dog sticks its neck out of the window of a car. Much in the same way, only wildlife lovers understand the thrill of choosing the wilderness over swanky, air-conditioned abodes, chasing some beautiful beasts who will not strike any business deals with them to fill their coffers.
India is home to numerous species of birds and animals scattered across over 500 wildlife sanctuaries and other natural habitats. They have fascinated the world for centuries and been the subject of many a piece of art and of folklore. Unfortunately, they also caught the fancy of the maharajas and the colonial rulers alike, who hunted them down recklessly. Poachers selling banned wildlife products took over from where the sahibs left. While some like the Asiatic Cheetah are now history, the numbers of yet others have dwindled rapidly.
There is a glimmer of hope as the numbers of some endangered species have gradually picked up in the recent past giving the lovers of the little over 1700 tigers left in India a reason to smile. For, it is not without reason that this gentleman among beasts is a sight to behold. God, in his omnipotence, created the universe, created mammoths and the tiniest of creatures. And even as he created the good, the bad, the ugly and the sage and the saint in all His wisdom, He undoubtedly created the tiger when He decided that it was time to create His masterpiece among creatures that go around on all fours. Consider the form and strength of this beast and imagine that the creator Himself became an engineer and artist rolled into one to create it. The tiger displays a perfect symmetry and formidable strength. It symbolises courage, grace and royalty as no other beast does.
So, if wildlife is on your agenda then Jim Corbett National Park, located in the state of Uttaranchal in north India is a must in your itinerary. Named after the legendary British hunter and tracker-turned conservationist Edward James Jim Corbett, the park has an area of over 520 km. Its in the cool environs of the Kumaon, in the foothills of the Himalayas, enjoys dense vegetation and the river Ramganga flows through it. It is a befitting tribute to a gentleman, who hunted only to save human lives from man-eating tigers and leopards. He spread awareness about tigers to save their habitat and was a very early champion of their conservation, playing a key role in the establishment of this park. Moreover, besides the tiger, the park houses a whopping 586 species of resident and migratory birds and such beautiful creatures as Indian elephants, leopards, crocodiles, sambhars, chitals, Indian pythons, sloth and Himalayan black bears and much else.
If your challenge is finding a place to stay with the comforts of city life even as you enjoy nature and the thrills of the forest, consider options like the Jaagar Village Resort. Its an innovative set-up: a beautiful set of cottages in a rustic village-like atmosphere amongst orchards with warm and friendly staff providing the best of hospitality and serving delicacies much of them made from ingredients grown organically on the land of the resort! Also its a best Weekend Getaway form Delhi So, go ahead, chase the majestic beasts by the day and, in the night, relax with Jaagars staff with a tall glass in your hand, listening to the immortal tales of the man-eaters of the Kumaon to ensure that the thrill of adventure continues well into your dreams.