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Real adventure, real fun...
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If you find corporate life too stressful, bus travel full of tension, office work too hard, MADHUR TANKHA suggests how to get away from it all. Live in a tent, ride on an elephant, go trekking, rappelling and rock climbing. Whichever way, you will be sovereign of Sitlakhet in Kumaon hills... .
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IF YOU haven't had the pleasure of trekking so far and find yourself in good condition to do some physical exertion then Sitlakhet, near Ranikhet, is certainly the place for you. But the trip to Sitlakhet is strictly for those who don't get nausea while travelling for three uninterrupted hours on the hills with intermittent black smoke billowing from vehicle exhaust pipes.
The Ranikhet Express that leaves from Old Delhi railway station at 9-45 p.m. reaches Kathgodam at 9 a.m. From there you have to hire a taxi to take you to Sitlakhet. Be prepared to stay in tents during the night with a solitary guard - armed with an anachronistic looking rifle - with his eyes peeled. The tents don't have a door so you will have to tie the ropes tightly as the place is swarming with wild animals. Although the innocuous langurs come during the daytime to raid potato fields, it is best to be cautious. You will require accoutrement such as a whistle, torch, sleeping bag, water bottle and light clothing.
The organisers, idiscoveri - not to be confused with the Discovery channel - are involved in educational programmes for kids. For summer camps they charge Rs. 8,000 for eight days' adventure activities per person. Accommodation and food are part of the package.
There are two guides, who accompany you during trekking. In case you suffer from fever, cold or get mild bruises idiscoveri also has a doctor.
Abhilash Bisht, the camp commander, is articulate and well versed in English. So you won't have any difficulty in getting tips on how to use your mountaineering equipment. Before going in for rock climbing one needs to listen attentively to the guide. In river crossing teamwork is required and the experience of going from one end of the rope to the other - with harness tied on the rope - is really enthralling.
The mere mention of the name Corbett National Park brings to mind the famous hunter of man-eating tigers, Jim Corbett. The Englishman was revered and his exemplary courage in rescuing the local people of Kumaon from prowling tigers is even today part of folklore. Corbett is open to tourists from November to June. Instead of a jeep one has to go on a pachyderm for two hours through the jungle. You can spot not just tigers but also the ubiquitous peacocks, chital, sambar, rhesus macaque and leopards.
For accommodation there is Hotel Everest, where rooms are available for as little as Rs. 125 per day. Near the bus stand there is Hotel Govind, where rooms are awfully cheap at Rs. 100 per day.
If your budget permits, you can stay more extravagantly at Tiger Tops Corbett Lodge, about seven kilometres from Ramnagar. The price of Rs. 3,600 per person per night is exorbitant. But it includes all meals, rides on elephant and jeep and a wildlife slide show in the evenings.
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Metro Plus
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