As one leaves Kaladhungi to take the climb up towards Nainital, a charming sign board with tiger paw marks meets you right at the bend. The first resort to aid visitors venture into the national park, Camp Corbett, is spread over 4 acres of thick vegetation. The morning sun, filtered by the abundant growth of trees, falls on eight cottages, named after the local birds of the area. A pioneer in conservation of wildlife and the history of Jim Corbett, Ome Anand and his wife, Suman are veterans of the area. Instrumental in bringing back the glory of Jim Corbett to the area, Ome undertook the mammoth task of making Corbett’s erstwhile house, a quaint but delightful museum for visitors. Surely, no one else would know more about the life of the illustrious wildlife hunter than Ome, who has worked tirelessly to re-establish the legendary man who emancipated the villagers from the terror of the man-eating tigers of Kumaon. No wonder that many wildlife enthusiasts swarm Camp Corbett for the company of Ome and Suman.
The brown and olive green cottages blend in perfectly with the surroundings. Spacious and aesthetically brilliant with usage of lanterns as lamps, the cottages are exquisite. Upturned earthen pots, used as lamp shades, line the gravel path between the cottages. The aptly named common area, ‘Julglee Babblers’, is perfect to share the experiences of the wild with other visitors, around the Bukhara (fireplace). Intended to maintain the eco-friendly nature of the place, the walls are mud & cow-dung plastered to ward off insects and maintain insulation to beat the cold. Local artisans have been patronised to build and maintain the area. Organic food, especially wheat, is served to the guests. Ground in the local grinder, ‘pan-chakki’, the wheat is cooling for the metabolic system. Suman ensures that one meal is made in the local Kumaoni style, for guests to imbibe the local-ness of the place.
A resident naturalist, Mrs. Ghosh often takes long walks with guests to get them acquainted to the natural herbs and medicinal plants in the vicinity. Narsinghji, who has grown up with the family is the perfect guide to the mysterious Bore River which plays hide and seek in its subterranean game of surfacing and concealing below the property. It has been declared as a ‘heritage site’ by the Government.
Ever active in engaging with the guests, Suman pleasantly jokes about their life revolving around the most pertinent news of spotting tigers, barking deer and other animals on a daily basis, rather than what’s happening around the world.
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