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| On our way from Delhi |
In mid-November 2015, we had yet another get-together of the old college gang, first in Delhi and then in a wild, wonderful forest abode of a close friend of Shamsher's. This was practically right in the middle of the Corbett National Park and we spent 5 amazing days there, up on a small plateau overlooking the Ramganga river. The house itself reminded me of a ranch in the old wild west , except that it was in the middle of a semi-tropical forest, instead of the American plains.
Shamsher's friend runs an enormous establishment there, replete with horses, cattle, fowls, and a staff of some 35 men. The house has its own source of electricity and water and grows its own vegetables and cereals. It is almost inaccessible by motor transport and to reach it, one has to disembark at the roadhead about 2 km away in the forest, ride downhill on awaiting horses, ford the Ramganga, or get across on a tractor with an attached trailer. The surrounding jungle is teeming with wild animals of all kinds,including elephants and tigers and every morning, when we awoke, we could see tell-tale signs of elephants around the house, in the form of their droppings!
We went bathing in the river (with a faithful Samarpal Singh, our host's trusted aide, keeping a wary eye for crocodiles on the prowl), rode horses almost every morning, and also went on night safaris in the jeep.(The jeep, I must add, was assembled piece by piece on this side of the river) . The rest of the time was spent enjoying ourselves, eating, drinking (the house has a remarkably well-stocked bar!) and generally relaxing. It was with genuine regret that we finally left the place.
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| By jeep through the forest |
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| Mounting the horses |
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| Off we go |
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| The return journey, with Chunnu |
