12 May,2011 09:30 AM IST | | Promita Mukherjee
Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand is hauntingly beautiful. So is this new camp resort that has come up there
There were pebbles all around me. And hillocks guarding them from all sides. I was lost and in no hurry to find my way back. It was close to sunset and the silhouette was mesmerising. It was slowly getting dark but I was on a mission -- to find that elusive cell phone network which was next to non-existent here and to get some good shots of the topography.
In fact, so hell bent was I on fulfilling the mission that even when the others in the group gave up waiting for me and moved ahead in their trek, I didn't once ask them to wait up. But with the darkness creeping up like shadows in a horror movie all around me, I suddenly came to terms with reality -- that this was a lonely riverbed in the middle of a jungle and the camp resort where I was staying was quite some distance away.
rescue heroes
It was the porters though, who came to my rescue. As they became more distinct than the distant silhouettes that they were even minutes back, I knew I had hit the jackpot. For these were porters from the resort carrying our evening tea. I quickly followed suit and voila! There were the others in the team, coming from the other end of a pretty stream in an area that reminded one of Sholay's Rampur. We met here to capture some moments, sipping tea and idling by the rivulet which dries up in summer.
But soon it was time to head back to the camp. The journey back was equally exciting, with our guide showing us fresh pug marks, which simply meant a tigeru00a0 had been close by, though we hadn't been lucky or unlucky enough to get a glimpse of it. It was full moon and we could hear birds tweeting as they settled into their nests.
Earlier in the day, we had landed in the camp resort amply titled Forrest, situated in the Rajaji National Park area, up from Rishikesh in Uttarkhand. It was a hectic six-hour bus journey from Delhi and despite a hearty breakfast, we were almost famished by the time we reached our destination. But hunger went haywire the moment we were told that there is no mobile phone connectivity in the area. Which spelled doom to many a ear. While that may appear like manna to honeymooners, for people addicted to the phone, that really doesn't come across as great news.
Aight in the 'forrest'
However, it did sink in after a while as I tried to immerse myself in the surroundings. The area wasn't lush green like one would expect in a forest. Instead, the beauty here was haunting. One does have a feeling of going back into time (despite the tents being cosy and quite up to civilisation) with the sounds of drumbeats from the nearby tribal villages. It was virgin territory. As we gathered around the fire with our drinks, the musician
in us stirred and soon we were breaking into impromptu gigs.
Te hills have eyes
Early next morning we were up and ready for a trek, climbing up the hill that was located right behind our resort (talk about convenience). The resort is pretty but spartan, comprising tents with interiors done up in pretty pinks and violets, with basic modern amenities, not plush but comfortable enough to make you want to come back. The dining area was tucked high up, and to get there you had to climb a flight of stairs. It was almost like visiting a temple. The fare was simple, mostly everyday home-cooked stuff.
As we climbed up the hill, huffing and puffing, we made quite a picture. Used to city comforts, we made several stops on the way. But as we reached the top, with our hearts pumping like pistons, the effort seemed worth it. Before us lay the town of Rishikesh, looking like a picture postcard. There was a small temple on top of the hill. But the most exciting thing was the horns of a deer, which lay near a giant tree. Some deer had shed its horns and left it for us tourists to gape at. We sat there for quite some time, giggling and clicking pictures, none ready to make the steep climb down. I almost wished there were escalators!
Aimal kingdom
But down we had to go, whether we wanted to or not, because we had to take a trip inside the National Park. The time for which came soon after lunch. The park was 15 minutes away from our camp. We drove inside, in our jeeps, ready with our camera for anything that moves. Sadly, for a long time the only things that moved were wild fowls, peacocks and deers.
Even the watch tower didn't help. We drove on undulating surfaces, with dense forest around us. At times, there would be a wide expanse -- the riverbed during monsoon. It was lonely and serene simultaneously. The kind of beauty that isn't striking, but stays back with you for long. It was almost sunset and we had almost given up hope of seeing any other animal when the towering figure approached. 'It's an elephant', someone shrieked. And soon we got busy clicking. As we moved further, we saw mother elephants with their babies, trying to give them a 'leg' up on the way back home. They stood watching us as we rushed to take pictures. Mission accomplished, it was time for us too, to head home. Back to city life.
