For those who don’t know (I confess that I didn’t, until I went for the first time in February 2024, and as I write this, have just returned from a second trip in the month of April), Jim Corbett National Park is a wildlife sanctuary located in the North of India, the oldest of the National parks and where Project Tiger, dedicated to the safeguarding of the endangered species, was launched in 1973.
As much as wildlife excursions are not new to me, for I lived in southern Africa, notably Zimbabwe, in my early teens, needless to say I had never seen a tiger until earlier this year, the experience every bit as overwhelming as it is reputed to be, and so I went back less than two months later, but not just for the purpose of wildlife watching…
Above: Images of the Tiger spotted
…There is something about a little resort there called Jim’s Jungle Retreat, which makes one never want to leave, a virtual oasis in the middle of the jungle, the accommodation, a mix of single and double-room lodges and cottages, all spread out amidst the natural fauna, lamp lit pathways connecting the different parts of the property, from the high ceilinged salon style café with an overhead covered machan (i.e. observation deck), to the library and spa, yoga pavilion, dining rotunda, swimming pool and various other ground level and stilt-raised living and reading rooms.
Clockwise from Top Left: Master bedroom of two -bedroom cottage,
Café, Café 2, Massage room at spa, library pavilion
The charming and tasteful decor is English country style bric-a-brac-cum shabby chic, which not only invites, but also altogether undresses and envelops…the trials and tribulations of city life are reflexively shed upon arrival, making way for the unvarnished and naked self to unabashedly emerge and then quickly yield to the circadian rhythm of nature.
Clockwise from top left: Dining rotunda,
pathways, pool side indoor living room,
swimming pool, poolside overhead machan
Every evening before dinner, following the afternoon safari, there is a one hour long wildlife documentary shown on a big screen outdoors, either by the pool or on the lawn adjacent to the dining rotunda, during the colder months with fires lit, and in the warmer ones, outdoor fans… two of the documentaries, ‘The Tiger Dynasty’ and ‘The Leopard that changed its spots’ are especially moving, or at least they were for me, bringing tears to my eyes whilst gently forcing a reconciliation with the natural cycle of life and death… this must be one of the most precious features of Jim’s Jungle retreat, no stone left unturned with respect to a complete immersion into the world of wildlife.
Above: The dinner Thali
Dinner is constituted by a daily changing Indian menu, and one can either choose a few dishes from the selection or opt for a Thali; while the food is both fresh and extremely tasty, it may be a bit heavy for some at night, or perhaps not to their liking, but so long as one informs the kitchen at lunch time, a western meal from the day time café menu will be made available…I can certainly vouch for the delicious toasted club sandwich, the sourdough style bread that is baked in house nothing short of exemplary, and believe it or not, they do a pretty darn good gluten-free bread too! Moreover, the barman knocks up some mean cocktails, and whereas the selection of alcohol is limited, one is permitted to take one’s own bottles, which the staff will happily serve anywhere on the property… I have nonetheless written a couple of reviews suggesting the bar be improved.
Clockwise from top left: Toasted Chicken club sandwich,
Vodka cocktail with house-made java plum concentrate, Classic Mojito
Lunch involves a daily changing western menu, quite apart from the permanent café one, of which I can only speak of a very acceptable pumpkin soup and side of roasted baby carrots with cumin, for I usually skip lunch, having feasted on a large post morning-safari breakfast, the warm house-made croissants, whilst bready, irresistible when slathered with Amul butter; then there is the simply delectable smoky bacon, in addition to a variety of eggs on order, and of course a whole host of Indian breakfast dishes too.
Above: Images of the geography of the park
But without much further ado, since this isn’t meant to be a piece of culinary journalism, onto the enchanted forest I go, for indeed Corbett Park is no less than a real-life fantasy, dense in its foliage, geography and animal species, about which I will not elaborate further since all the information is available on the internet…out of the 6 zones into which the park is divided, I have been on safari in only two of them, which Jim’s jungle retreat organizes most efficiently for its guests, with respect to entry permits and a private jeep with driver and guide, in addition to water flasks and, depending on the time of the day, a most elegantly packed morning or afternoon snack, tea, coffee and fresh lime water.
Above: Images of Wild life spotted
Above: Images of Wild life spotted
I not only saw the famed Tiger, but also many a spotted deer, elephant, samba deer, hedgehog and an enormous variety of birds, the park itself a delight to simply travel through, and as they say, if one is not hung up on seeing the tiger, then it will most definitely appear, but until it does, the driver and guide will give you a rich running commentary on the many other marvelous sights and sounds, all the while listening carefully for the monkey call to alert one to the movement and location of the big cat….each and every aspect of the jungle has a remarkable logic, and in the course of the 4 hour safari, one gradually falls in step with nature, as if, in essence, it is where one belongs… I would go so far as to say that this is better than any destination spa for a complete restoration of one’s physical and emotional well-being … THE END