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Please Note - This resort was earlier known as Tiger Tops Corbett Lodge.
As of 1st January the resort was renamed as Infinity Resorts : Corbett Wilderness.
HINDUSTAN TIMES
TIMES of INDIA
PIONEER
THE HINDUSTAN TIMES
What do you do when work pressure gets on to you and you are desparately looking for a break far from the concrete jungle's maddening crowd and its ignoble strife? You either crib and pull a long face, making do with your lot, or try to take a tiny break and get away from the monotony of it all. Well, for all Delhiites, here is something to look forward to.
Barely six hours from the national capital, nestled in pristine greens on foothills of the Himalayas, is the Corbett National Park. Named after the legendary Jim Corbett, this is India’s first national park and un- doubtedly one of her finest sanctuaries. The park stretches over an area of 1300 sq. km with lush green grasslands, slim, ebony barked sal and the rippling Ramganga river gushing around.
And most importantly, you don't have to look for an entire week's holiday either. Set off early on an early Friday morning in your car, drive through Gaujrala and grab a light breakfast, stretch your limbs a bit and drive on again you reach Ramnagar by lunch. Cominig up in a big way in Corbett national Park is this lovely African style tourist hideaway-lodge, a of kilometres away from Ramnagar.
Owned and managed by Khatau International Limited, Tiger Tops Corbett Lodge stands on the banks of the silver waters of Kosi river. The lodge has 24 spacious double bedded rooms with cute balconies encircled by groves of mango and rooms that offer you a view of the verdant rain-swept forest.
After you have had a hearty lunch (a la carte goes the menu), you have this majestic elephant who will take you on a jungle safari. Jungle safaris in monsoon you say? The magic of monsoons in the jungle is so different you know. As Champakali glides through the jungle, with Sher Bahadur deftly manoeuvring her and naturalist Mr Dutta telling you exactly what kind of bird and animals to look out for, you set on an adventure of a lifetime.
The beautiful cheetal, the shy sambhar, the curious nilgai, the mischievous pack of langurs playfully swinging from tree to tree (when they choose not to hurl bel fruits on you that is), wild boars surveying you with a bored indulgence-the jungle does spin its brand of magic on you.
Voila, there you see the pug mark and get all excited about a likely tryst with the lord of the Jungle- the Royal Bengal Tiger, but not everyone is lucky to see one. And although about 250 tigers are supposed to be inhabiting the park, tourists mav consider themselves lucky if they even get to see pug marks. As the sun melts into the horizon, you must wind up the safari for the day and return back to the lodge. If the mood seizes you, catch the video on wild-life in Corbett as you sip that cool glass of lime cordial or beer.
Come the crack of dawn, and it is time for another safari, this time on a jeep. The venue is the southern gate of the park. in the early morning light, you just may see the jungle king- if not, then there are so many species of birds to see too. We could actually get to see rare species like the crested hawk eagle, the streaked weaver bird pecking through its nest, the golden bush robin, orange-gorgetted flycatcher, gold-fronted finch, the wood owl. And we were told that even if one does not get to see the tiger or the leopard in action or at rest, the myriad of birds that we did see was something not many could have experienced.
Kaladhungi is a 15-minute drive from Tiger Tops, and when you are in Ramnagar, then how can you not walk through Corbett's home and leaf through his letters and share the thrills of the experiences of the greatest hunter of the 1930s, yourself? Then you also see the grand white tomb where Corbett's Robin lies at rest surrounded by rose plants and bougainvillaeas. Corbett Park also has it’s own museum where some stuffed birds stare blandly at you,as your feet sink into the soft carpet and piles of road maps dwarf you.
If you want to spend time in the forest, then there is this machan in the Garjia entry of the Park, where you can have your lunch and survey the jungle with a pair of binoculars until sunset. Or if fishing is your game, then simply enroll yourself for the trip and hunt away the mahseers to your heart’s content-one little snag though, you have to release the fish after you have caught them-you can keep and carry a couple back as mementos, because mahseer is rare and Tiger Tops believes in maintaining ecological harmony. Which is also whv youdon't have a TV or in-house music system blaring jarring music upsetting the stillness of the jungle. The lodge also has its own swimming pool and coming up is a gym and a health club in neighbouring Shergaon.
Before you can blink, your perfect weekend is over and it is time to go back to the din and the bustle. Good things never last Iong anyway. The only solace is Corbett is close at hand and as the rains lash against your office window, grab that weekend instead of flying off to Goa or looking at the rain-washed Taj for the umpteenth time, capture the flavour of monsoon, Corbett style. It is going to be an unforgettable experience.
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TIMES OF INDIA
Delhi Times
Need a break from the hustle and bustle of life in the capital city? Drive down to Corbett for a Weekend of bliss, where you have only solitude, wild animals and the crisp, pure air of the forests for company.
All around are the legendary forests, home to some of the rarest species of birds and animals, including the Royal Bengal tiger (there are at least a 100 here according to official ,estimates), leopards, deer, wild boar, elephants and crocodiles.
Incidentally, this is also the park's 60th anniversary, and the whole year round, park officials have organised special seminars and events to commemorate the event.
To say the least, you will end up with a delightful break. There is plenty of accommodation available, both in the government and the private sector, but for a comfortable stay, you can opt for the Tiger Tops Corbett Lodge, a property owned and managed by Khatau International Limited.
It is located at Ramnagar, on the banks of the picturesque Kosi in the heart of Corbett country.
You can use the Lodge as a base for visiting other exotic locales around the park and for excursions into the Kumaon hills.
If jeep safaris into the forest area become tiresome, choose a more quaint mode of transport and go on elephant back for a unique experience.
Also on offer is a four-day, three night safari on elephant back into the tiger reserve, with overnight stays in tents or forest bungalows, located on the periphery of the park.
A must is a trip to Corbett's scenic cottage, an hour's run from lodge. On display at the cottage are old photographs, letters and furniture belonging to Jim Corbett, the legendary Britisher, who made the Patlidoon valley his home and rid the area of scores of man-eating tigers, decades ago.
Although the best time to visit the park is really between November and June, the Lodge is open through year and has special rates for the monsoon months. Call 91-11-6861189 or 91-11-6861209 for more details.
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THE PIONEER
MONSOON IN CORBETT
Eventually, when even the Gods can no longer beat the heat, relief floods the earth and the jungles are no longer the same. Overnight there is a transformation which is indeed stupendous: Nature in all her glory unleashes a magnificent opera for us to witness and enjoy. And cherish the rich scent Of the earth, as it welcomes the first showers! Not overtly inspired by the urban rain dances, husband and self opted for a rainbreak in the wild - Corbett National Park, to be more specific. Agents, airlines, the works, hawked Goa with a bottle of free wine etc. But rare moments of sanity prevailed. Why travel so far to feel the rain, when you have nature's own playground a mere five hours drive away from the capital?
The heavens couldn't wait and neither could we. The rain in Corbett is particularly charming because it takes a break and lets the sun smile on you. Streams gurgling down rocky paths, rivers in full spate. The rhythm of the clouds as nature settles into her routine. The murmur of the wind as it rustles the leaves. Watch the rainbow as it shimmers gently across the sky.. these are merely a few of the attractions that accompany the rains in Corbett.
The jungle was as usual at its best. The peculiar stillness broken by the occasional cry of langurs and peacocks. The sharp smell of wet grass tickles the nostrils and innumerable water droplets cling and glisten on it like a cascade of diamonds. The trees and scrub bushes seem to have just woken up, reaching out lazily to greet the weak sunlight filtering through the mist and jungle cover. We were driving through the Birjrani fringes of Corbett National Park. Even the gentle sound of the jeep's engine seemed too loud and one sensed curious pair of eyes watching from behind the bushes, unknown creatures, resenting this invasion . into their privacy. Even though the main park reopens only in November, visitors can frequent the reserve forest areas, which are abundant with wildlife, as in Jhima and Amangarh.
accommodation in Mikonos Dhikull is where we were heading for. Due to the ever-increasing attraction of Corbett Park, a number of hotel properties have come up on the Kosi river banks, to provide quality accommodation and safaris for their guests. The oldest and most famous of these is where we opted to stay, Tiger Tops Corbett Lodge, which reminds visitors of the famous Kenyan lodge, Treetops. Patterned after many of Kenyas wildlife lodges, it has a distinct outdoor atmosphere, right down to the staff uniforms. The lodge has a typical jungle ambience with its huge wooden raptures in a dome-shaped split level megapagoda, which serves as a lounge with a cozy fireplace, a fully stocked bar and a dining hall. The decor, the furniture, the artefacts all capture close, the tough life of the jungle so loved by the legendary Jim Corbett. Its 24 twin bedrooms offer a panoramic view of the Kosi river with the backdrop of the Kumau hills. Its lawns, set amidst a mango grove bring to life the bonhomie of outdoor zest and zeal with 'Chita Pegs' and small eats the evening.
Guests can enjoy jeep drives into the forests, elephant rides in the jungle, nature walks, cycle tours, pony rides and angling mahseer. Moreover, there are three things abundance - peace, wildlife and rejuvenation. What more can be desired, one wonders? At Tiger Tops, it is believed that vacations should be hassle-free and pleasurable also a time to simply sit back and do nothing. Which is why the staff is trained to deal with everything - from reservations, providing information on wildlife, accompanying guests on hikes, entertainment, to service taxes and much more. Tiger Tops is the only property with a valid bar license, own fleet of jeeps for safaris and even its elephant, Champa.
Corbett is one of the very few bastions that man has left untouched (in some places that is) - a haven of environmental harmony and quiet. They say that water dissolves anything - even stress and tension. Check out the rains at Corbett and let nature lay seize to your senses. The pitter-patter raindrops interrupting the calm and peace of relaxed days and cool nights. This is an entirely new way to holiday. We have done and enjoyed it. We did the whole range of activities that could possibly have be worked out. The only demand we made was to be left alone to do a whole lot of nothing Peace at last, for this is what we came here for. Corbett - the magic goes on!
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The Tiger Tops experiance is, in a sense, a weird-life safari: rugged and close to nature, but also a level of level of luxury and service you'd be hard put to find in any five star hotel. But then a five-star hotel wouldn't have an monkey problem or an elephant blocking your path. In any case it is my idea of a perfect holiday -- elephant safari, game viewing, birdwatching or simply soaking in the forest - absolute joy. You could spend months up here and never feel the loss of urban civilization. We had to settle for three nights. It certainly sufficed, but principally as a taste for more.....
....Our corbett experience would certainly not have been the same without the point to point Tiger Tops Elephant safari. Starting off at Durgadevi, we followed the ancient routes of the Gujjars, the wandering shepherds. During the day one can move around the vast stretches of the park, visit the riverside for waterbirds and other game (perched atop watch-towers) and of course visit the dense forests for birdwatching and maybe see one of the the most awesome sights in the natural world : the Royal Bengal Tiger. There are 135 according to the last census. Over 50 Mammals, 580 birds and 25 reptile species have been listed in the park.