Corbett National Park is one of my family’s favorite holiday destinations within a close proximity of Delhi. We used to visit the park at least twice a year when I was younger, and the memories and experiences we had will hold forever. But, in the last couple of years, we hadn’t made a visit to park. So, before the rains, we decided to make a return to our beloved playground.

When I say playground, I literally mean playground. As a young boy, I would stay in the park for weeks. One of my favorite places to stay was the guest house in Gairal, located bang in the middle of the park. I would venture into the forests around our cottage and swim in the river behind it, sometimes collecting tadpoles. These were some of my fondest memories as a child.

A lot has changed over the years in the park, and because of the large influx of tourists, there are many new rules and regulations, some of which we were not too happy about. As soon as we reached the Forest Office in Ramnagar, we arranged for our accommodation and headed towards the main gate of the park. Once we entered, we were told that we needed to have a guide with us at all times. My father was not happy because he assumed that he was more knowledgeable about the park than the guide. We were also told that under no circumstances are we to get out of our vehicle once inside the park, and we were to be confined only to our guest house areas. The added security is the result of the large number of eager tourists, and of course the rise in poaching cases.

These new rules didn’t however change the natural beauty of the place. Whenever I enter the gates of the park, I feel as if I have come back to my second home. The tall trees and thick bush along with the scent of cedar and pine tickle your senses. It is one of the most beautiful patches of jungle in India. The further you drive, the more captivating your surroundings get, and, once you lay your eyes on the apple green waters of the rivers, you know you are in paradise.

Unfortunately, our whole trip went by without us seeing a Tiger. The prince of the forest is shy. But we did manage to lay our eyes on alligators, many different deer such as cheetal and sambar. We also managed to see some phenomenal birds, wild boar, and wild Asiatic elephants. Our stay was pleasant, and we covered every square inch of the park in just 4 days. On our last day, we had a hearty breakfast at Dikhala before our last drive through the park towards the main gate. It was a joyful trip where I relived my childhood, and someday I hope to return and see the prince of the jungle once again. .