Unlike most treks that are undertaken in summer, this walk is best done in the winter months for the high altitude birds migrate to lower altitudes and the forests are now in bloom. This trek covers an altitudinal variation from 450 m to 1500 m, allowing us to enjoy the region’s diverse bird and animal life. An astounding 650 bird species have been recorded here and the count of mammals is equally impressive, the most notable being the elusive Serow. Highly suitable for beginners, this is a moderate-level trek through stunning natural surroundings. As you hike along the old pony trails, you camp at scenic spots or stay in colonial era forest bungalows. Starting from the right bank of the Kosi River this trek leads you through dense broadleaf forest rich in wildlife, often fording shallow streams. As you gain height, the landscape and the vegetation begins to change and you move to conifer forests of oak and pine that open into scenic valleys and gorges. You pass through small villages and hamlets, where you can see people lead a simple symbiotic life in harmony with their surroundings. This forest trek takes you on the old district road that Jim Corbett once took in hunt of the legendary ‘Maneater of Mohan’. Immortalised in his bestseller Maneaters of Kumaon, this tiger killed several humans in the Kosi Valley until Corbett finally killed it in the summer of 1930.
Day 1: Delhi – Corbett National Park
Drive to Tiger Camp in the morning in a private car from Delhi. After lunch you will be taken for a guided walk around the village to experience the terrain, meet the locals and your team who will accompany you on the trek. Overnight stay in camp.
Day 2: Mohan - Pania Dokhan (8km) Time: 6 hours
Transfer to Mohan. The hike takes you on the abandoned old district board road, now a fire lane, a path cleared manually to prevent forest fires from spreading. You pass a boulder-strewn stream, walk along the Kathkinaul ridge and camp for the night at an abandoned Bhotia campsite known as Pania Dokhan.
Day 3: Pania Dokhan - Baurad Nullah (8 km) Time: 5 hours
You continue towards Baurad, a pretty village set amidst a thick Sal forest and camp at the picture-perfect stream of Baurad nullah. The place finds a mention in international bird watching itineraries and is popularly known as Forktail Stream. Apart from forktails, you can see owls, flycatchers, minivets, tisias, the brown dipper and many other species.
Day 4: Baurad Nullah - Kathkinaul (9 km) Time: 6 hours
You gain over 1000m in altitude today. After Malla Baud village you come to a water source, where Jim Corbett had an insightful conversation about the maneater with a village woman. The campsite offers a spectacular view of the Kosi Valley stretching southwards, the Ramganga Valley to the north with terraced fields and mountains dominated by the icy Nanda Devi range.
Day 5: Kathkinaul - Bhakrakot (5 km) Time: 2 hours
The forest bungalow at Kathkinaul where Corbett camped while stalking the maneater is in ruins today. If you are really keen on the Corbett legacy, you can drive from Bhakrakot to Kaladhungi to spend the night. This is where Jim spent many days of his childhood. It’s uncanny that it was at Kaladhungi that he shot his first leopard at the age of 13 and his last tiger at the ripe old age of 70.
Day 6: Bhakrakot - Chimta Khal - Riverine Woods (4 km)
Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Jim Corbett, known more as the slayer of maneaters, was also a keen angler and mentions the Western Ramganga Valley, our next destination, in his story ‘The Fish of my Dreams’. The walk to Riverine Woods is extremely rewarding for birdwatchers and you can see exotic forest birds like Rufous-fronted Niltava and Long-tailed Broadbills.
Day 7: Riverine Woods - Chaknakl chaur (4 km) Time: 2 hours
From Riverine Woods you follow the meandering course of the Ramganga and after a few river crossings, reach Chaknakl Chaur. This was where Corbett shot the Maneater of Mohan in 1930, bringing this legendary trek to its logical end. If you are lucky, you might encounter the Chunars, a hill tribe who carve pots out of wood. Drive back to Tiger Camp in the afternoon (2 hours) in a 4WD. Transfer back to Delhi in a private car or take the night train back to Delhi.
We would be happy to customize your tour. Please email your requirements to mohit@habitathotels.in
