Before I entered the forest of Corbett, it was tiger that I had in mind. I was one of the truck loads of tourists who arrive in forest in search of the elusive big cat. But once I was in there, all my perceptions changed.
Corbett has landscapes that have few parallels anywhere in India. Dhikala’s vast grasslands, the wide riverbed of Ramaganga and the tall Sal trees fill the beholder’s eyes. It is Corbett where I want to spend every winter, I told myself and even figured that it would not be hard for me to find a naturalist’s job. Alas, other attachments pulled me back from there, but I know I am bound to get back there again and again.
Its misty golden sunrises and mysterious forests are something I keep dreaming even though it is more than a year since I was there.
Read more about my visit to Corbett, and photographs from the place.
I sat down, planning to write about some my favourite places to travel to. There were infact so many of them that I had to resort to writing about them one by one.
Mt. Nanda Devi as seen from Auli during sunset
Auli is a place I love for two many reasons – its scenery of magnanimous scale encompassing some of the mighty mountains of Garhwal like Nande Devi, Dronagiri, Trishul. The beautiful forests and meadows in its backyard – the Gorsau top and higher, and its pine forests and snowy slopes – are great places to walk around.
Skiing in Auli
But the primary reason to be in Auli is its ski slopes which are great fun. The first time I went there, I came back with a mission – to get there every year. I indeed went back the next year, though it did not happen the year after. But plans are already shaping up for the coming year!
Read more about my visits to Auli, and see photographs from the place.
Here is the desktop calendar for April 2007. Click on the picture below to get the image in 1024×768 size.
About the Image
This image was made at Auli, Uttaranchal, India. The mountains seen are the Garhwal Himalayas and far below in the valley flows Alaknanda, one of the tributaries of Ganga. The farthest mountain in the image, a little to the right of center is Mt.Nanda Devi, one of the tallest mountains in India.
Also see
* Images from Auli taken in 2005
* Images from Auli in 2006.
* Auli Trip Report