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KUMAON HIMALAYAS

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The youngest, largest and highest chain of mountains in the world, the Himalayas is one of the natural wonders of the earth. Cradled within lush sub-tropical forests of the foothills to the bitterly cold high altitude forests, is the bountiful flora and fauna that is a tribute to the nature lover and photographer of the wild.
Kumaon home to endangered mammals with the snow leopard epitomizing the character and concerns of the mountain environment. Mountain sheep, goats, the Himalayan black bear, the antelopes, wolves, foxes and cats constitute the wild life study to be made in the region while these ranges are also important for bird migration. Hundreds of species of birds that comprise the sub-continent's avifauna are winter visitors from the north of the Himalayan barrier.

The region of Kumaon is situated in the north-eastern hills of Uttaranchal comprising the districts of Nainital, Bageshwar, Almora Champawat and Pithoragarh. Known for their grandeur and peace, the Kumaon Himalayas are rich in geographical diversity - from the foothills to the snow-laden mountain peaks of the lofty young and active Himalayan ranges. Tree topped ridges, snow-laden peaks, rippling streams, towering forests, famous mountains. Lakes and gentle valleys have all along offered joy and inspiration to every type of visitor to the region.

Our Jeep Safari aims to provide an insight into the diversity and grandeur of Kumaon. The jeep safari takes you through mysterious thick forests, deep valleys, snow-clad peaks and the rugged, barren trails that offer a lingering thrill to the adventure seeker. This is enhanced by the cultural enigma of the land.

From the lower altitude wilderness, where every flower truly enjoys the air that it breathes to the rough rocky terrain where the land formations set the hills on fire in their rich variant hues. From the first ray of the rising sun to evening's deepest glow, the landscape unravels the untaught harmony of the primitive wild. The springtide blossoms, the whistling airborne species, the mysterious wild and the picturesque valleys come together to offer a romance hitherto unseen, unheard or untold.

SUGGESTED ITINERARY
Days	Time	Itinerary	Lodges
Day 01	5 / 2½ hr.	Kathgodam-Corbett National Park	Tiger Camp
Day 02	3 hr.	Corbett NP-Ranikhet	Wayfarer Solitaire/ Rosemount
Day 03	4 hr.	Ranikhet-Chaukori (Vijaypur)	Wayfarer Retreat
Day 04	5 hr.	Chaukori (Vijaypur)-Munsyari	Wayfarer Mountain Resort
Day 05	-	Munsyari	Wayfarer Mountain Resort
Day 06	5 hr.	Munsyari-Chaukori (Vijaypur)	Wayfarer Retreat
Day 07	5 hr.	Chaukori (Vijaypur)-Nainital	Fairheavens
Day 08	-	Nainital	Fairheavens
Day 09	2½ / 7 hr.	Nainital -Kathgodam	-

ACTIVITIES & FACILITIES THAT CAN BE UNDERTAKEN
" Jeep & elephant safaris at Corbett National Park
" Birding and nature walks at all places
" Angling in Munsyari and Corbett National Park
" Boating in Nainital, near Pangot
" Horse riding in Nainital, near Pangot
" Cable car ride in Nainital, near Pangot
" Trekking with local guides at all the places
" Adventure treks from Munsyari to Milam and Pindari glaciers, Nanda Devi; shorter treks to Khaliya Peak
" Bar-be-que, Library

FAQs

What kind of weather can we expect in lodges/retreats?
The retreats are operational throughout the year.
July to September: rainy weather in the entire region
October to February: cold weather and one can expect intermittent snow in all destinations except Corbett National Park
March to June: Corbett National Park is warm but the other destinations are cool and extremely pleasant.

What kind of warm clothing is required?
The days from April to October are warm and one can get by in a T-shirt/shirt. Early mornings and evenings being colder, light woolens in May, June and July and heavy woolens for rest of the season are recommended.

What is the condition of the road?
The roads are fairly good except for very small stretches where the work may be going on.

What kind of vehicle is recommended?
All kinds of vehicles.

What is the medical help available in the lodges/retreats?
The camps/retreats are equipped with First-Aid kits and a doctor is just a call away in case required.

What is the source of drinking water?
Water at most places is from a natural springs which is also boiled and filtered. Bottled mineral water is also available.

DESTINATIONS

Nainital: Developed by the British, set amidst high ridges thickly clothed in forests of pine and deciduous trees with an enchanting lake, Nainital offers a variety of attraction for all tourists.

Corbett National Park: One of the finest tiger reserves of India offering a wide range of bio-diversity.

Ranikhet (1829mt.): A cantonment town of immense charm, it was once the pet excursion ground of Padmini, queen of the Katyuri king, Sudhardev (1180AD). There is much to see in and around Ranikhet starting with Kalika temple known for its forest nursery and the shrine to goddess kali. The plateau of Upat has a 9-hole golf course ringed by tall pines. Tourists visit Chillianaula for its Shiva temple.

Sheetlakhet: It is 26 km from Ranikhet and overlooks the incomparable Himalayas. Scouting camps are often held here and Syahi Devi peak and temple is just 3 km away.

Kausani (1890 mt.): Nestling amongst thick forests of pine atop a narrow ridge, Kausani is known for its wide angle view of several lofty Himalayan Peaks as well as a pleasant view of the Kosi river and the Katyur Valley. From here, one can see the settlements of the Katyur valley, the river Gomti and the snow clad peaks of the Himalayas. The remains of the tea estate developed during the British rule can still be seen here. Kausani also has the famous Anashakti Ashram named after the book Anashakti Yoga written by Mahatma Gandhi when he lived here in 1929.

Chaukhori: Even if Chaukhori were stripped of the majestic vista of the Kumaon Himalayas, in which it outrivals Binsar and Kausani (being the closest of the three to the range), it would still score over other resorts in Kumaon by the sheer unspoiled charm it excludes. After the breathtaking sweep from Chaukhamba to Panchchuli (better by dusk than dawn, as it is west of Himalayas), the scene close to the Wayfarer Retreat appears homely. There are fields of ripening corn, fruit orchards and pine, oak and rhododendron trees.

Bageshwar: 36 km. from Kausani and 26 km from Chaukhori, at the confluence of the rivers Gomti and Saryu lies the religious town of Bageshwar. An important pilgrimage centre of Kumaon Himalayas, Bageshwar is adorned by temples and places of worship and is often equated by pilgrims by Varanasi in its divinity and religion. Bageshwar is also a base for the popular trekking routes of Sunderdhunga, Pindari, Kafni and Namik glaciers.

Patal Bhubaneshwar: Discovered more than one thousand years ago, the caves of Patal Bhubaneshwar are known for their remarkable stalactite forms and shapes representing different Gods and Goddesses of the Hindu Pantheon. Day excursion from Chaukhori.

Mukteshwar (2286 mt.): It is famous for the over 100-year-old Indian Veterinary Research Institute campus, thickly wooded forest land and a majestic view of the Himalayas. There is a stone with a hole of ' Chauli Ki Jali ' dedicated to Lord Shiva where childless people come to pray for children. On moonlit nights, seeing the sparkling town of Almora, flanked by snow clad peaks, is an exhilarating experience. One must trek from Mukteshwar to Almora.

Binsar: Kumaon has many summer retreats that were patronised by the region's royalty. Binsar, once the summer capital of the Chained rajas (7th. to 18th. centuries), is an idyllic hamlet whose chief attraction is a majestic view of the Himalayas - a 300Km stretch of famous peaks which includes Kedarnath, Chaukhamba, Trishul, Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot and Panchchuli. In olden days, the devout came to pray at the temple of Bineshwar (an aspect of Shiva) built by Raja Kalyan Chand. A motorable road connects Kapharkhan, 13 km. from Binsar, to Almora (also accessible from Bageshwar, via Takula). Binsar Hill, locally known as Jhandi Dhar, rises to a height of 2412 metres and offers a panoramic view of Almora town, the Kumaon Hills and the Greater Himalayas. The region around abounds in alpine flora, ferns, hanging moss and innumerable species of wild flowers. From the complex, a walk through dense oak and rhododendron forests leads to a vantage point at the summit which offers an uncluttered view of the Himalayan range and the surrounding valley.

Munsyari: Surrounded by the mighty Panch-Chulli range, this Kumaon outpost is the closest you can get to the real Himalayas. Munsyari is the gateway to the well-known Milan and Realm glaciers and the Nanda Devi range.

Jageshwar: Counted among the 12 Jyotirlingas in the country, Jageshwar lies in a beautiful narrow valley hedged by monarch-sized, ancient deodars. Of the over 100 small and large shrines of this complex, the three outstanding ones in terms of sculpture are dedicated to Jageshwar, Mrityunjaya and Pushtidevi. There is a small museum where statues of artistic value, removed from the various shrines, have been preserved by the archaeological department. A 3Km trek from Jageshwar leads to Vriddha Jageshwar. This is regarded as the abode of Lord Shiva prior to his manifesting himself as Jageshwar. This site commands a magnificent view of the Himalayas. The lofty-tower type isolated shrine of Dandeshwar is 1Km short of the actual temple complex.