Vanghat Lodge
By #theshaikhwithoutcamels
For those who applaud nature, Corbett Landscape is the inevitable end of line. Undoubtedly it compels one to appreciate the power and beauty of raw & wild nature as the topography and the biodiversity of Corbett is an ecosystem in itself. Those among the readers who have been to Corbett National Park and vicinity will relate well when I say that there’s something raw and magical about this place that one may fail to figure out in any other National park in India.
I’ve recommended a different property at Pangot in a previous blog but here I have yet another recommendation when in the Corbett landscape, the ’Vanghat Lodge’, a pristine property. This serene property is located a couple of kms from Marchula town, in the buffer zone on the banks of River Ramganga and is totally run on Eco-Tourism values. The property surrounded by thick forests, seats within high Himalayan hill slopes & crests, is thickly foliaged by dense outgrowth of Sal, Haldu, Rohini, Bakli, Chir Pine, Khair, Sissoo, Bamboo and more. This fairytale location makes this unwinding property an inevitable destination for Birders, Wildlife lovers, Photographers and Nature enthusiasts.
The access to the property begins
with a crossing of the Ramganga river over a magnificent long suspension bridge
providing utopian view, followed by an adrenaline pumping 1.8km of cross-country
hike on feet through the green outgrowth, hills, slopes, bushes, fording
streams and canopies. The only alternate way is by off-roading in an
adventurous ride with a dependable 4x4 vehicle. The access gets more thrilling when
the support staff helps the guests cross the Ramganga River in a wooden raft to
access the pristine ’Vanghat
Lodge’ property.
The lush green property with 9
cottages is well spread within the folds of a jaw dropping picturesque landscape.
These 4 mud-thatched & 5 stone cottages are refreshingly simple and built by
seeking inspiration from the local architecture. The plinth level is raised off
the ground to let reptiles and other small wildlife pass through Cottages in
the dark hours. All 9 cottages have energy efficient fans to negate the hazards
of an air conditioning unit. RO filtered drinking water is preferred over
bottled or packaged water and specific toiletries which are organic and
biodegradable used.
Open on three sides, the dining area
provides an enchanting view which makes it an inevitable epicentre of the property.
Guests cherish to hang out here and study various species of birds at close quarters
over the bird feeding point close to the dining area during the day time. In
dark hours the dining hall glows under oil lamp illumination owing to the minimal
use of electricity. The property has a wonderful small hall termed as ’Researcher's
Quarters’ that provides facility for big screen presentations. A walkable
distance behind the dining area is a tempting bonfire area under the open sky.
Here the guests congregate to seek comfort by warming themselves late into the
chilly night. Often the guests sit in a circle to gell with each other here and share their wild experiences through the day. The Bonfire area is also the venue for morning
breakfasts and late evening snacks where the guests enjoy a break overhearing
the calls by the denizens of the forest. Further beyond the bonfire area and into
the foliaged thicket is an enthralling two floored high wooden watch tower or
machan and a climb on this machan unveils the inaccessible areas of the
vicinity and overlooks the river in all its magnificence.
’Vanghat Lodge’ is a haven for
hikers. Early morning hikes through the hills when the atmospheric mists roll in
to cloak the landscape, the reality seems like a scene from a fiction movie,
especially in winters. Hilly treks take you through dense outgrowth and tall Sal
& conifer trees whose twisting, curling branches seem like scenes directly
from a fairytale. Rustling leaves, chirruping birds, warming rays breaking
through the coniferous canopy on the trek seems like an utter bliss. When
hikers ford through a flowing stream or the river in the silent surroundings with
just the sound of water and the dead silence of the surrounding dense forest, a
small noise breaks the pandemonium loose. The view of the great Himalayan hills
from over the crests on the trekking routes is bewildering here. There are a
few gorges and waterfalls in the area which are too good to miss out on.
Excursions through chilly
surroundings in mornings & evenings for birding as well as animal sightings
are heart thumping as treks wind in and out through the mountainous terrain and
one can expect the unexpected at the next turn. The most exhilarating part of
these treks is crossing the Ramganga river on a raft time and again and at
times fording it. As one admires the early morning calm and more one listens,
more the buzz of bird life becomes apparent from the damp forest floor to the
far reaches of the canopy above the hills.
Sitting area outside the cottage to the left and river crossing on raft to the right
The ’Vanghat Lodge’ and its vicinity plays host to an exceptional variety of birdlife boasting of more than 200 recorded bird species with the likes of Ibisbill, Wallcreeper, Brown Dipper, Forktails, Pallas’s Fish-Eagle, Lesser Fish-Eagle, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Crested Serpent-Eagle, Collared Falconet, Brown Fish-Owl, Tawny Fish-Owl, Kalij Pheasant, Red Junglefowl, Plain-backed Thrush, Scaly Thrush, White-crested Laughingthrush, Long-tailed Broadbill, Maroon Oriole, Great Barbet, Blue-throated Barbet, Great Hornbill and more and these avian species are often sighted at an eyelevel or short distances.
Animal sightings on trails or at
night around the property is no surprise here. Elephant herds are often sighted
on trails or from the property itself. Often heads of elephant’s trumpet late
into the night posting themselves close to the cottages right on the river
bank. There are resident Tigers and Leopards in the area and I have had a
fortune of sighting a tiger close to the property. Pugmarks of tigers and leopards
are inevitably seen on the riverbed every morning. The Barking Deer’s often
take to home within the fence of the property at night, Sambar Deer are
commonly seen in the valley. Troops of langurs and sounder of Wild Boars often
pass through. Himalayan Goral can be frequently seen on the rock faces of the
valley opposite the lodge. The rare Himalayan Serow Antelope has been recorded
and photographed here. Porcupines regularly rummage around the dining area in
dark hours. In the dark hours, lucky guests in all possibility could spot some minacious
wildlife sitting just outside the fence of the property. As one take to the bed
at night it gets more and more exciting as the night fills in with alarm calls
of the denizens of the forest and turns the anxious anticipation a part of the uneasy
charm.
Haseeb’s Tips:
The best time to visit is from October to June. Avoid visiting during monsoons. October to March its chillier cold but very beautiful while April to June its cold and pleasant.
Always venture out of the property with a local guide who knows the behaviour of the animals. He also is aware of the spotting areas and more importantly, the safe zones.
Take time to visit the local
villages in vicinity and see how communities live and work in harmony with wild.
#theshaikhwithoutcamels
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