RFI: corbett to nainital trek

ronsaik · Dec 7th, 2007, 17:32

Hi

Looking for info on guides and equipment hiring facilities at ramnagar for the corbett-nainital trek. would appreciate it if someone who's done the trek before could pass on any contacts/info.

outlook traveller has it that a guide 'or a naturalist of the corbett national park' is advisable as 'wild animals abound'. Not looking at any organised treks - just guide/cook and equipment on hire.

also posting this on the wildlife forum - am a bit short on time.

thanks!

machadinha · Dec 7th, 2007, 18:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronsaik

also posting this on the wildlife forum - am a bit short on time.

Moderator note: All members are kindly requested to check the site's Forum Rules on multiple posting (as well as some other issues), which isn't allowed, as it helps no one; not you, not the people trying to answer you, not people looking for the same answers in the future.

Such posts when noticed will be cleaned up.

Thanks.

ronsaik · Dec 7th, 2007, 18:18

Sure, I did not post on the other forum after all...

ronsaik · Jan 1st, 2008, 23:31

Some time back I had posted an RFI for the Corbett-Nainital trek, but didn't get any replies. I would think that not too many people have done it. Not too many trekking agencies are aware of this route either, as we discovered. Finally, we found an agency called Wallcreeper in Ringora (5 km from Ramnagar, on the road to Corbett / Mohan) who were willing to supply us with equipment and lend the services of a guide. They also claimed to have designed this trek for Outlook Traveller in the first place (I could not verify their claim, but they know about the route).
A basic description of the trek can be found in Outlook Traveller's guide on Trekking Holidays in India, and copy-paste versions of the same can also be googled easily.
For anyone wanting to go on this trek, here are some tips that might be of help:

1. The trek can start at Kumeria, Kiari, Bawas, or Domas - depending on how much you want to walk. There are motorable kuccha roads to all these villages, and a morning-evening taxi service exists from Ramnagar to the last two places.
2. Even if one wants to walk it some of the way, it makes sense to start the trek at Kiari and not Kumeria - unless you'd want to walk for the heck of it. there is very little natural beauty to be seen on the first day of the trek.
3. Whether you start at Kumeria or Kiari, it makes sense to stop at the village of Domas rather than Bawas (mentioned in the guide). The uphill slog to Akashkhanda on the second day is tiring, and it makes sense to have less distance to cover.
4. The real trek actually starts from Domas and continues till the forest rest house in Kunjkharak, with the best part being the walk through the jungle from Akashkhanda
5. Contrary to what the guide says, it probably isn't a good idea to stay in the Akashkhanda FRH. It looks cute from the outside, but is a rat-infested shambles inside. however, the FRH compound is one of the prettiest you'll ever see, and one can camp on its grounds
6. The jungle hike in (4) passes through a mixed forest of oak and pine. although the trail is well marked, it is easy to take the wrong path at a fork, and having a local guide is essential. bears are common in these forests.
7. The short cut from the village of Queltawnee / Hari Nagar to Kunjkharak is steep and involves clambering over boulders for the last 30 mins, but is quite do-able.
8. The FRH in kunjkharak is situated on an exposed ridge and is therefore freezing at night - suitable warm clothing recommended.
9. There is a kuccha motorable road from Kunjkharak to Nainital, and should one decide to cut short the trek, it is possible to hop onto a shared taxi in the morning on this route. In case you walk from Kunjkharak to Vinayak, make sure to have thick soled shoes as the pebbly, hard kuccha road can bruise your feet.

trek pics on
http://flickr.com/photos/22395008@N0...7603597508872/

Dilliwala · Jan 2nd, 2008, 00:06

Very interesting. Thanks.
Nice pics too.

Is it true that from Kunjakharak one can clearly look down at Betalghat? In Aug '05 I drove upto Vinayak, but since it was rainy and cloudy due to the monsoon, turned around there.

ronsaik · Jan 4th, 2008, 16:14

The kunjkharak FRH is on a ridge surrounded by hills of comparable height, but as it got dark soon after our getting to the top of the ridge, we couldn't get a proper look around. we did some distant lights pretty high up in the direction of (but much higher than)Nainital, though.
also, since you mentioned Vinayak -
unlike akashkhanda, where chir pine abounds, the forests around Vinayak are mostly deodar- which makes them very beautiful. there is a trail that leads from the FRH to a waterfall about 2-3 km down, which goes through a part of this forest. very nice for an afternoon hike.

Dec 7th, 2007, 17:32	#1
ronsaik Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 173	RFI: corbett to nainital trek Hi Looking for info on guides and equipment hiring facilities at ramnagar for the corbett-nainital trek. would appreciate it if someone who's done the trek before could pass on any contacts/info. outlook traveller has it that a guide 'or a naturalist of the corbett national park' is advisable as 'wild animals abound'. Not looking at any organised treks - just guide/cook and equipment on hire. also posting this on the wildlife forum - am a bit short on time. thanks!

Jan 1st, 2008, 23:31	#4
ronsaik Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 173	Corbett to Nainital: some tips Some time back I had posted an RFI for the Corbett-Nainital trek, but didn't get any replies. I would think that not too many people have done it. Not too many trekking agencies are aware of this route either, as we discovered. Finally, we found an agency called Wallcreeper in Ringora (5 km from Ramnagar, on the road to Corbett / Mohan) who were willing to supply us with equipment and lend the services of a guide. They also claimed to have designed this trek for Outlook Traveller in the first place (I could not verify their claim, but they know about the route). A basic description of the trek can be found in Outlook Traveller's guide on Trekking Holidays in India, and copy-paste versions of the same can also be googled easily. For anyone wanting to go on this trek, here are some tips that might be of help: 1. The trek can start at Kumeria, Kiari, Bawas, or Domas - depending on how much you want to walk. There are motorable kuccha roads to all these villages, and a morning-evening taxi service exists from Ramnagar to the last two places. 2. Even if one wants to walk it some of the way, it makes sense to start the trek at Kiari and not Kumeria - unless you'd want to walk for the heck of it. there is very little natural beauty to be seen on the first day of the trek. 3. Whether you start at Kumeria or Kiari, it makes sense to stop at the village of Domas rather than Bawas (mentioned in the guide). The uphill slog to Akashkhanda on the second day is tiring, and it makes sense to have less distance to cover. 4. The real trek actually starts from Domas and continues till the forest rest house in Kunjkharak, with the best part being the walk through the jungle from Akashkhanda 5. Contrary to what the guide says, it probably isn't a good idea to stay in the Akashkhanda FRH. It looks cute from the outside, but is a rat-infested shambles inside. however, the FRH compound is one of the prettiest you'll ever see, and one can camp on its grounds 6. The jungle hike in (4) passes through a mixed forest of oak and pine. although the trail is well marked, it is easy to take the wrong path at a fork, and having a local guide is essential. bears are common in these forests. 7. The short cut from the village of Queltawnee / Hari Nagar to Kunjkharak is steep and involves clambering over boulders for the last 30 mins, but is quite do-able. 8. The FRH in kunjkharak is situated on an exposed ridge and is therefore freezing at night - suitable warm clothing recommended. 9. There is a kuccha motorable road from Kunjkharak to Nainital, and should one decide to cut short the trek, it is possible to hop onto a shared taxi in the morning on this route. In case you walk from Kunjkharak to Vinayak, make sure to have thick soled shoes as the pebbly, hard kuccha road can bruise your feet. trek pics on http://flickr.com/photos/22395008@N0...7603597508872/

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Dec 7th, 2007, 18:18	#3
ronsaik Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 173	Sure, I did not post on the other forum after all...

Jan 2nd, 2008, 00:06	#5
Dilliwala Funky flunky Join Date: May 2007 Location: 28N 077E / दिल्ली Posts: 3,918	Very interesting. Thanks. Nice pics too. Is it true that from Kunjakharak one can clearly look down at Betalghat? In Aug '05 I drove upto Vinayak, but since it was rainy and cloudy due to the monsoon, turned around there.

Jan 4th, 2008, 16:14	#6
ronsaik Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 173	The kunjkharak FRH is on a ridge surrounded by hills of comparable height, but as it got dark soon after our getting to the top of the ridge, we couldn't get a proper look around. we did some distant lights pretty high up in the direction of (but much higher than)Nainital, though. also, since you mentioned Vinayak - unlike akashkhanda, where chir pine abounds, the forests around Vinayak are mostly deodar- which makes them very beautiful. there is a trail that leads from the FRH to a waterfall about 2-3 km down, which goes through a part of this forest. very nice for an afternoon hike.

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