Adventure & Wildlife Magazine - Vol 1|Issue 5-6| Nov 16 - Jan 17 Vol 1|Issue 5-6| Nov 16 - Jan 17 | Page 108

ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE
Sharmilee – The Queen Of Bijrani Zone,
Corbett National park
By Ravi Shastri & Ameya Tarde
“The book of nature has no beginning, as it has no end. Open this book where you will, and at
any period of your life, and if you have the desire to acquire knowledge you will find it of intense
interest, and no matter how long or how intently you study the pages, your interest will not flag,
for in nature there is no finality.”
T
aking these words of the famous hunter and
tracker turned conservationist Sir Edward James
“Jim” Corbett as gospel I began planning for my maiden
trip to Jim Corbett National Park. With some research
over the internet I got a gist of what Mother Nature had
planned for me. Her blessings for us are sort of a treasure
hunt which we have to unravel as she holds our hands and
takes us along with her.
The park has a core area of almost 821.99 Square kms
and a buffer area of 466.32 Square kms located along
the foothills of Himalayas in Uttarakhand spread over 2
districts Pauri, Nainital & Almora. River Ramganga,
Sonanadi and Pallaen flow through the reserve giving life
to more than 110 species of trees, 58 mammal species,
and 580 species of birds with over 25 species of reptiles.
Corbett National park is divided into 6 main zones;
Dhikala, Bijrani, Sonanadi, Jhirna, Dhela and Durgadevi.
Bijrani zone was my choice of zone for obvious reasons.
I wanted to see India’s national animal in its full glory in
its own domain.
Amdanda Gate where it all starts is roughly 3 k