Guest post by Chetan Anand

Nestled quaintly in one of the last great Sal forests of India, is a remote and cozy property Foothills Himalaya. They offer a home stay where you are hosted by Rushil Shergill, a true green jungle man, his charming father Sherry and his doting mother Deepa.
You will also shake paws with the four adorable dogs that live on the 2 acre estate.

As a child I had visited Jim Corbett National Park a few times with my father, but just on my drive up from the Railway Station with Rushil, I learnt more than I had on all my previous trips combined. Rushil has an extensive knowledge of the local Flora and Fauna, a keen sensitivity for the forest he now calls home, and an eye that will diligently and without fail sight exotic birds and local trees and plants.

Kotabagh, where Foothills Himalaya is situated, is cornered on one end by a Sal forest (Sal in Hindi is years and the tree is named so because of the long years it takes to grow) and on the other by the Himalayan Foothills, it’s namesake.

It is frequented by a variety of birds you can be sure of spotting; be it the distinguished Dorongo, the exotic Alexander Parakeet, the Golden Oreo, the Himalayan Griffin, the Serpent Eagle, the Oriental White Eye and many many more.
This place is a true haven for Bird Watchers.

Kotabagh doesn’t fall behind in it’s offering of trees and there is a plethora of them on the property grounds itself; Custard Apple, Shurmoya, Mulberry, Lychee, Pear, California Almonds, Bay Leaf, Amla (Indian Gooseberry), Avocado and many varieties of Mango, including others.

But these are not the only reasons I recommend a visit to Foothills Himalaya. Your host the Shergill family are a charming bunch; Sherry will regale you with local folklore and everything you ever needed to know about the White Sadhu; Jim Corbett, after whom the park is named, while Deepa and her brilliant sense of humour will have you in splits.
Rushil is an excellent cook and you should expect to be fed!
After all, they are a true blue Punjabi Family.
His Handi Meat, made in a terracotta pot to seal in all the flavour, is by itself a good enough reason for me to return.
And the best part of it all is that the food is a 100% organic.
Most of it is grown on the grounds itself or procured from their neighbouring farms.
Their tariff includes all meals.

If you are a true lover of nature and a master at the art of doing nothing, I see no reason why you should ever want to leave the property.
However the local area has choice offerings for Mountain Biking and Motorcycling enthusiast.
The National Park, Jim Corbett, is also only 30 kms away where you can take a safari, and with Rushil as your guide you’ll drastically improve your chances of spotting the elusive yellow and black striped cat that this park has become famous for.

I remember on my train ride over in the surprisingly comfortable Shatabdi Chair Car, I found myself wondering why one would name a National Park, a sanctuary for animals and their well being, after a hunter.
A quick visit to Jim Corbett’s winter home, which is now maintained as a museum, cleared up all such doubts.
This Gentleman was an avid lover of nature and the peoples of this area, and the man eaters he hunted had collectively killed over 1200 humans.
I really recommend a visit to this museum which is a 10km drive away, to get a true feel for what separates this National Park from the others in the country, and to gain an intrinsic understanding for why among the locals, Jim Corbett, was known as the White Sadhu.

After my two nights stay and substantial weight gain, I was contemplative on my drive back to the railway station under the thick canopy of trees. A poem by Lord Byron kept ringing in my head;

“There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
there is a rapture on the lonely shore,
there is society where none intrudes,
by the deep sea and the music in its roar.
I love not man less, but nature more.”

Booking inquiries at
http://www.foothillshimalaya.com/
or you could call Rushil Shergill +917830668646