Pass with caution!

Last week end I had planned to visit Corbett and was looking forward to some interesting driving in my GV but the weather gods had some other ideas. The place where I was to stay was closed since it could be reached only after crossing the Ramganga river couple of times and rains had meant that river was not crossable. So here we are wondering where to go.

We finally stayed at Pangot (if you are interested in knowing more about that read here However since we had plenty of time at hand we decided to take a drive through forest road from Powalgarh to Sitavani. Powalgarh has been immortalized in true story about man eater by Jim Corbett. Sitavani is reputedly the place where Sita spent her life after leaving Ram to raise Luv and Kush.

The forest guard at Powalgarh barrier did not quite get it when I still insisted in paying for the entry permit despite being informed that the road is full of slush due to rains. The road is gravel and mud and crosses local rain drains that are prone to flash floods. However it also passes through dense and lovely forest.

One reason I was interested in this drive is that unlike in Corbett you do not have the mandatory guide tagging along. This has a flip side too if you get lost. But with my GPS recording the track that was not a valid fear. Plus I wanted to let both my sons also get their hands wet on off road driving.

Lovely forest road with through dense forest and snaking around trees and rivulets was very inviting.

Plus being on our own gave us chance to be a little more free in getting out and taking pictures. While one or the other guy tried a little slush riding.

Rocky inclines shook us to the bone even though we were crawling up these being very very careful not to ground the sump. Getting a vehicle stuck in middle of this 12 km drive was last thing one wanted.

Although overall the track was clean and smooth once in a while you went over some big rocks or a trough that had potential to be lethal if not driven carefully.

All of a sudden we emerged from the forest canopy to a wide open valley that stretched for almost a kilometer. Surrounded by lush greenery the rocky river bed was to be traversed as the track went across.

Small slush pits were no less daunting and both guys had great fun in getting stuck and then trying out the techniques drilled in by their old man (me) on how to get going without yet touching 4×4 lock……

and not forgetting the huge splashes made when passing through water logged areas.

Lest you feel we did not see anything. We spotted many variety of birds, wild boars and flora that was simply amazing. Parasite creepers were every where and so was north facing algae that grows on the trees…..

and this fox that was trying to hide itself in the rocks in hopes that we will not notice it eating a jungle cock that it had killed.

Well wait on and I will post more.