Foothills of the Indian Himalaya, Villages of Uttaranchal
Delhi - Kathgodam - Deora - Alai - Kana - Almora - Corbett - Delhi
Duration:9 Days / 8 Nights
Day 1
ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive Delhi, after clearing Immigration & Customs formalities; you will reach the arrival hall. Here you will meet your Banyan tour guide and be transferred to your hotel. Overnight: The Claridges, Deluxe Room.
Day 2
DELHI - KATHGODAM (overnight train)
Full day sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi. Old Delhi pulses with energy and colour, the hustle and bustle of thronged bazaars and is laced by a maze of narrow lanes which twist and turn between tall, leaning houses. It is full of the sights, sounds and aromas indicative of the Indian sub-continent. In Old Delhi you will see the famous Red Fort surrounded by shops, and bazaars, the Jama Masjid with its tapering minarets and wonderful marble domes and Chandni Chowk. In Old Delhi you will also have an opportunity to experience a rickshaw ride.
As a complete contrast to the medieval Old Delhi, New Delhi stands in formal splendour. It is a city of wide boulevards which offers ever-changing perspectives of Lutyen's landscaped city. It is a city known for its formal parks, magnificent Parliament Building, the Rashtrapati Bhawan (the official residence of the President of India in the 330 acres of land and designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens) and India Gate. In New Delhi you will also visit Qutab Minar, the 72.5 metre high tower dating back to the 13th century, and Humanyun's Tomb which was built in the 16th century and architecturally considered the fore runner of the Taj Mahal. Day use room will be occupied till departure to Railway station. Late evening transfer to Delhi Railway Station to board train for Kathgodam (Ranikhet Express at 2155/0545 Hrs).
Day 3
KATHGODAM - DEORA
Arrive Kathgodam this morning at 05.40am (Duration: 7h45m). On arrival in Kathgodam (the last station on the line), please wait in your compartment as our guide will come and collect you from there. You will then be driven to the Kumaon region (three hours away) stopping en route for breakfast, from where the Village Walks will begin.
The concept of the Village Walks is to facilitate an authentic 'underfoot' experience and provide a 'snapshot' of rural life in the Himalayan Mountains of Uttaranchal. The walks traverse the terraced foothills with overnight 'home stays' in various villages. As an honoured guest, the locals are keen to share their way of life with you so you can encounter life as it is. Setting off from the road head on the Kasar Devi Ridge (1862m), where on a clear day, a grand sweep of the Great Himalayan Range is visible, you will begin by walking down through the pretty village of Maath, scenically positioned on a ridge. The walk continues downhill through terraced fields and into a chir (pine) forest, where you will stop for a drink.
Continuing on from the forest, the path turns a little dry and rocky before you pass the village of Bimtola and climb for twenty minutes to your lunch point. Lunch will be served in the grounds of a temple, around two hours after you set off from the Kasar Devi Ridge.
After lunch, you will walk down through the colourful Naini Valley passing two temples dating from the 10th and 12th centuries. One of these temples is dedicated to Lord Shiva (you can tell by the many 'lingams' visible in the temple) and the other is dedicated to Lord Ram. Your private guide will elaborate further on the history of these temples. Continue walking through the fields and gently climb uphill to the village of Deora. Overnight: Deora Village House - Twin Room. Village altitude: 1495m, distance travelled: 8.6 km, time: 5 hours.BLD
Day 4
DEORA - JWALABANJ
Setting off from Deora, you will reach the village of Chirala after approximately thirty minutes of walking, where you can visit the local school. If he is around, you can also visit the house of an interesting ex army officer.
Continue walking through a pine forest, descending into the Shivalaya valley as the forest peters out. The scenic valley has a stream running down one side and one can often see children playing in the stream and adults working the fields. Walk along the valley before turning left and climbing up towards the village of Alai. Follow a water canal for twenty minutes before stopping for a drink and the opportunity to dip your feet in a natural rock pool.
Continuing along the path, passing a 'ghatt' (water powered flour mill) and terraced fields through the village of Palyu, before climbing for twenty minutes to the road head at Ka-chula Pool.
From Ka-chula Pool you have the option of taking our car (which has been waiting for you) to Dhaulchina, around twenty minutes away, before walking gradually uphill for thirty minutes to the lunch spot. For those who are feeling more energetic, the walk from Ka-chula Pool to the lunch spot (without taking the car) takes around an hour and a half with two fairly steep uphill stretches. After lunch, continue walking gradually uphill through stunning rhododendron forest for around one and a half hours until you reach the village of Jwalabanj. Overnight: Jwalabanj Village House - Twin Room. Village altitude: 2147m, distance travelled: 14.8-17.1 km, time: 6-7 hours.BLD
Day 5
JWALABANJ - KANA
Provided the weather is clear, we will wake you up early and walk you up to the road head for a very short drive to our mountain viewing point. Watching the sunrise over the Great Himalaya Range is well worth getting out of bed for!
Return to the house for breakfast, before starting your walk with a short ten minutes climb. You will walk down through ancient oak forest, passing the village of Kandhar, where you will have to clamber down some slightly steep terraced fields. Once you have reached the bottom of the valley, you will follow the stream through the oak forest, getting to see a kingfisher diving into the stream if you are lucky.
An hour or so after you have left the house, you will emerge onto a proper road which leads to the 8th century temple complex at Jageshwar, a hindu pilgrimage sight. Explore the temple complex before continuing along the road and back through terraced fields.
The final part of the walk takes you through a thick mixed forest to the village of Kana where lunch will be waiting for you at the village house. This last part of the walk is uphill most of the way.
As you will only have walked for around two and half to three hours today, we have arranged for you to take an afternoon walk to the village of Jhankarshein which has an interesting temple. The three hour return journey takes you through an interesting mix of pine, oak and rhodendron forest dotted with berry trees and a peach orchard. The temple is dedicated to a local deity, Golu Devta and is a popular local pilgrimage sight.
If you feel that you have walked enough by the time you have reached Kana at lunchtime, your itinerary is completely private and flexible and if you wanted to, you could spend your afternoon sitting outside reading a good book and admiring the scenery. Overnight: Kana Village House - Twin Room. Village Altitude: 1892m, distance travelled: 12 km, time: 6-7 hoursBLD
Day 6
KANA - ALMORA
Enjoy a morning at leisure or go for a walk in the area with your guide before walking to the road head, around twenty minutes away down the hill. You will then be driven to Almora approx 3 hrs drives. Overnight: Kalmatia Sangam, Category 2.BLD
Day 7
ALMORA - CORBETT
Morning drive to Corbett approximately 4 hrs. Arrive Corbett and transfer to the hotel. Aptly called the 'Land of Roar and Trumpet', this forest of flowing rivers, blue waters and Sal-dappled glades, was christened after the famous Colonel 'Gentleman' Jim Corbett. It also happens to be one of the last surviving stretches of untouched sub-Himalayan wildernesses. In 1936, it was finally notified as the Hailey National Park, named after Governor Hailey of the United Provinces. After India gained her Independence from the British, the name was changed to Ramganga National Park in 1952. It was eventually re-christened as Corbett National Park in 1957. Project Tiger was set up in April 1973 to protect the tiger and its habitat. Appropriately, the Corbett Tiger Reserve was the location for the launch of Project Tiger, which was officially inaugurated on 1 February 1974. Evening enjoy the game drive. Overnight: Hideaway River Lodge, Tents. BLD
Day 8
CORBETT NATONAL PARK
Morning and Evening enjoy the game drive. Overnight: Hideaway River Lodge, Tents. BLD
Day 9
CORBETT - DELHI - ONWARDS
Early Morning enjoy the game drive. After breakfast drive to Delhi approximately 6 hrs and transfer to International airport for your onward flight.
