My first-ever trip to Jim Corbett’s Malani Forest House in the Bijrani Zone in the summer of April 2024 was an exciting trip that I planned with my wife and kids. Located approximately 20 Kilometres from the Bijrani Zone Gate near Ramnagar town in Uttarakhand, the Malani Forest house is located at a peaceful and serene location inside the Corbett National Park. The surrounding regions and areas to the Malani Forest House are nothing but large stretches of wilderness and this is one of those regions of the Jim Corbett National Park that is quite less visited by Tourists as compared to the other zones like Dhikala or Jhirna which are mainstream tourist locations.
Navigating through the Scenic Beauty to Reach Malani Forest House
It’s quite a scenic journey that you take when on the way to reach Malani Forest House from the Bijrani zone gate. You get to see dense forests covering both sides of your pathways, and it’s pin drop silence at times. Occasionally you can hear the chirping of the birds and see natural beautiful landscapes everywhere. It’s like a new world altogether. We started the journey early on in the morning, so we were quite lucky that we got to experience a relaxing time with the sun rising, waves of fresh air everywhere, and a soothing silence that we often miss during our daily lives in the city.
The Pathways leading to the Malani Forest House in the Bijrani Zone are rocky and uneven. Both sides of the pathways are covered with lush green and dense forests and the area is usually very calm and peaceful. It’s always recommended to bring a guide with you so that you don’t lose track of navigation which is quite the case otherwise.
The road to the Malani Forest House in the Bijrani Zone of Jim Corbett is filled with hilly landscapes where the roads are uphill and downhill at many places. It gives you a true off-road experience as reaching the Malani Forest House from the Bijrani gate is a long ride of around 20 KM. You must be careful while travelling through this route and keep track of wild animals always to stay safe. Our guide was driving the jeep carefully because rash driving could result in fatal accidents in case any wild animals spontaneously came in front of us.
Historic Significance of the Malani Forest House and Why it Matters
Talking about the Malani Forest house, the building has great historical significance in Jim Corbett’s Wildlife. This building dates back to the British time. The forest officers used it primarily to protect the forests of the Jim Corbett National Park.
Fast forward to today, wildlife enthusiasts like us use it to spot and photograph various wild animals. The Malani Forest house is built of wood. It stands strong even today and shows the quality of construction during that era. Forests and large tress surround it from all sides.
Throughout our stay at the Malani Forest House, we had a great time together. It was such a peaceful, and soothing experience as we spotted various wild animals from a distance even in the vicinity of the Malani Forest House Campus. Today, it stands as a testament to Indian Wildlife and the amazing opportunities it provides to wildlife enthusiasts across India to witness the natural beauty around it. It’s like a castle in the middle of the land surrounded by spectacular gems of nature.
Coming across Barking Deer, Serpent Eagle, Elephants and Sambal Deer
This trip to the Malani Forest House was very different for me and not like the usual safari trips because I was getting the know the jungle a little deeper and understanding its harmony.
As we started our journey on our jeep and our safari guide guided us towards the Malani Forest House, we saw numerous birds and animals. Some of those included a barking deer looking for food in the dried-up river tributary passing through the Bijrani zone, elephants near the hills grazing and a male tusker grazing in the green grassland of the forests, group of sambal deer running towards the safe zone and searching for food, and a beautiful serpent eagle.
Coming across each of these wild animals and birds was an experience in itself as we were thrilled to see them up close. We were also told by guides and many others about stories of wild animals attacking in this region of the Bijrani Zone and that made us extra careful and vigilant throughout our journey. This area is quite dangerous and extra precaution and preparation must be done before you visit this size of the Jim Corbett National Park.
Spotting a Group of Deer in the Dense Forests of Bijrani Jim Corbett
On our way to the Malani Forest House in Bijrani Jim Corbett, we came across a group of deer while navigating the dense forest areas. We were quite scared while travelling through the off-road pathways because it was secluded and no one was seen through hundreds of meters. Very few people come towards this side of Jim Corbett, so we carefully navigate the jungle pathway and by being attentive to our surroundings. We were accompanied by an experienced guide and so should you always while travelling to this part of Jim Corbett.
We also spotted a Serpent Eagle which is Quite Rare
While reaching halfway through our route to the Malani Forest House, we started hearing alarm calls also everywhere which signifies imminent danger of another animal nearby or at a distance. This was the amazing moment when we spotted the serpent eagle sitting on the brand of a tree to our left side.
Spotting a serpent eagle is rare as it needs sheer luck and timing, but we were in good luck that day as we spotted the eagle right in front of us. It’s a great hunter of reptiles and has a distinct call that distinguishes it from the rest of the eagles and birds. It has a loud piercing whistle which can be easily identified.
We continued with our journey and also kept on hearing alarm calls, one of them closely resembling a Cheetal as mentioned by our guide. They usually give these alarm calls if they see imminent danger from tigers in the nearby areas. We also spotted multiple peacocks in the jungles during our offroad journey on our jeep through the dense forests of the Bijrani Zone en route to the Malani Forest House. They were extremely beautiful and a sight to admire.
Realizing the True Importance of These Wild Jungles
Continuing with the Jeep ride, one thought that was constantly going on in my mind was how the jungles are constantly changing and evolving. Every tree has a story to tell and all the wild animals convey their journey through the challenges of the wild ecosystem and power law of the food chain. The soil had a distinct smell which reminded me of the freedom that these wild animals enjoy away from human intervention. All of this reminded me how beautiful the natural ecosystem of the wild jungles is and how we should all come together to preserve it for future generations to come.
Approaching the Malani Forest House
As we were just 2 to 3 kilometers away from the Malani Forest House, we came across a group of deer crossing our road and moving from one side of the forest to the other. There were tall trees all around and it seemed like the forest had grown denser over time. It is always a new story at every step of your journey into these forests. The smell of the soil, the birds chirping and the silence – they all create an ambiance that is truly calming and exciting at the same time.
As we were approaching the Malani Forest House and were just a few meters away from the location, we realized how amazing this 20 KM journey has been. Then, we spotted a beautiful peacock right in front of our jeep. The Peacock continued walking in front of our jeep as if it was welcoming us to the Malani Forest House. This made our journey even more memorable.
The Next Day – Starting Our Morning Safari from Malani Forest House
After we reached the Malani Forest House in the Bijrani Zone of Jim Corbett, the next day early in the morning just after the first rays of the sun came up, we started our jungle safari with our guide. The views were serene and so much soothing. It was just the start of dawn and there was silence everywhere. We could hear the chirping of the birds as they started to come out in the skies to begin their day. We came across a few deer that were grazing near the dried-up bank of the Ram Ganga River. The magnificent views of the jungles kept attracting us toward them and we continued with our safari journey.
Our Pathway had dense jungles on both sides with tall trees and leaves on the ground. As we moved a little further, we saw multiple sambar deer at a distance. They were running quite fast, probably sensing our presence there and wanted to move to a secure location. These species of deer usually spend an independent life once they grow up and live their life accordingly. We started hearing alarm calls and so did those deer in the hope to get to a safer location. Spotting them is quite difficult but it was our luck that we got to see them at the art of our Safari. They reside primarily in jungles and forest areas filled with grass.
Spotting a Hornbill Bird, Barking Deer, & many other Wildlife Beauties
As we continued with the jungle safari further into the Bijrani Zone of Jim Corbett National Park, we spotted a Hornbill Bird sitting at the branch of a tall tree whose leaves had almost fallen. It was a dried-up tree that was quite far from our jeep but I spotted it with my binoculars and took a zoomed-in video with my Canon camera. It sat on the tree for a while and then flew away in the clear blue sky.
Furthermore, we also spotted a barking deer on our way into the jungles. This animal is quite different from the normal deer because it prefers to stay alone rather than moving in packs. This deer has a unique sound of barking because of which it’s called the barking deer. Continuing with the safari, as we almost were about to reach the midway, we spotted one of the most beautiful peacocks. It was running away from the front side of the jeep towards the dense forests as it was trying to reach a safe distance. Moving further led us to see more beautiful peacocks both male and female. Seeing them move so freely and enjoy their freedom made me joyful and brought a smile to my face. I felt extreme happiness and those are some emotions that I will never be able to put into words. I felt grateful for witnessing something so unique and beautiful in front of my eyes.
Spotted Black Hawk-Eagle and Monitor Lizard
As we approached halfway through our Jungle Safari in Bijrani Zone, the sun had risen perfectly and the rays of the bright light were coming through the trees creating a beautiful sight. It was then that we saw a black hawk-eagle flying in front of us and sat over the branch of a tree after taking its beautiful flight. This is one of those eagles that hunts smaller birds, insects, and snakes to fulfill its food requirements, as we were told by our safari guide. We also spotted a Monitor lizard while navigating the forests of the Jim Corbett Bijrani Zone during our Jungle Safari. The lizard wasn’t that big and was roughly around 5 to 8 feet. They usually have thick skin and heavy body weight and can easily kill their prey. Its skin color allows it to get camouflaged which makes it difficult for other animals to identify.
Spotting a Rare Yellow-Throated Martin – Highlight of this Safari
During our Jungle Safari into the Bijrani Zone of Jim Corbett that started from the Malani Forest House, the most highlighted moment was when we spotted a Yellow-throated marten. Spotting this animal in the wild is a rare sight and many often return in disappointment. But we were lucky that day as we came across one who was hunting a deer in front of him.
The chase continued for a while before the Yellow-throated marten captured a clean kill of the deer. It was a very overwhelming sight for me because this was the first time I saw something like this. A hunt live in front of me where everything happened within seconds. It was shocking and surprising at the same time. I will never forget that moment throughout my life.
The Yellow-throated marten was very agile and strong. This made me realize about the well-connected jungle ecosystem. An ecosystem where the animals above the food chain hunt for the weaker ones to survive and sustain. These are some of the harsh realities of nature that we as humans often find uneasy to experience. But that’s the reality.
Yellow-throated marten have exceptional hunting skills and are often one of the most feared animals in the wild. They deliver a clear kill with very less chances of any mistake. Our team captured the rawness of this moment with their eyes. It was something we all will remember for a long time.
The Final Experience – Returning to the Malani Forest House
We approached the end of our Bijrani Zone Safari and proceeded back to the Malani Forest House. I was recollecting all the memories of the day and what an amazing experience it was. Overall, we came across beautiful landscapes, calm and serene jungles. We also saw a plethora of wild animals and birds, and witnessed exceptional weather.
Our experienced safari guide gave us lots of interesting insights about this side of the Jim Corbett National Park. He told us stories of the bijrani zone which had mentions of its natural beauty yet dangers. Tourists must bring an experienced guide with them always. They must be aware of the tactics to seamlessly navigate this region in case of any adversity.
This trip was one of the most unique ones. It enabled us to come across animals and birds that are quite rare otherwise. That’s when I realized that we should not take nature’s beauty and wildlife for granted at times. We must come together to save them from external threats at the earliest and conserve them for future generations.
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