The Tale of Shadows, Roads, and Rains

The Tale of Shadows, Roads, and Rains

The land covered with various shades of green is now draped in a thick blanket of monsoon because - August has arrived!

Jim Corbett National Park – a place reigned by the regal tigers was a destination of great intrigue and adventure. But with the arrival of monsoon clouds, the core zones were locked away, giving these majestic dwellers an undisturbed mating season. However, a dense forest always has much more to offer than its gorgeous inhabitants, who are deeper into the thick forest, replaying the orchestra of the circle of life.

The August rain and humidity couldn't deter our group of ten eager travellers and three excited dogs from venturing to its edges. We stayed at a resort in a small village on the forest fringe of Kiyari.

 On a two-day trip, the first evening and the following morning were spent relaxing, loitering by the side of the Khichdi River next to our resort. After unwinding, we casually set out on a long drive towards the wilderness. It was almost dusk, but the real journey had just started.

The evening was yet to settle in, but the sun had already retreated behind the heavy clouds brooding over us. The grey scale of the sky often threatened to release its burden at any moment. Unperturbed and Undisturbed by the threats, our car kept moving past the bustling town of Ramnagar. The long weekend has brought a wave of tourists, as evident from the occasional traffic snarls we encountered. The crowded roads teeming with vehicles became a reflection of a ubiquitous sight in popular destinations across India.

However, soon, the chaos started to decline as the road began to narrow, winding its way through the hills. As we drove deeper into the forest, the towering Sal trees (Shorea Robusta) could be seen dominating the rest of the diversified flora, coexisting proudly. 

Soon after we ascended more profoundly into the forest, the first raindrops began to fall.

 Can you hear the forest breathe?

 As the soft drizzle makes the green heart pulse again.

The raindrops kept whispering through the leaves.

Urging us to halt and silently listen!

We kept halting at spots while the drizzle continued. The light was fading fast, and the avenue of trees on either side of the road seemed to close in. We could see the trees almost creating a canopy from the sunroof, but their crowns kept shying away from each other, allowing the last of the dimming sky to filter through.

How many of us love the scent of wet earth? We all do, don’t we? The air was thick with petrichor, the earth's fragrance when the rain meets the dry soil. Beyond that, a distinct aroma of the forest welcomed us. It was overwhelming at first, but with time, we could feel the scent of damp moss, decaying wood, and the fresh, green scent of leaves soaked in rain, all blending and creating a scent of life around us. This earthy smell of the wet bark and the faint sweetness of wildflowers added to the scent of the forest. The unique resinous scent of the Sal trees filled the atmosphere with a sharper aroma after the rain. As the world around us descended into silence, the pattering of rain and the unknown sounds of the dark forest surrounded us. If one listened carefully, these sounds created a haunting melody as the forest breathed its secrets through sound and scent, filling the path with an aura of mystery.

We moved slowly towards Durgadevi Gate. The national park has several entry points, but this gate was different. Located in the northern part of the park, lesser human intervention has managed to keep the serenity and calm of this part of the park. The road to the entry is a mix of dense forests, grasslands, and riverine areas. But driving on these spiral roads demanded caution, as each turn incites adventure and can unravel endless mysteries.

Our intention to enjoy the forest's essence was enhanced when the rain intensified and kept drumming on the windshield while the wipers worked tirelessly to clear our view. As we slowly drove through the road cut through the forest, the cloudy veil would occasionally lift just enough to reveal the steep drops to our left while the hills kept rising sharply on our right. The depth of the forest surrounded us, yet we were on this road that seemed like a winding thread through the cloak of nature's grandeur.

The forest often lifted the mist, reigning its land.

Silent and slow, it seemed the earth was breathing.

The rain gave birth to a new world

In this ancient forest, lost between day and night.

Further ahead of the road, the landscape kept shifting and changing. We passed a clearing where a herd of deer stood in the growing darkness. They watched us still and silent but alert. As the car slowed down to get a better view of these beauties, they vanished into the underbrush, leaving only the memory of their presence behind. It was a brief encounter, a glimpse of the life that thrived in these hills, hidden from view.

As we neared Durgadevi Gate, the clouds and the descending darkness gave the forest a bluish haze. We could feel a prominent boundary between the accessible and the forbidden world. Masked in the cloud and mystery, their secrets continued to be hidden by the night and the mist.

We didn't cross the gate. We didn't need to. The edge of the forest offered us enough enigmatic charm. On a sunny day, venturing past the gate would have been welcoming, but the encroaching night and the muted whispers of the dark forest drew the finishing line we felt compelled to respect.

The gate to the wild unknown is now forbidden.

A world of shadows, of low whispers, of secrets.

Lay untouched by humans today,

It's silence evidence to the world of the untamed.

Distant calls of nocturnal creatures often punctured the silence around us. With the encroaching evening, the darkness brought with it the steady hum of crickets that occasionally blended with the distant hoot of an owl. The rain brought in the frogs, and their hoarse croaks echoed from hidden ponds. Every time a twig snapped, we could feel the hint of unseen creatures moving around. Even the rustle of the leaves on the ground and the creaking sound of a damp branch high above blended with others and felt like an exclusively created composition.

We remained there for a while, feeling the cool occasional drizzle on our skin and listening to the quiet that had settled over the forest. Apart from a few cars passing by, the road was deserted. But there was a certain satisfaction in standing there and knowing that we had come close to the forest's mysteries without fully stepping into them.

As we returned, the rain stopped, but darkness had already enveloped the world around us. The car headlights cut through the darkness, revealing only the slick and wet road ahead. The forest had turned into a shadowy expanse with no limit.

By the time we returned to the resort, it was completely dark. The resort's warm lights were a welcome sight after the drive. We parked, eager to shed our damp clothes and settle in for the night.

Back at the resort, a lasting memory of being on the edge, experiencing the forest intimately and distantly, made us promise to return for more. We had only glimpsed the forest's secrets, barely scratching the surface.

The silent night drapes the forest in a cloak,

Murmurs of the forest echo softly yet stand proud.

And in our hearts, the remains etched forever,

The tale of shadows, roads, and rains.