I am in the process of putting together a photographic / fishing tour to India which has two parts to it.

The two parts being.


A visit to Corbett National Park which will also cover the places (see below) where Jim Corbett shot some of his well known man eaters:


CORBERT NATIONAL PARK
The Bachelor of Powalgarh was said to have been 10 feet 7 inches Corbett shot and killed this tiger in the winter of 1930, and later told the story in his 1944 book

CORBERT NATIONAL PARK
The man eater of Mohan was shot by Jim Corbett in Katt Ki Naav village. Even today we you walk along the same trail used by Jim Corbett to shoot this tiger.

The two other spots which are very interesting are near the town of Tanakpur

TANAKPUR- CHUKKA
The Chukka man eater was shot by Jim Corbett in April 1937 and was responsible for the death of 3 boys from Thak village.

TANAKPUR- CHUKKA
The Thak man-eater was a female Bengal tigress. She was operating in along the Nepal border, between the villages Thak, Chuka, Kot Kindri and Sem. The tigress was shot in November 1938. This was the last man-eater killed by Corbett. The story about Thak man-eater is known as one of the most dramatic stories about man-eating animals. It was the last story in the USA edition of the bestselling book “Man Eaters of Kumaon” and was turned into a Hollywood movie of the same name in 1948.

Aside from seeing places where Corbett shot the above man eaters we will add days to do some game viewing as well.

This whole tour will be 12 days Day 1 being arrival in Delhi and day 12 departure.



The second part being a combination tour of Corbett as described above combined with 6 days Mahseer Fishing on the Saryu River, India.

For those who have never heard of Mahseer, it looks a bit like a Tarpon and fights just as hard. They are found in fast flowing rivers and are truly an amazing game fish to catch. Mahseer can be caught on fly as well as on live bait and spinning. Sadly these fish have been badly hammered and North India remains the last place to fish for them. There was a great fishery in South India, where i have caught some in the 20lb range which are small fish, friends have caught many in the 60 to 80lb range. Sadly that's all over now!

The purpose of this post is to see what interest there is in such a tour, so any feedback would be much appreciated.

India is an amazing country with a lot of history and you will see some amazing sights there.

This tour can also be expanded to see the Taj Mahal [truly worth seeing], sights in Delhi, etc. etc.

Thanks for your time.


Arjun Reddy
Hunters Networks LLC
www.huntersnetworks.com
30 Ivy Hill Road
Brewster, NY 10509
Tel: +1 845 259 3628

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I remember reading a chapter on his Mahseer fishing and it was one of the best angling accounts I have ever read. The Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag was my favorite book but they were all excellent.

Sounds like a interesting trip. India is a very interesting country. My wife has done a couple of photo trips there to take pics of tigers. Anyway have you got a ballpark cost for this trip? Looks like something different. Possible time frame? Thanks
Bruce

Agree with Fairgame. I really like all his books. What a time to be alive!

Best of the very best
I cut my young teeth on hunting while reading Jim’s books and learned bird calls when predators and wild pigs were prowling around
One time in US hunting bear, I told guide bear was coming for about 45 min by observing bird calls ( jay and robin )and squirrels .
You can tell he thought I was full of it and then good male showed at last light while I was telling the guide he is here and probably watching bait to make sure it’s all good
In the end , the young guide really didn’t believe me and thought I was just guessing
Agree with Andrew, Leopard of Rudraprayag is The Best especially reading late at night in dark
Your imagination put you right there next to Jim…

I read “The Maneaters of Kumaon” years ago. Loved it ! So some 20 years ago made my own “ Pilgrimage” to Kaladhungi, Jim’s winter residence and Nanital his summer residence. We spent a few days in the Corbett Tiger Park also.
Met an old man renting horses in Nanital who remembered Jim. Amazing to make that connection. I wonder if you still have to wear a tie to have a drink at the bar in the boat club in Nanital ?

Sounds like a really cool trip... I don't know which part intrigues me more, sightseeing in Corbett's old stomping grounds or the mahseer fishing. Dates and price?

You know me, Arjun.

Only if I can bring my own rifle!

We have floated the Trusuli and camped on the river enroute to Tiger Tops where we spent 5 days looking for Tigers on elephant back. We saw single horn rhino, big python, lots of tracks... no Tigers!! Even assisted our Mahout bathe our steed in the river after our afternoon Shikar!!

We were just talking about India today, one of our favorite places in the World, including the food!!

We would be interested in joining a group like this!! We have considered Royla Bardia park...I recall old late friend Chris Soyza, of J&L WILKINS fame often toured there to seek double rifle collections, and he often took his family on Tiger viewing trips into the famous parks...

GREAT IDEA!! Please keep me informed!!

CheerZ,

Folks we have nailed down an itinerary for this trip.

DAY 1
Arrive Delhi where you will be met.

DAY 2
Fly to Patnagar at the foothills of the lower Himalayan ranges in the state of Uttarakhand. This town is home to the first agricultural university of India & this area is well known for its farms which have been reclaimed from the jungles of the Terrai. From the airport our vehicles will take you to Chukka, a small village along the Mahakali River, across which is Nepal. This drive will take about 3 hours. After lunch you will get an opportunity to visit the village and interact with the local villagers. This is the location where the Chukka man eater was shot.

DAY 3

We start our day with a hearty breakfast. Today will be a full day hike to explore the trail of the Chukka maneater. We will spend the day mostly backtracking the
trail and areas Corbett mentions in his stories.

DAY 4

After an early breakfast we trek to the village of Thak. This is about a 3 hour trek and your host will give you details of the hunt for the Thak man eater. This is where a female Bengal tiger, which had been declared as a man-eater, was shot by Jim Corbett in November 1938. The book “Man Eaters of Kumaon” was published in 1944 and the movie (Man Eater of Kumaon - 1948 on the Thak Maneater. We will be looking out for birds & wildlife along the trails that Corbett walked while on the hunt for the Thak Maneater. Enjoy a picnic lunch along the way. In the evening your host will describe some of Jim Corbett’s exploits as you enjoy dinner around the bonfire.

DAY 5

Depart from Chukka after an early breakfast. Drive 3 1/2 hours to the hill station of Nainital, a picturesque town built around Nainital Lake. Once you have checked into your rooms we will take a short 15 minute walk from
Abbotsford Lodge to Gurney House – this was Jim Corbett's summer home in Nainital. This house was bought by a private individual who has preserved several of the rooms in their original state – it is a “must see” for anyone who has read about the legendary Jim Corbett. Return to Abbotsford Lodge for lunch. After a short rest we will go on a Heritage Walk through the historic and picturesque town of Nainital – this town was established by the British as a hill station to get away from the hot Indian summers. Most of the buildings have been preserved in near perfect condition and a walk along the Nainital Lake is highly recommended. During the walk you
will also visit the church where Jim Corbett’s parents were buried. Dinner will be at Abbotsford Lodge in Nainital, where you will stay the night.

DAY 6

Early morning depart, with a packed breakfast, for a bird watching trip and a short trek for Pangot. This area is famous for the large variety of birds and the beautiful views of the Himalayan ranges. We will enjoy a picnic lunch at a point where we will be able to see breathtaking views of the Himalayan ranges. Late afternoon we will drive to the village of Kaladungi. Here we will visit Jim Corbett’s winter home which has been converted into a museum. Drive to your lodge which is located on the outskirts of the Jim Corbett National Park.

DAY 7

Today is an adventurous and special day especially for those who have read about Jim Corbett’s exploits. We will drive to Mohan and follow the footsteps of Jim Corbett along the “Mohan Trail” - the trek is about 4-5 hours and we will carry a packed picnic lunch for this exciting journey. This is where Corbett shot a The Mohan man eater after tracking it on foot. Today’s trip will include a mix of driving and walking.We will enjoy a picnic lunch during our excursion. Drive 2 hours to the village of Dhela, on the outskirts of the Tiger Reserve, and check into a beautiful lodge, Jim’s Jungle Retreat.

DAY 8

Today you will be exploring the Jim Corbett National Park with a morning and an afternoon safari. Since you will be spending most of the day inside the core zone of the Park you will be able to get plenty of opportunities to view the flora and fauna of this Park which is home to a variety of animals including the tiger, leopard, sloth bear, elephant, wild boar and several types of deer. This National Park is also home to over 600 different species of birds - especially in winter when the migratory birds flock here in large numbers.

DAY 9

We will undertake an early morning safari into a different section of the National Park. Directly after the end of the safari we will drive to Delhi. This journey will take us about 6 ½ hours - if it is preferred this journey can be undertaken by the comfortable Shatabdi train in Executive Class (one of our staff will accompany the guests). Transfer to Roseate House where you will be staying for the night. Accommodation: Roseate House (5 Star), Aerocity, New Delhi.

DAY 10

Depart for home


This itinerary is focused on Jim Corbett's trails but we can add on a few days fishing for Mahseer.

That itinerary would be as follows:

● DAY 1 : You will be met at Delhi airport & escorted to your hotel. Check in 2pm
● DAY 2 : Early morning flight from Delhi to Pantnagar. Drive 5 1/2 hours to our fishing camp at Pancheshwar
● DAYS 3 – 5 : Three full days of fishing with an experienced team of fishing guides
● DAY 6 : Drive to Chukka (4 hours) where you will begin the “Corbett Trail”
expedition


Pancheshwar is definitely the best spot for Mahseer fishing in India. However, there is a lot more that this quaint village has to offer. Located on the border with Nepal, this remote village is a well known destination for those with an interest in bird watching. A walk to the nearby villages offers the traveller a glimpse into the simple and unspoilt life of this area that has been almost forgotten by the rest of the world. An ancient temple, located at the confluence of the mighty Mahakali River and the Saryu River, is a delight for photographers.

Accommodations will be out of a luxury tented camp located on the Saryu River.

Cost of Jim Corbett's trail including is $7,250 single occupancy and $6,750 per person double occupancy. To add on the fishing will be an extra $3,500.

Includes:
● Escorted ground travel throughout the trip. Starting form “meet and greet” in New Delhi International Airport (IGI).
● Flight and train tickets as listed in the itinerary above are included.
Accommodation and meals plans as listed in the itinerary.
● Safari permits and all safari arrangements including the guiding service of
your host while on safari.
● Services of local guides included.
● Ground Transport
● All Taxes

Not Included:
● Transfers, accommodation, meals and sightseeing that are not part of the itinerary.
● Alcoholic beverages and beverages at lodges, hotels and camps that are not as part of the meals plans listed in the itinerary above.
● Insurance
● Costs associated due to unforeseen circumstances like train/flight cancellations and/or delays as well as other circumstances beyond our control.

Other options, that can be added:
Aside from this itinerary there is so much to see in Delhi and also a visit to Agra where the Taj Mahal is located. A tour to take in parts of Rajasthan can also be added. Many of the old palaces have been converted into luxury 5 star hotels and offer incredible hospitality in amazing surroundings.

In terms of Dates: The pre-monson months of March, April, May, June and then the post monsoon from mid September to end November are the prime season for the Golden Mahseer at Pancheshwar on the Saryu River. In terms of weather March and April are the cooler months. May and June is the hot summer months and while it is good for game viewing and fishing it can get quite hot. October and November would be good for fishing and game viewing as thats heading in to winter.

I look forward to answering all your questions and to hopefully welcoming some of you to India. Alas the days of hunting there are sadly over.

Thanks for your time.

Sincerely,

Arjun Reddy
Hunters Networks LLC
www.huntersnetworks.com
30 Ivy Hill Road
Brewster, NY 10509
Tel: +1 845 259 3628

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Very interesting and well thought out itinerary. India is an incredibly interesting and welcoming country.

Great itinerary!!

There is a good article about Corbett's 275 Rigby bolt rifle used on some of these Tigers in the latest issue-JAN/FEB of SPORTS AFIELD MAGAZINE.

This sounds like an amazing trip and sure looks to be well thought out.