This educational excursion reminds the boys of Prithviraj House of a poem entitled " ‘May there Always Be Tigers’ composed by Ruskin Bond.

Prithviraj House went on a mid-term trip to Jim Corbett National Park and Nainital from September 12, 2009 to September 19, 2009.

We boarded the Ajmer New Delhi Shatabdi Express and reached Delhi. At 11:00 p.m. we were on our onward journey in the buses.

We reached Ramnagar at 9:00 a.m. The day was filled with adventure activities like Rock Climbing, Rappelling and River Crossing. Corbett has aptly been described as the land of the roar, trumpet and song.

It represents a scene of remarkable beauty. Zoological Survey of India has recorded over 585 species of resident and migratory birds here.

At dawn, we left for jungle safari. The hills and forests are extensive enough for leopards to roam freely; they do their best to keep away from humans. How can there be an India without leopards and tigers?

The jungle was a lovely sight – varying shades of green; new leaf freshened by recent rain. We saw a herd of elephants, their favourite food, green shoots of the bamboo, short in supply – wading across the river. They seemed to have an unsettled, wary life. They did not know when men would appear again, with tractors, bulldozers and dynamite. In the evening we enjoyed bathing in River Kosi. At night, a bonfire was lit with the boys singing songs, enacting skits and anecdotes which send us into roars of laughter.

We left Ramnagar and proceeded towards Khurpatal. We reached The Dynasty Resort at Khurpatal in the afternoon. Khurpatal is situated 10 kms. before the main town Nainital on Kabadhungi Road. At an altitude of 5600 feet. Khurpatal has a very beautiful lake surrounded by thick pinewood forests, with a panoramic view of the lakes and mountains. It is perched cozily in the lap of Mother Nature away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

We left the hotel; for a cable car ride to the snow view point. We also paid homage to the goddess Naina Devi. In the afternoon we had lunch at Boat House Club, Nainital. It was Jaidev’s birthday. A special thanks to his parents for their large heartedness and generosity. After lunch we enjoyed boating in the Naini Lake. The nucleus of Nainital’s exquisite beauty is its beautiful lake which stands amidst seven proud hills, dotted with pretty cottages and villas. This reflection alone holds one spell bound. More beautiful than this however is the lake at night when the myriads of bulbs from the hillsides and quite a large number hanging near the lake’s edge stab their magic light into its waters.

The lake offers the holiday makers ample opportunity for boating, yachting or paddling the boat. In the evening we enjoyed shopping at the Mall. On one side of the lake runs the Mall Road, now named Govind Ballabh Pant Marg.

It is lined up by many restaurants, travel agencies, shops, banks and other business concerns. In summer months of May & June, Mall Road is closed for vehicular traffic in evening hours to facilitate Mall strolling which is the famous attraction for all the tourists. This road is the main link joining Mallital and Tallital. On the other side of the lake lies the Thandi Road. It is comparatively less busy and has Pashan Devi Temple.

After breakfast we visited the zoo, eco cave gardens and the government observatory at Manora peak. The cave garden is the latest addition in the list of numerous tourism spots in Nainital. It is located in Sukhatal around 1 km from Mallital, very near to Kumaun University Campus. Bharat Ratna Pt. Goving Ballabh Pant High Altitude Zoo Nainital is the only zoo in the new born state of Uttrakhand. It is situated in Sher ka danda at about 2 kms, from Tallital bus station at an elevation of 2100 m above the sea level and connected by motorable road, where the mountain Quail was last seen in 1876. In the evening we visited Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) situated on Manora peak. It is about 1 km from Hanuman Garhi, if some one prefers to visit by foot. By road it is situated 9 kms from Nainital. It is a centre of astronomical studies and optical tracking of artificial satellites. For night viewing of stars and planets some days are fixed on moon-lit nights and permission is necessary.

After an early breakfast we undertook a 5 kms soft trek to Tiffin Top and Lands End. We returned to the hotel for lunch. In the evening we received chocolates as prizes for excelling in various games and activities. After an early dinner we boarded the buses as our Alma Mater was waiting expectantly for us.

At dawn, we reached Delhi, boarded the Shatabdi Express and reached Ajmer at 1:00 p.m. The completion of the journey reminded us of a poem entitled ‘There Isn’t Time ‘composed by Eleanor Farjeon.

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