Fuddled, Frenzied in Jim Corbbett National Park

Picturesque landscapes, exciting jungle safaris, stirring adventure activities and much more - defines JIM CORBETT NATIONAL PARK

Last Friday, Evalueserve, a premier KPO company in Gurgaon, Haryana, took 35 enthusiastic employees from the Knowledge Technology (KT) team to an exciting excursion to the Jim Corbett National Park, which is situated at the precincts of Ram Nagar in Nainital, Uttarakhand. The primary objective of the trip was to enhance team effort and help new employees interact with their colleagues and seniors. The jungle safari at Jim Corbett was the primary attraction as most of us had only seen and read about the safari in television channels, travel books and magazines. 

Day 1 (22^nd November, 2013): The Incredible Journey    

The incredible bus journey started at around 11 PM at night after a feverish 9 hours shift at office.  The corporate excursion was a stepping stone for every new joiner to introduce themselves to everyone on board. The aim was to perform an act which may help everyone to remember their colleagues. While some exhibited excellent sense of humor, some displayed their oratory and singing talents. The zealous fray came to an end at 2 AM at night.

Day 2 (23^rd November, 2013): At Samsara Resort

We reached Samsara at six in the morning shivering in the cold as the temperature plummeted to 7 or 8 degrees (approx). Samsara had all the amenities necessary for a fun stay – cozy rooms, lush green lawns, and swimming pools with a backdrop of a flower garden. We were soon allotted with respective suites. Announcement was made to refresh ourselves and gather for breakfast. Certain group activities were scheduled and we had to gather at the hotel lawn. Games included Tug of War, Bucket Filling, Carry the Ball game and Walk by the Pool.  The objective was to demonstrate to everyone the necessity of team effort and unity of purpose.

After a delicious lunch at Samsara’s restaurant, half of the people were seen fending and renting swimming costumes to jump into the pool for a water ball game.  

At 8 pm were ready for a cocktail party. Men and women dressed in their favorite dresses gathered at the lounge where a DJ party was organized. The party ended at 10 pm with a hearty dinner and a group song.

Day 3 (24^th November, 2013): Cricket and Adventure Activities

The team was seemingly agile and was up early. Everuone gathered at the resort ground at 8 am for a cricket game. The match started with the usual frenzy as seen among all cricket lovers in the country. It continued till lunch with a temporary halt for breakfast at 9 AM.

After lunch, announcements were made to gear up for adventure activities schedule at 3:30 pm. A bus took us near Kosi River, few kilometers away from Samsara. The scenic beauty here is worth praising – a mere Jhula hangs delicately over river Kosi, which is nestled amidst aslant hillocks. Before commencing with the adventure, instructors’ in-charge of the entire program provided safety tips to the entire group. A subtle thrill was already evident among all group members.

We started with River Crossing. Participants had to cross over the river by hanging and rolling on a rope that was tied to the Jhula at one end and to a tree on the other side. Next was Rappling that required us to climb down 12 feet on a straight wall angled at 90 degrees. Finally, there was the bridge slithering, where players harnessed to a rope jumped from the Jhula into the Kosi River sliding down 15 feet. 

The evening was exhausting, but another game was planned. On returning to our resort, people gathered at the hotel restaurant for the Curtain Game that was meant just for fun. Two teams stood on opposite sides of the curtain. As curtains fell, individual participants from both sides had to guess each other’s name. Whoever does it first, wins it.          

The fun wasn’t over yet. A borne-fire cum cocktail party was arranged within Samsara’s expanse. It was 7 pm, and we sat cozily around the fire. Drinks and side dishes were on buffet and we awaited the next performance. This time our Vice-President, Mr. Sudeep Dasgupta, took the initiative to start with a group song. While he played the guitar, we accompanied him with songs. The event ended at around 10 pm followed by an appetizing dinner.

Day 4 (25^th November, 2013): The Jungle Safari

The Jungle Safari – the primary attraction of Jim Corbett National Park - was scheduled on Monday at 4:30 am in the morning. It was disagreeably cold and we left with six safari jeeps that swayed us through meandering roadways and grievous terrains. After a 7 kilometer drive from Samsara, we intruded into the kingdom of wilderness. Broken kacha roads cutting through rarified flora rocked our spirits with enthusiasm. The temperature dropped further and we curled into our warm blankets to cut the chilly breeze. A sudden view of a barking deer, a spotted deer, a group of brown Sambhars, and the sounds of rare birds brought us out of our comforts to enjoy nature's beauty. Frequent snaps and video recordings were done to keep memories afresh after the trip ends. Before our way back, there was a temporary tea-break halt near the Sitavani temple. We reached back to Samsara at 10:30 am. It was actually a 6 hours safari through thrilling landscapes and picturesque crossroads.

Finally, it was time to leave and everyone posed for a group photo at Samsara. We left at 11 am. The trip came to a magical halt with a sumptuous lunch at a star restaurant on our way back. We reached the capital at around 8 pm.

Thanks to Evalueserve for this unforgettable event.