Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary is classified as an IUCN Category IV Species Management Zone
and is home to Leopards, Himalayan Goral, Musk Deer, Wild Boar, Jungle Cat, Sumatran
Serow, Rhesus Macaque, Giant Flying Squirrel to name just a few. However, it is for
Leopards that Binsar is most famous.
Binsar might not be on the bucket list of India’s wildlife parks like Ranthambore,
Bandhavgarh, Corbett National Park, Kaziranga…..yet, it is unputdownable and off the beaten
track. No other wildlife zone in India offers the kind of Himalayan spectacle; and I am talking
about the scale – an uninterrupted sight of a 300 Kms. stretch with powdery peaks like
Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot, Kedarnath, Panchachuli…… all lined up as if a beauty pageant was
on!
In spite of the onslaught of modernity, Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary has fiercely kept its
biodiversity protected, vehemently forsaking attempts of commercialization of the tourism
phenomenon, which finds reflection on the solitary single road that criss-crosses the entire
sanctuary.
Safari Experience:
In India’s DevbhumiUttarakhand(Abode of Gods) a silent revolution is on, courtesy
Kumaon’s renowned wildlife safari operator – the Koranga family’s Wood Villas Safari.
Chandan Singh Koranga, a proud ‘Millennial’ Kumaoni native, whose forefathers, the late
Dewan Singh Koranga and later on Shri Nandan Singh Koranga, in particular, served with
great distinction in one of the Indian Army’s oldest and most decorated infantry units, the
Kumaon Regiment, has been operating wildlife safaris to Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary with
tremendous zeal and innovation.
On a typical jungle safari to Binsar, Chandan Singh Koranga, who learned the intricacies of
safari expeditions from his grandfather, can be seen in a hyper-excited mode—crafting the
itinerary, route to be followed during the safari, Kumaoni villages to visit, checking the
condition of the 4×4 wheel-drive vehicles, arranging the logistics like tents, food, etc. In
short, Chandan’s pre-Safari preparedness is worth emulating, as he leaves nothing to chance,
knowing fully well that one mistake on those treacherous wilderness trails in Binsar could be
disastrous!
According to Chandan Singh Koranga, “My late grandfather Shri Dewan Singh Ji was
fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with Jim Corbett at a time when the entire Kumaon
Himalayas was infested and terrified with dangerous maneaters (tigers and leopards). We
grew up listening to stories about Corbett’s courage in confronting the Big Cats. However, for
us Kumaonis, we do not consider tigers and leopards as predators; rather, we believe that
their presence is an indication that our ecosystem is healthy. Perhaps this attitude originated
from the great Hunter-turned-Conservationist Jim Corbett himself, who first instilled in us the
need to be sympathetic to the Big Cats.”
Most of Chandan’s discerning guests come to explore Kumaon Himalayas in all its entirety,
which are a 10-15 day affair, and thus are provided accommodation in his signature Wood
Villas retreat located in the picturesque Himalayan hamlet of Dhamas (32 km . from Almora).
At an elevation of 1424 m/4672 ft, the grandeur of the majestic Himalayas as seen from
Dhamas is spellbinding.
Being an extension of the Koranga family’s commitment towards preservation of Kumaon
Himalaya’s fragile ecosystem, the cornerstone of Wood Villas Safari tours lies in providing
immersive experiences, and staying in traditional Kumaoni villages is highly encouraged.
The essence is slow and mindful exploration.
In their efforts to provide discerning visitors with a firsthand feel of nature’s wonders at
Binsar, Wood Villas Safari offers tailor-made treks inside the sanctuary. The Ghoralkot Trek
(3 km) is obviously in great demand due largely to the stunning Himalayan panorama as
viewed from ZeroPoint.
For visitors who are avid bird watchers, Binsar is one of Uttarakhand’s best birdwatching
zones, home to 200+ resident species. You can have a date with Eurasian Jays, Bar-tailed
Treecreepers, and Oriental Turtle Doves, to name just a few.
Carrying the legacy of Jim Corbett isn’t all that easy, and Wood Villas Safari follows
Corbett’s quote, “Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints,” to the hilt.
Travellers Fact File:
By Air: Pantnagar (140 km) and Dehradun are the closest airports.
By Rail: The nearest railway station is Kathgodam (connected to cities like New Delhi,
Dehradun, Kolkata, Kanpur and Jammu), which is just 105 kms away from Binsar. From
Kathgodam, one can hire a cab to Binsar or local bus to Almora which is just 33 kms from
Binsar.
By Road: Well-connected with Uttarakhand’s various hill towns, a number of buses ply from
Dehradun, Almora, Nainital and Delhi. Also, you can easily find a direct bus to Almora
which is just 33 km away from Binsar.
For Safari Holidays in Kumaon, please feel free to get in touch with –
Him Valley Infra, (Woods Villa), Village – Dhamas, Sitlakhet Road, Dhamas. Uttarakhand –
