I am a corporate citizen, an observer, who is ready to explore and lives in a dichotomy of needs of soul and desires of mind. Travel is one juncture where the two meet. And thus comes in this mesmerizing trip. If I look back, Khetiyo happened because it was supposed to be. We live a modern day compartmentalized life where leisure, contemplation are left best for Saturdays and Sundays. Khetiyo was an unplanned excursion, more for solitude for I was bored with the mundane.
We were seven hitchhikers, all from different walks of life. As companions, we had a new age knowledge yogi, who wishes to look at world from a plateau of ideas and who has a cloak of non-conformist, the one that young blood of his age can afford. We had a coming of age rebel; who now blends into societal norms but still has the conviction in his ideas. The ways may have changed, the caution may have arrived, but the altruistic ideology remains. We also had a modern day, jean clad sadhu, who led us on this journey to the forests and who puts up a veil every time one wants to understand him, but this veil is his shade to a clear heart & at peace soul with a mind-ful purpose of living. We had a polished lodger who was a fine mix of astute business sense, adventure and empathy. He is a story and a good storyteller. We had a lady with the mountain soul, the one who has gained aesthetic faculties and prefers to remain quite, observing, and has seen different seasons of life and cherished its offerings. We had another young female soul in a well-used body, which have zeal for life and different experiences. She reminds of the beautiful, lively batch-mate we all adored and wondered, when our path cross when we are both old and worn, how will she be?
Khetiyo is the backyard of tigers and of all wild life for which Jim Corbett is famous for. But to give this place a tag of current day Jim Corbett National Park will be a blemish as Khetiyo still is not contaminated and made a touristy cauldron. Khetiyo is like an ephemeral Vanaprastha. Khetiyo is a small uninhibited village atop flat top of a small hill by Mandal River and with only two huts in a clear field surrounded by forests and its dwellers. The field and the jungle are symbol and reminder of the boundary that each one of us must respect, while coexisting. As the Sadhu said, you are as much a food as the Cheetal and Barking Deer roaming around and nature does not differentiate. So, don’t go to Khetiyo if you wish to see the tiger roaming by, the excitement overload is in find a fresh pugmarks. For the more adventurous, there are Macchan where you can rest for the evening and then stay alert whole night listening to animal calls and tracing the shy creature roaming by. For the convenience of us, Grihasthas, the lodging is made a comfortable one with beds & indoor toilets. The other hut is of your friends at Khetiyo, who will ensure that you are well fed and safe.
The charm of Khetiyo is best soaked by the one who goes with only a yearning for peaceful silence but no expectations. It is better experienced with self in semi meditative mode with an awareness of surroundings and soaking in the serenity. It is better enjoyed in the glowing flames of bonfire and sharing stories of yore, in Ghazal and vivid discussions on ideas.
Maybe, when the barking deer calls, and the breeze dances on the leaves of tall Sal trees under the moonlight, that moment of euphoria will touch your soul and that makes this journey of mind and soul all worthwhile.
We were seven hitchhikers, all from different walks of life. As companions, we had a new age knowledge yogi, who wishes to look at world from a plateau of ideas and who has a cloak of non-conformist, the one that young blood of his age can afford. We had a coming of age rebel; who now blends into societal norms but still has the conviction in his ideas. The ways may have changed, the caution may have arrived, but the altruistic ideology remains. We also had a modern day, jean clad sadhu, who led us on this journey to the forests and who puts up a veil every time one wants to understand him, but this veil is his shade to a clear heart & at peace soul with a mind-ful purpose of living. We had a polished lodger who was a fine mix of astute business sense, adventure and empathy. He is a story and a good storyteller. We had a lady with the mountain soul, the one who has gained aesthetic faculties and prefers to remain quite, observing, and has seen different seasons of life and cherished its offerings. We had another young female soul in a well-used body, which have zeal for life and different experiences. She reminds of the beautiful, lively batch-mate we all adored and wondered, when our path cross when we are both old and worn, how will she be?
Khetiyo is the backyard of tigers and of all wild life for which Jim Corbett is famous for. But to give this place a tag of current day Jim Corbett National Park will be a blemish as Khetiyo still is not contaminated and made a touristy cauldron. Khetiyo is like an ephemeral Vanaprastha. Khetiyo is a small uninhibited village atop flat top of a small hill by Mandal River and with only two huts in a clear field surrounded by forests and its dwellers. The field and the jungle are symbol and reminder of the boundary that each one of us must respect, while coexisting. As the Sadhu said, you are as much a food as the Cheetal and Barking Deer roaming around and nature does not differentiate. So, don’t go to Khetiyo if you wish to see the tiger roaming by, the excitement overload is in find a fresh pugmarks. For the more adventurous, there are Macchan where you can rest for the evening and then stay alert whole night listening to animal calls and tracing the shy creature roaming by. For the convenience of us, Grihasthas, the lodging is made a comfortable one with beds & indoor toilets. The other hut is of your friends at Khetiyo, who will ensure that you are well fed and safe.
The charm of Khetiyo is best soaked by the one who goes with only a yearning for peaceful silence but no expectations. It is better experienced with self in semi meditative mode with an awareness of surroundings and soaking in the serenity. It is better enjoyed in the glowing flames of bonfire and sharing stories of yore, in Ghazal and vivid discussions on ideas.
Maybe, when the barking deer calls, and the breeze dances on the leaves of tall Sal trees under the moonlight, that moment of euphoria will touch your soul and that makes this journey of mind and soul all worthwhile.
