Kalesar National Park - Geography

Geography

Kalesar is an excellent area to visit for birders and those interested in wildlife. It has a 100-year-old colonial dak bungalow. The forest rest house located at a picturesque point commands a sweeping view of the Yamuna river. Surrounded with multi-layered gardens, and as typical of the 'Raj' bungalow architecture, there are high-ceiling rooms, exquisite parquet flooring and teak paneling along walls. A fireplace with a mantelpiece above and antique furniture completes the period setting.

In the distant hills stand silhouetted against the first pinkish-blue light. A dirt road diverts from the highway where a faded billboard announces entry into the reserve forest mainly consisting of Sal trees. The ride is very bumpy. Also present - the sindoor tree — A small-sized tree, it has dainty flowers, which turn into pods to produce the vermilion sindoor that adorns the tresses of married women.

Dense forest. Besides the tall, leafy sal trees that constitute the age-old forest belt of the Doon valley, there are also other trees like Semul, Amaltas and Bahera. Climbers snake up the tree stems, and the forest floor is littered with fallen leaves and foliage plants. Sculptural anthills dot the landscape. There is a watering hole created by the Forest Department to quench the thirst of wild animals. A number of pebbled dry rivulets, which come alive during the monsoon season. A vast stretch of forest clearing is in sight. it is not a natural clearing but a man-made one; and what is called in forestry parlance a 'fire line.' which help in the intricate task of containing forest fires, which once if they start off, even by a carelessly thrown bidi, can turn into a raging forest inferno.