Manda Forest Walk, Jammu

 Wanderers always find new paths to explore and paths destine wanderers to new experiences. 

It's May'2021 and everything is shut. Groceries and essential services operate from 6-10am and post that the whole city of Jammu is deserted. A long drive on highway, relishing delicious savories at Pahalwan's and stop over to have scrumptious Kaladi kulcha in the busy old city market would usually be a days affair because of the hustle and bustle of the city, but it just reduced to hours for this hop over as the city got under lockdown. Usually this time of the year in Pune, I would be trekking some new fort in Sahyadri or exploring mountains in Himachal or Garhwal/Kumaon regions of Uttarakhand. Its been many years since I have spent so much time in my own backyard that finding or rather re-discovering old paths, alleys, gullies and spots became a constant habit. I would walk for  8-10 kms just to quench this wanderer thirst in me as all travel plans seemed far fetched from reality. On one such re-discovery walks I came across this beautiful walk paths right in the middle of Manda forest - Deer Park.

Deer Park 

It is a beautiful cobble stone walk track of approx. 4-5 kms constructed right in the Manda forest. Its cozy small entry gate is located adjacent to Manda Zoo on the Palace road. One can also form a circuit as the other end of it has a path towards High Court which would then add another 4-5 kms to the route. There are many access to this forest trail apart from Manda Zoo gate which you would get to know once you start exploring

The Trail 

It is like a miniature version of Appalachian trails except that you are quite safeguarded from wild animals by the fences erected between the jungle and the pathway. But its an assurance to the heart. Once you pass few meters the surroundings completely change and you literally are walking in the real forest albeit on the well constructed cobble stones. The meandering turns with ups and downs of the mountain, surrounded by lush green trees, soothing cool breeze, voice of birds singing and mingling with constant high pitch hissing of insects like beat boxing takes the full attention of your senses. You would enjoy this experience when you are off the grid and phones in the pocket. Monkeys are common place here and in nut shell "Monkeys are the new Dogs" quote would aptly summaries their habitation here. Apart from monkey you can occasional find big monitor lizards (some called them Komodo dragon and I would like to believe it as it sounds cooler! I would say they are more like 'ghorpads' which helped great warrior Tanaji Malusare in climbing Singhad fort during battle), butterflies, snakes and birds. But they never harm and usually people carry small sticks just for self assurance and drop it off once they get confident that animals are more scared of us than we are of them.

The trail has many white stone sit outs after every few hundred meters and offers a great view of the Sidra, Golf Course along with mountains faraway and the omnipresent Tawi river which runs through the city. There are water coolers to quench thirst at the start and the midway and some stone benches perched  high on hill top where I have often seen someone in solitary composure probably in reflective state and taking a few minutes of rest before starting back.

Once you reach the end there is a tall tower somewhere (which is best kept secret here) out there after a turn towards right. I provides a great view of the landscape and children often do climb it. There is even a small garden just few hundred meters from the mid way of the path. It has open gym equipment and few swings too. 

This beautiful trail offers a few hours of break from our busy lives and walk with nature where more often than not one would find something new everyday.