The Mohand Jungle road

Many a times, Shri Nathji cars ran out of petrol or develop some problem, on the notorious Mohand jungle road near Dehra Dun. Something always caused Shri Nathji's car to stop in that particular area–perhaps it was the lions, who wanted a glimpse of their Creator! These were the areas known as the Shivaliks, where rishis and maharishis mentioned in the Ramayana were said to have done their penances. Perhaps the region thrilled with the fruits of their austerities, tapasyaa, and had brought Lord Rama again as Shri Nathji.

On one occasion, the chauffeur took an empty petrol can and hitch-hiked to Dehra Dun. And while Shri Nathji waited for hours in the jungle, the chauffeur did not return. The HH Pran Nathji, who was hardly twelve at the time, got behind the wheel and started the car. It was as if the petrol had suddenly appeared in the tank. "I will do the driving, Pitaji. Get in!" and saying this, HH Pran Nathji, drove the car over the treacherous curves of the winding road and brought it to Dehra Dun, where the chauffeur stood, waiting for a bus.

Mateshwari had driven the car but once – also on the notorious Mohand jungle road. She drove with such confidence and with such incredible speed that it caused all inside the car to sit up and marvel, and panic.

The Mohand Jungle road comes when travelling between Dehradoon and Chhutmalpur, on route to Delhi. This now forms the part of National Highway No. 72A. The Mohand Jungle Road forms the western boundary of the famous Rajaji National Park. I have given a satellite photo of the Mohard Jungle Road and as you can see, there is no village or settlement or cultivated land. Only dense forests and hills on both sides of the road. On the east side of the road there is the Rajaji National Park. On the west is a also another large patch of jungle which goes on to meet the Kalesar National Park further west. 

Thanks to the preservation of forests by the Governemnt. This road still passes through a dense jungle as it used to be during Shri Nathji’s time.

The Rajaji National Park was formed in in the year 1983 and is named  after the famous freedom fighter Late Sri C. Rajgopalachari; popularly known as "Rajaji". Three sanctuaries in the Uttaranchal, Shivaliks  were amalgamated into a large protected area to form this park. The dense jungles of Ramgarh, Motichur, Kunao and Chila Forests form part of the Rajaji Park. Spread over an area of 820.42 sq km, Rajaji is a magnificent ecosystem nestled in the Shivalik ranges and the beginning of the vast Indo–Gangetic plains,mous doctor in the vicinity. Mohand is the important entry point for the Rajaji National Park  on this road to Dehradoon. From Muhand a forest road goes inside the park. I have given the photograph of the entry road to Rajaji Nation Park from Muhand Jungle Road, nd signboards in other parts of the Park on the road.