Beyond the Tiger: The Corbett Literature Festival Reveals a Different Side of the Wild

We tend to measure a holiday in Jim Corbett by what we to spot on a safari. A tiger crossing a forest trail, an elephant emerging from the foliage or perhaps a rare bird perched along the riverbank. But during the inaugural Corbett Literature Festival, I found myself thinking about everything that exists beyond these fleeting encounters. The stories that have travelled through these forests, the people who have documented their changing landscapes, and the traditions that continue to shape life around them.

Held from October 6 to 8, 2026, the festival, titled 3 Days in the Wild, brought together more than 30 writers, conservationists, historians, photographers and storytellers for over 20 sessions. Supported by the Uttarakhand Forest Department, Corbett Tiger Reserve and Uttarakhand Tourism, the gathering moved across three venues: The Riverview Retreat, Aahana Resort & Spa and The Golden Tusk Resort & Spa. Yet, the most memorable parts of the experience were not defined by the venues, but by the conversations taking place within them.

For most travellers, Jim Corbett is synonymous with wildlife safaris and the possibility of spotting a tiger. But the landscape has a much larger story to tell, one shaped by its rivers, forests, communities and the people who have spent decades observing and documenting them. Over three days, literature became a way to explore these connections, moving between history, conservation, food and the changing relationship between people and nature.

Day One: Remembering Jim Corbett, the Writer

The opening day began with a return to the man whose name has become synonymous with this landscape. In a conversation between author Stephen Alter and journalist Nirmal Ghosh, Jim Corbett's legacy was examined through a rather different lens: that of a writer. As Alter pointed out, Corbett is remembered not simply for his encounters with man-eating tigers, but also for his writing about the forests and people of Kumaon, which reflected an understanding that extended beyond the dramatic episodes for which he became famous.

One fascinating aspect of the discussion was Corbett's lesser-known early book, Jungle Stories, and the letters he wrote to his sister Maggie. These letters offered glimpses into a more personal side of the naturalist, revealing his observations, interests and relationship with the world around him. They also helped place his celebrated wildlife accounts within a larger body of writing that reflected an evolving understanding of the forest.

Corbett wrote many of his best-known stories later in life, recalling experiences from decades earlier. There is something compelling about this evolution from hunter to storyteller and conservation advocate. His later writing, as Alter suggested, revealed a growing concern for the future of wildlife. The conversation also considered what Corbett might have thought of today's wildlife tourism, where visitors enter the forest with cameras instead of rifles. It was an intriguing thought, particularly for a destination that continues to draw people from across the world in search of a tiger sighting.

The opening day also saw Uttarakhand Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal speak about the importance of bringing conservation and community welfare together. Ramesh Kumar Sudhanshu, Principal Secretary to the Uttarakhand government, spoke about giving Corbett a broader identity beyond its existing recognition as a wildlife destination.

Day Two: The Birds We No Longer See and The Food Traditions We Are Forgetting

The second day began with a bird and tree walk, an opportunity to observe the natural world before stepping into conversations about the pressures it faces. Among the most thought-provoking sessions was one featuring ornithologist Dr. Asad R. Rahmani, former director of the Bombay Natural History Society, who spoke about declining bird populations and the importance of ecological documentation.

Recalling his visits to the Thar Desert from 1981 onwards, Rahmani described a time when vultures were so abundant that counting them was almost impossible. As their numbers declined, people began asking where the birds had gone.

His observation was particularly striking—"younger generations were not necessarily missing these birds because they had seen them disappear, but because they had never experienced that earlier abundance in the first place."

His book, Where Have the Birds Gone?, examines the factors behind this decline, including habitat destruction, pesticides, changing agricultural practices and expanding infrastructure. More importantly, his discussion raised a question about ecological memory. If people have no record of what once existed, how do they recognise what has been lost? Rahmani also questioned why wildlife should be valued primarily for its usefulness to humans. If societies devote considerable effort to preserving art and historical monuments, why should the disappearance of a species be treated with any less urgency?

Food historian and Padma Shri awardee Pushpesh Pant, alongside Sunita Tripathi, co-founder of Aahana Resort & Spa, brought another form of heritage into focus. Their session, Pahadi Bhaadu: Tales, Traditions, and the Flavours of Uttarakhand, explored the relationship between traditional cooking vessels, ingredients and the communities that have shaped the region's culinary identity.

The bhaddu, a traditional, heavy-bottomed cooking vessel, became the starting point for a larger discussion about how the objects we cook with influence the food we eat. Pant explained how even something as familiar as curd can taste different depending on the vessel in which it is set.

It was an interesting reminder that regional food heritage is not simply about preserving recipes. The utensils, techniques and social practices surrounding a meal are equally important. Traditional vessels may find their way into restaurant displays and contemporary interpretations of regional cuisine, but the everyday knowledge associated with their use is gradually disappearing.

Pant also explored how food reflects social identity, with ingredients, cooking practices and eating traditions revealing the histories of communities, class and culture. In a region as diverse as Uttarakhand, its kitchens have stories that deserve to be documented just as carefully as its forests.

Day Three: When Conservation Becomes a Collective Responsibility

The final day brought conversations around natural history, rivers, conservation and nature writing into focus. Corbett Tiger Reserve Field Director Dr Saket Badola spoke about the relationship between tourism and conservation, arguing that the two need not exist in opposition.n "Wildlife tourism, when managed responsibly, can create an emotional connection between visitors and nature, encouraging greater awareness and support for conservation. However, that relationship also comes with responsibilities." The growing popularity of Corbett as a wedding destination, for instance, has raised concerns about noise, artificial lighting and disturbance to wildlife.

One particularly important point was light pollution and its effect on nocturnal species, including fireflies that depend on darkness. It is a reminder that the impact of tourism is not always immediately visible, and that responsible travel requires a better understanding of the environment in which it operates.

The final day also featured a wildlife photography exhibition at Jungle Grill, curated by Sriroopa Raheja Bajaj, alongside discussions on natural history, the Ganga and Ramganga river systems, and the role of nature writing in shaping public understanding of conservation.

Playback singer Jubin Nautiyal made a special appearance, expressing his appreciation for the forest staff documenting Corbett through their photographs and videos. He welcomed the public response to the festival, noting the importance of people standing up for things that will matter in the long run.

The three days concluded with a gala dinner, live music and live painting, bringing together the different threads of literature, art and conservation that had shaped the gathering.

Reading The Landscape Differently

What stayed with me was how many different ways there are to understand a place. Through Stephen Alter's exploration of Jim Corbett's letters, Rahmani's account of disappearing bird populations, Pushpesh Pant's reflections on traditional kitchens and Saket Badola's observations on responsible tourism, Corbett emerged as much more than a destination for wildlife encounters. Its identity is tied to its rivers, its communities, its food traditions and the people who continue to document and protect its natural heritage.

Perhaps that is what made the inaugural Corbett Literature Festival worth experiencing. It offered an invitation to look beyond the obvious, to recognise that a forest is not merely a collection of wildlife sightings, but a living archive of stories, histories and relationships. I arrived in Corbett thinking about the wilderness. I left thinking about everything that makes it worth preserving.