Shooter of 90 maneaters, legendary hunter and conservationist Jim Corbett buried his 3 Rifles and 2 pistols befor leaving India for Kenya

I got a significant opportunity to visit the 135 year old historic house of the globally renowned hunter, conservationist, author and a lifelong bachelor Col Edward Jim Corbett in Nainital, who has to his credit killing 90 maneaters and several wild elephants in the jungles of Kumaon and Garhwal, Uttarakhand before leaving for Kenya with his sister Mary James Corbett before 1947, selling his fascinating Bangalow to the Dalmiya’s for few thousand rupees.

The magnificient bungalow known as “Gunray House” named after his father, situated in a sprawling two acre land with beautiful garden is being maintained and owned by the Dalmiya’s who very often visit and stay here. Jim Corbett stayed in this house for several years before departing for Kenya, Africa and never married during his lifetime. He gave up hunting in the later years and worked on safeguarding n protecting the tigers. He had another house in Kaladhungi, near Nainital which has been converted into a museum.

A vivacious reader and an author on wild life, particularly on various species of tigers in the Himalayas, Col Edward Jim Corbett digged a big hole and cladestinely buried his three shooting rifles and two pistols covered by mud, near his house in Nainital at an unknown destination before giving up hunting forever and leaving for Kenya.

Built in 1881, Jim stayed in the Gunray House for several years till 1947 with his mother and sister.

Gurney House was Jim and Maggie Corbett’s house in Nainital when their parent’s house had been damaged by landslides. They lived in this house for several years until they had to move to Africa to live with relatives in their old age as they had no other relatives in India.

Jim is reputed to have been a great voice on the Municipal Board of Nainital and walked 20+ miles for meetings. He loved the area very much and would be devastated by the destruction that has occurred. Indians have nothing to be proud of with what has occurred in Nainital.

Jim however was not allowed to join the Boat Club at Nainital by the Britishers, as he was merely a “domiciled European” and not of authentic British blood.

Gurney House is still owned by the Indian family who bought it from the Corbetts. They now live in Ashoka Road in Delhi but come up to the “summer house”. The male caretaker Joshi opened up the house for us and gave certain vital information about the history of the place. According to Joshi the entire furniture is in the original shape being 135 to 140 year old and every thing has been maintained and retained to give the house the archival look.

All the original artefacts, Corbett books, his drawing room furniture, steel beds, dining room table, wooden chairs, study room and the building are all in original shape and stature, immaculately clean and bearing fresh look.

The original furnishings have been retained nicely and decently maintained. There is a single black and while photograph of Jim and his dog , some of his books, fire side chairs, his bed and other odds and ends.

Thanks to the Dalmia’s for having so meticulously n immaculately maintained the entite bungalow with original artefacts and furnitures including the 135 year old books which Jim used to read.

The walls are fitted with original antelope heads and horns and elephant tusks brought by Jim from African countries. It was indeed a great pleasure and priviledge to be in the midst of the belongings and the interiors of the 135 year old original house n pose for photographs, where once lived this iconic personality, a legendary hunter, wild life conservationist, anthropologist and an author, known n remembered for his outstanding contribution for protecting the people of Uttarakhand from maneaters, conserving the forests and then saving the significant spieces of Himalayan tigers for years together.