The state government will launch an adventure tourism package next week to give the visitors an experience of the life and times of the legendary hunter Jim Corbett.

Corbett Heritage Tourism Package is a move by the tourism department’s initiative to promote eco-tourism in Uttarakhand, State Tourism Minister Madan Kaushik told Hindustan Times on Sunday.

It would become a regular feature on the tourism package offered by the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam for tourists visiting Nainital, the minister said in a conversation over phone from Haridwar.

Following a formal launch of the Corbett Heritage Tourism Package by the KMVN, private hoteliers in Nainital would also be encouraged to market the (Corbett Heritage Tourism) package in their respective tourism offerings, he said.

"The move would provide the tourists a much-needed option for excursion in a beautiful but small hill station like Nainital, where they (tourists) get bored within days of their arrival as the area has on offer only a limited number of sightseeing spots," Kaushik said.

KMVN’s Regional Tourism Manager, DK Sharma said that as part of the day-long Corbett tour package, tourists would get to visit almost all the spots associated with the legendary hunter in Nainital.

It would cover both of Corbett’s summer home (Nainital) and his erstwhile village, Chhoti Haldwani in Kaladhungi besides all the spots associated with the famed hunter-conservationist that are located on the 35-km long hilly, Nainital-Kaladhungi highway."

As per the itinerary planned for tourists, they would leave Nainital for Corbett’s village (Choti Haldwani) early morning while halting on the way, frequently, to enjoy sightseeing at various places, said KMVN’s Manager, Adventure Tourism, Girdhar Manral.

Identifying some of these sightseeing spots as Sarita Tal, Khurpa Tal and the famous Corbett Fall. Also included is a particular spot favoured by the hunter himself between Nainital and Choti Haldwani.

After reaching Chhoti Haldwani, however, tourists would be taken to the Corbett Museum, housed in his quaint, beautifully built heritage bungalow, where they would get to watch a whole array of precious memorabilia associated with the man, who is still remembered as a "saviour" by the hill folk of Uttarakhand.

The reason: Corbett risked his own life by shooting a number of big cats that used to prowl and attack the locals of the area.

An interesting feature of the package, according to officials, would be visitors’ interaction with the senior citizens of Choti Haldwani.

"This interaction, for sure, would be a memorable and thrilling experience for tourists as some of the senior citizens of that village are contemporaries of Corbett. They will narrate to visitors a number of unknown tales relating to the legendary figure about whom the world today knows only through his beautifully penned shikar tales," said Manral.

Besides, visitors would also get to have a look at a rare vintage piece, a rifle Corbett had gifted to his fellow villagers long before he left for Kenya," said Sharma.

Today, the rifle is the most precious possession of the residents of that tiny village (Choti Haldwani)."

The hunter’s summer home at Nainital, Gurney House, may be off bounds for tourists as the present owners may not allow entry into their residential premises now.