Autox
Autox Logo
  • Cars

    Explore

    New CarsCars FinderTop Selling CarsNew LaunchesUpcoming CarsUpcoming Electric Cars

    Resource

    Compare CarsCar DealersCar Service CentreCar Driving SchoolsMaruti Suzuki Driving Schools

    Popular Cars

    Audi A8 LMahindra XUV 3XOMaruti Suzuki BrezzaTata PunchMaruti Suzuki Wagon RHyundai Creta

    Cars By Budget

    Cars Under ₹ 20 LakhCars Under ₹ 25 LakhCars Under ₹ 30 LakhCars Under ₹ 35 LakhCars Under ₹ 40 LakhCars Under ₹ 1 Crore

    Popular Car Comparision

    Maruti Suzuki Baleno Vs Tata AltrozMaruti Suzuki Wagon R Vs Maruti Suzuki CelerioMaruti Suzuki Ertiga Vs Maruti Suzuki XL6Citroen C3 Vs Tata Punch
  • Bikes

    Explore

    New BikesNew LaunchesElectric BikesUpcoming BikesUpcoming Electric Bikes

    Resource

    Bike FinderCompare BikesPopular BikesBike On Road PriceBike Dealers

    Popular Bikes

    Aprilia SR 160Ampere NexusBajaj Dominar 250BMW R 1250 RTTVS iQubeAmpere Primus

    Bikes By Budget

    Bikes Under ₹ 50,000Bikes Between ₹ 60K - ₹ 70KBikes Between ₹ 70K - ₹ 80KBikes Between ₹ 80K - ₹ 90KBikes Between ₹ 90K - ₹ 1 Lakh

    Popular Bikes Comparision

    Hero Glamour Vs Honda ShineRoyal Enfield Hunter 350 [2024] Vs TVS RoninRoyal Enfield Meteor 350 Vs Royal Enfield Hunter 350 [2024]Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 Vs Royal Enfield Continental GT 650
  • Scooters

    Explore

    New ScootersNew LaunchesUpcoming ScootersPopular Scooters

    Resource

    Scooter FinderCompare ScootersScooter On Road PriceScooter Dealers

    Popular Scooters

    Ampere PrimusSuzuki Access 125TVS JupiterTVS Ntorq 125Honda Activa 125TVS Jupiter 125

    Scooters By Budget

    Scooters Between ₹ 40K - ₹ 50KScooters Between ₹ 50K - ₹ 60KScooters Between ₹ 60K - ₹ 70KScooters Between ₹ 70K - ₹ 80K

    Popular Scooters Comparision

    TVS Ntorq 125 Vs Honda Activa 125Honda Dio Vs Honda Activa 6GHonda Activa 125 Vs Honda Activa 6GAther 450X Vs OLA S1
  • Reviews
    ReviewsCar ReviewsBike ReviewsLong Term Reports

    Latest Reviews

    1741784905479 156o Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider Front Three Quarter

    Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider First Drive Review: Versatility in Verde

    1740405300972 Jnkj KTM 390 Adventure Web 2

    KTM 390 Adventure First Ride Review: It's Everything You Wanted, And More!

    2025 Ather 450X

    2025 Ather 450X Review: The e-scooter for Rallying?

    2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid Driving

    2025 Camry Hybrid First Drive Review: Luxury and Performance with 25kmpl

    New Gen Honda Amaze 2

    New Honda Amaze First Drive Review: Next-Gen or Facelift?

  • Features
    Automotive TechnologyExclusive StoriesQuattroruoteInterviewsTipsTravelOpinionWatches

    Latest Articles

    1744802134406 Jszy Royal Enfield Wanderer WP

    Royal Enfield Wanderer WP Boots Review: Everyday Hero!

    1742796053538 Tics Royal Enfield Adventurer XT

    Royal Enfield Adventurer XT Review: Adventure Ready!

    1744801608210 Xwxd BSA, Jawa Track Day Front Three Quarter

    Classic Legends Track Day: RIding Classic Machines from Jawa, Yezdi and BSA on NATRAX

    1743141573915 M5vz Kawasaki ELIMINATOR (6)

    Kawasaki Eliminator: 5 Reasons Why You Should Consider Buying this Cruiser in India

    1743142406625 Gcfy Kawasaki KLX230

    5 Reasons Why the Kawasaki KLX230 is a Great Choice for Motorcyclists in India

  • News
    NewsWeb StoriesAuto ShowBike NewsCar NewsIndustry NewsMotorsport NewsFuel PriceGreen News

    News

    1746773403303 4t7j Kia Carens Clavis

    Kia Carens Clavis Vs Hyundai Alcazar Spec Comparison: What's Different?

    1747047548847 Wj8w Jeep Commander

    Jeep Meridian Updated with More Powerful 197bhp 2.2-Litre Diesel Engine in Brazil

    1746598304930 39vr Triumph Scrambler 400X New Colour

    Triumph Scrambler 400 X Gets Free 10-Year Warranty Coverage Till May End

    1747108281580 Fvh1 Skoda Enyaq RS

    Skoda Enyaq RS SUV Revealed with Improved Aero and Bigger Battery Pack

    1747060767850 99xt Tata Altroz Facelift

    Tata Altroz Facelift Unveiled with Styling and Feature Updates Ahead of India Launch

  • Gallery
    Image GalleryVideo Gallery

    Image Gallery

    Auto-x

    BMW 3 Series LWB

    Auto-x

    Lotus Emira

    Auto-x

    Yamaha FZ-S Fi Hybrid

    Auto-x

    Vida V2

    Auto-x

    Vespa 125

  • Motorsport
    F1MotoGPFormula EMotorsport News

    Latest Motorsport News

    1747037423284 Alkt MotoGP, Harley Davidson To Launch Global Bagger Racing Series

    MotoGP, Harley-Davidson to Launch Global Bagger Racing Series with Road Glide in 2026

    1747019756292 Jpzf Johann Zarco

    MotoGP French GP: Johann Zarco Wins at Le Mans, Breaks Honda’s Two-Year Winless Streak

    1746769538776 4bv8  Defender D7X R

    Dakar 2026: Land Rover Tests D7X-R Prototype, Signs Rally Legend Peterhansel

    1741000042026 Np2o MotoGP 2025

    MotoGP French GP: Here’s When, Where and How to Watch the 2025 Le Mans Race in India

    1746697359311 Jw1s Brawn GP BGP 001

    Brawn GP’s Championship-Winning F1 Car Fetches USD 3.8 Million in Auction

  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. Into The Wild Exploring Uttarakhands Exquisite Wildlife With Mercedes Benz Glb 113385

Into the Wild: Exploring Uttarakhand's Exquisite Wildlife with Mercedes-Benz GLB

Adventure. There’s no doubt that it means different things to different folks. But, if you look it up in a dictionary, an adventure is defined as something that is an ‘unusual, exciting, and possibly dangerous activity, trip, or experience, or the excitement produced by such activities.’

By Shivank Bhatt

30 May, 2023

10 min read

Follow us on

Merc GLB Front View

Adventure. There’s no doubt that it means different things to different folks. But, if you look it up in a dictionary, an adventure is defined as something that is an ‘unusual, exciting, and possibly dangerous activity, trip, or experience or the excitement produced by such activities.'

Now, being car enthusiasts with a knack for travelling, our definition of an adventure is pretty straightforward. We love exploring new places with our favourite set of wheels! And these places and experiences aren’t just for kicks, but they also serve as soul-cleansing experiences. A detox from the mundane, if you will.

Allow us, then, to share with you an adventure of rather epic proportions, which we undertook recently when we headed to some of the most serene, challenging, and picturesque vistas of Uttarakhand. Covering four national parks of this beautiful Himalayan state, we embarked on a 1,500km road trip across the length and breadth of Uttarakhand in search of its exquisite wildlife while also soaking in some of nature’s most breathtaking views around these parks.

Merc GLB Motion

Of course, for an adventurous road trip such as this, we needed an SUV that not just feels right at home on the rough turf, but doesn’t compromise on driving pleasure, luxury, creature comforts, and space. Not to mention, since this journey is all about capturing the natural beauty in its true essence, an SUV that’s high on style was a must. And, suffice to say, the vehicle you see here – the all-new Mercedes-Benz GLB – fits the bill to a tee. Firstly, thanks to its mini-GLS design, it grabs eyeballs everywhere you go. Plus, with its rugged off-road oriented design, short overhangs, 4MATIC all-wheel drive, and a mighty diesel motor, it’s got all the ingredients for an adventurous road trip.

On the other hand, it’s a true Mercedes at heart, meaning it does comfort and luxury like no other. And, with three rows, it had ample space to carry our adventure and camera gear as well as the entire crew. With the third row folded down, it opens up 500 litres of boot space. The second row can also be folded flat in a 40:20:40 split and can slide by 140mm, resulting in more legroom space. All in all, the GLB’s versatility makes it a perfect companion for an adventure such as this.

Eye of the Tiger: Jim Corbett

Rajaji Tiger Reserve 2

We kickstarted our adventure with what is probably the most popular wildlife park in Uttarakhand – Jim Corbett. Established in 1936, it is the country’s first national park and is located in the lower foothills of the Himalayan state. The park gets its name from the legendary hunter and naturalist, Edward James Corbett, who hunted a number of man-eating tigers and leopards in this region during the British Raj. Corbett was also instrumental in spreading awareness for the protection of Indian wildlife and played a key role in the creation of a national reserve for the Bengal Tiger. Now, as of today, Jim Corbett Park is home to around 60 mammal species and over 580 bird species. But, yeah, if we have to be honest, we were there to see the Royal Bengal Tiger. And we did, and what a majestic sight it was!

Within just 45 minutes of entering the forest, we were fortunate enough to spot a Bengal Tiger, cooling itself off in a river. Although there are over 250 Bengal Tigers in this reserve, our guide was quick to point out that not everyone visiting the park gets that lucky to see one in this region, so it was truly a sight to behold. Not to mention, everything about this creature is royal in the true sense of the word. The way it walks, stares, or sits, it has a calm yet authoritative charisma for sure. In fact, if you didn’t already know, the term catwalk is derived from a tiger’s walk, for it’s the most giant cat of them all. On our way back from the hotel, we headed to the river bed in Marchula in search of more wildlife. The terrain was rough and rocky but we decided to explore the unexplored nonetheless, thanks to the GLB’s off-road capabilities. We spotted a couple of exotic birds around this region and called it a night with a sumptuous dinner by the river. The next day, we headed towards our next destination – Rajaji National Park.

The Elephant Kingdom: Rajaji National Park

Merc GLB Left Profile View

Located in the Garhwal region, Rajaji National Park is the state’s second most popular wildlife sanctuary. It’s named in honour of freedom fighter and first governor-general of India, Late C Rajagopalachari, who was popularly known as Rajaji. The park is spread over an area of 820 sq. km and is located on the banks of the Ganges and Song rivers and covers areas of Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun. Rajaji also happens to be the second tiger reserve in Uttarakhand and it has over 50 species of mammals, albeit the most popular ones are the endangered Asian Elephants as well as the Bengal Tiger.

The drive from Corbett to Chilla – one of the gates of the Rajaji National Park – takes around 5 hours. However, thanks to the mighty performance of the GLB and empty roads in the wee hours, we covered the 180km distance in just under four hours! In the hills, the GLB was a revelation – its handling is stellar and the grip levels are amazing. Not to mention, with its seamless power delivery, it shoots out of corners like a cat on the prowl! At the same time, its creature comforts, including the opulent and spacious seats, stunning dual HD MBUX displays and a high-quality music system keeps you cocooned in luxury and comfort during long journeys. Suffice it to say, our drive to Chilla was a breeze.

Upon reaching Chilla, we drove deep into the jungle for a jeep safari to spot the famed wildlife of the park. For nearly an hour, we spotted nothing, except some peacocks, migratory birds and red junglefowls. It was turning out to be an unsuccessful stint until the very last minute – while crossing the last river bed on the safari, we came across not one but a whole family of Asian Elephants! And, surprisingly, they were quite patient around us – they even posed multiple times for a ‘family picture’ as we pulled our cameras out. However, with the sun going down, we had to head back. On the drive back, we spotted more wildlife – sambhar, spotted deers, wild boars, etc. Tiger spotting doesn’t happen here as often as in Corbett, but you never know when you get lucky! We didn’t though…

The ‘Mini’ Switzerland: Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Chopta

Merc GLB Front View2

Our next destination was the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary. It’s around 200km from Rajaji National Park, and the drive to the park comprises just hill roads covering the towns of Rishikesh, Devaprayag and Rudraprayag. That said, these roads are some of the best mountain roads in the country and make for an exciting drive. The tarmac is smooth while the road itself is quite wide. And, in the GLB, we managed to munch miles quite briskly.

Kedarnath National Park sprawls over 970 sq.km and is claimed to be the largest protected area in the Western Himalayas. The park’s elevation ranges between 1,000m to 7,000m above sea level. Of course, we couldn’t cover the whole of it in two days, so we stuck to the Kanchulakhrak sanctuary, which is home to the endangered Himalayan Musk Deer. Unfortunately, the day we arrived at the park, it received heavy rainfall along with a hailstorm, meaning we couldn’t spot the musk deer. It must have been sitting cosy somewhere was our guess. That said, the alpine meadows of Chopta made up for all the hard work we had put in to reach there. It’s called the ‘Mini’ Switzerland for a reason. The picturesque views in the region are straight out of a painting, you’ve got to say!

The Last Hurrah: Nanda Devi National Park

Merc GLB Rear Three Quarter 2

Nanda Devi National Park is probably the most underrated, albeit the most stunning park that we visited on this drive. And like they say, you should always end on a high – this was just one such moment.

Located at the heart of Uttarakhand, the Nanda Devi Biosphere, as the name suggests, is a national park around the Nanda Devi mountain – the second-highest peak in the country. Calling this park vast would be such an understatement. You see, this park covers an area of a whopping 6,400 sq. km! What’s more, it’s an altitudinal range of 1,800m to 7,800m – the Nanda Devi peak is 7,816m tall! Of course, with mountains that high, most of the region is off-limits. However, there are some areas where you can visit and spot the spectacular flora and fauna of this park. Prime among this is the Valley of Flowers. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Valley of Flowers is a high-altitude meadow that’s home to over 600 species of exotic flowers. This is where nature blooms in full glory, you’ve to say. That said, it’s not an easy place to reach – you can’t simply show up here in a vehicle. It’s a remote valley that includes a steep trek of around 14km from the village of Pulna, which is where the tarmac ends.

Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve

Now, reaching Pulma, is no cakewalk either. From Chopta, it’s around 120km, but the roads are in terrible shape. With frequent landslides and road construction work going on virtually throughout the year, it’s a treacherous terrain – a natural off-road obstacle course of sorts. Surprisingly, it wasn’t all that difficult for us in the GLB. With its high ground clearance, short overhangs, and the impeccable 4MATIC all-wheel drive system that can split torque 50:50 between the front and rear axles, the GLB made it look like a walk in the park. Of course, we couldn’t go all the way to the Valley of Flowers, for most of it was still snowed up, but the drive to the last village gave us a sense of achievement nonetheless.

With all four parks covered, it was time for us to wrap up this adventure. So, what did we get after covering nearly 1,500 km and scaling some serious altitudes of Uttarakhand? Well, put simply, a soul-filling adventure. To see nature in its rawest form is a blessing indeed. And during our trip to Uttarakhand, everywhere we went, it was like seeing nature paint itself with the most beautiful colours and creatures. As they say, difficult roads always lead to beautiful destinations. This was the case on this adventure as well. The only difference is, while the roads were treacherous and difficult, our journey was made easy by the GLB with its unimpeachable driving experience and luxury.

*This is a special feature

Watch our video

Also read, 

Mercedes-Benz Maybach S-Class, GLS & EQS Dark Night Series Globally Unveiled 

Mercedes-Benz A-Class, AMG A 45 S Facelifts Launched in India Starting at Rs 45.80 Lakh

Tags:

Mercedes-Benz GLBMercedes-BenzTravel

Write your Comment on

Mercedes Benz Glb1

Mercedes-Benz GLB

₹ 63.80 Lakh
Ex-showroom Price

Related Articles

Mercedes Benz EQS Front View
Mercedes-Benz India Announces Dual-Phase Price Hike Amid Forex Fluctuations
1746438653732 1hx4 Mercedes Benz AMG GT APXGP Edition
Mercedes-Benz AMG GT APXGP Edition Revealed as a Nod to Brad Pitt’s F1 Movie
1746081096765 Cica Mercedes AMG GT 63
New Mercedes AMG GT 63, GT 63 Pro India Launch on June 27; Here's All You Need to Know
1745386285271 Skov Mercedes Benz Vision V Electric Van Concept
Mercedes-Benz Vision V Electric Van Concept Revealed With Massive 65-Inch Retractable 4K Screen
1745306523169 47ba Mercedes Benz CLA Electric
Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric Listed on Indian Website – Here's Everything You Need to Know
1744877046896 Ww2d Mercedes Benz G Class Edition Stronger Than The 1980s
Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon Gets 1980s-Inspired Makeover with New Limited Edition

Recent Posts

  • News
  • Reviews
1746773403303 4t7j Kia Carens Clavis

Kia Carens Clavis Vs Hyundai Alcazar Spec Comparison: What's Different?

1747047548847 Wj8w Jeep Commander

Jeep Meridian Updated with More Powerful 197bhp 2.2-Litre Diesel Engine in Brazil

1746598304930 39vr Triumph Scrambler 400X New Colour

Triumph Scrambler 400 X Gets Free 10-Year Warranty Coverage Till May End

1747108281580 Fvh1 Skoda Enyaq RS

Skoda Enyaq RS SUV Revealed with Improved Aero and Bigger Battery Pack

1747060767850 99xt Tata Altroz Facelift

Tata Altroz Facelift Unveiled with Styling and Feature Updates Ahead of India Launch

Read More
Autox
Quick Links
  • Magazine
  • Subscribe Today
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • autoX Awards
Others
  • Luxury Cars
  • Diesel Cars
  • Electric Cars
  • Sedan Cars
  • Mileage Cars
  • Petrol Cars
  • Fuel Price
Popular Car Brands
  • Maruti Suzuki
  • Hyundai
  • Tata
  • Volkswagen
  • Honda
  • Mahindra
  • Kia
Popular Bike Brands
  • Royal Enfield
  • Honda
  • KTM
  • Bajaj
  • Yamaha
  • TVS
  • Hero
C-103, Okhla Industrial Estate
Phase III, New Delhi - 110 020, India
Phone icon
 +91  114279  5000   
Email icon
 info@autox.com
Social media iconSocial media iconSocial media iconSocial media icon
Sign up for our newsletter
© 2006 - 2025 Comnet Publishers Pvt. Ltd. All Rights Reserved