Wildlife National Sanctuaries and Parks
  
Location: Near Nanital in Uttranchal
Main Wildlife Attractions: Tigers, Leopards and Crocodiles
Coverage Area: 318 sq. km.
Best Time to Visit: best time is from November to June
Project Tiger: launched in 1973
Jim Corbett National Park creates the perfect ambience for all
the tales written on the man-eaters of Kumaon. Corbett has been
a haunting ground for erstwhile rulers as well as wildlife enthusiast
from a long time.
Visitors are allowed in selected areas of Corbett Tiger Reserve
so that they can enjoy the beautiful panorama and the diverse
wildlife living here. Tourist throngs the wildlife national
park from all over the country, in recent years the number of
people coming here has raised drastically. Every season more
than 70,000 tourist visit the park from India and abroad.
Jim Corbett National Park is situated in the foothills of the
Himalyas of Northern India, in the state of Uttranchal. The
park was founded in 1936 and is spreads over an area of 318
sq. km. The park derived its name from the honored hunter and
naturalist, Jim Corbett. It was here that the 'PROJECT TIGER'
was launched in 1973 to save the India's shrinking tiger population.
Corbett has the highest density of Tiger in the country over
one tiger every 10 sq. km. The charm of the park is added with
the twinkling Ramganga River that sweeps down through the hilly
terrain of the wild life and also stocks diversified flora,
gives a safe harbor to crocodiles, fish and surely create an
idle abode for the great Indian Tigers.
Wild Life Charms
Corbett is a home to the Royal Indian Tiger. Along with these
majestic beasts, other main inhabitants of the park are Elephants,
Leopards and Wild bore. Himalayan black beer, Himalayan palm
civet, Indian Grey mongoose, common otter, porcupine, black
napped hare are the other attractions of this area. Corbett
is home of 50 species of mammals, 600 species of birds. There
is also subtle Leopard Cat, Jungle Cat. The Dole or Jackals
are also recurrently sighted in the southern areas of the park.
Elephants are among the major attractions of Jim Corbett Park
as can be frequently see wandering in the park along with their
little ones. The park is also abode to 4 species of deer like
the barking deer, para, kakkar, and the well known spotted deer
(chital). Long nosed Gharial and crocodiles can also be seen
luxuriating on the banks of the river, supported by numerous
migratory birds. There are numerous watchtowers and daytime
photography is also allowed.
Great Indian Tiger
It is absolutely enchanting to sight the tiger in its various
subtlety of mood, luxuriating in the shade of tall grasses of
the woods or wading in water or stalking and geared to pounce
upon its prey. When this majestic beast is hungry then there
is no turning back, it will chase, hunt and grab any herbivore
that comes in its way. It is really amazing to know that how
much co-ordination of time and surrounding is important for
one such hunting. Project Tiger aimed at preserving and protecting
the tiger from extinction, it was reveled through census that
the tiger population was 40,000 in 1913 and it drastically came
down to 2,000 in 1970. With the measures taken up by the government
the tiger population has risen up to some extent.
Bird Watching in the Wild
Corbett National Park is a paradise for the wonder-lust bird
watchers. About, 580 different varieties of local and migratory
birds nestle here. The idle time for bird watching is winter
season, from December to February.
The park idle place for bird watching and offers diverse opportunities
specially near the ponds and water bodies, flying low on the
blue waters or feeding their young ones, it all creates a perfect
ambience and a desired tourist destination. Most of the water
birds are the migrant variety, and arrive in winters. Some of
these are the bareheaded goose, duck, snipe, sandpiper, gull
and wagtail. The other residents of the park are darters, cormorants,
egrets, herons, the black-necked stork and the spur winged lapwings.
Vegetation in the Park
The wild Life Park has a hilly terrain passing swampy valleys,
plateaus and ravines with elevated green trees. A booming Sal
forest is extended on the hilly slopes and ridges, the splendorous
fragrance of the Pam and Sal trees in the air is just hypnotic.
The lower areas in the wild is supported by flat land consists
of towering and narrow Sal trees. The middle lands are the home
to Shisham and khair trees while the topmost reaches of the
mountains are abundant of bakli, chir, gurail and bamboo trees.
Entry Permits: All visitors to Corbett National Park have to
obtain permit before 11am. at the Project Tiger office at Ramnagar
to get an entry in to the park.
General Information
There is a daily bus service Ramnagar to Dikhala halting at
the Forest Rest houses en route. Banking and other important
tourist facilities are available at Ramnagar and Lucknow. Binoculars
giving the detailed information about the wild are easily available
at the park and must be carried. One has to maintain the disciplines
and the laws of the wild by following the instructions written
on the sign board, don't make loud sounds as the creatures may
turn furious or avoid wearing bright colors and applying pungent
perfumes.
Safari in the Wild
Tourist can enjoy Elephant, Jeep, and many more safaris through
difficult and rugged terrain of the wild. The safari can be
booked in advance at Project tiger office at the Jim Corbett
National Park. The wild life of the dense forest can be explored
in their most natural form by choosing safari from the diverse
opportunities available at the Jim Corbett National Park or
by booking in advance at Project tiger office.
Opting for an elephant safari is real enthralling as animals
are watched from a raised platform making it a real royal ride.
Elephant rides for wildlife viewing, in the mornings and evenings,
can be booked in the Dhikala complex.
Jeeps Safari is the most suitable and faster way to travel and
explore the dense and the interiors of the wildlife. The jeeps
can be hired at Ramnagar from the KMVN Tourist Lodge and from
other travel agencies by making prior booking.
Accommodation
The best places to stay within the Park are at Dhikala, Gairal
and Bijrani.
Quality Inn Corbett Jungle Resort, 9km. from the park is a nice
pleasant cottage equipped with all modern facilities and an
excellent continental cuisine, available at Rs.3200 including
meals.
Forest Rest House in the Park is another lounge facilitate with
generators is available in Rs.500 per room.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit the park is from mid November to mid
June .It is closed from June to November. Summer time is best
for observing the large mammals as they come close to the water
bodies, and winter seasons for waterbeds.
Getting Around
Air: The nearest airport is Pantnagar airport 51km.away
from the park. By taking a taxi or a tourist bus one can reach
Jim Corbett National Park.
Rail: Nearest Railhead is Ramnagar- 21km.from the Wild
life Park. It is easily accessible by road from Ramnagar. The
Delhi Transport Corporation buses also run from New Delhi to
Ramnagar, Delhi-Gajrola-Moradabad-Kashipur-Ramnagar (240 km)
Bareilly-Kichha-Haldwani-Ramnagar (160 km).
Road: From Ramnagar taxis and tourist cabs are easily
available for the park and can be hired at reasonable rates.
Deluxe and semi-deluxe bus services can be availed from all
nearby places. Delhi Transport Corporation runs a semi-deluxe
bus service.
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