Corbett National Park

One of the Oldest National Parks in India

The Jim Corbett National Park is located in the Himalayan foothills, peacefully nestled in the state of Uttarakhand. Being one of the oldest national parks in India, this national park situated in the Nainital district, is definitely a heaven for the adventure freaks. It is also known as the first reserve that began the drive for Tiger Conservation in 1973.

Along with the rare species of flora and fauna, the national park is also known for being called different names at different points in time. For example, it was established in 1936 and was called as the Hailey National Park. Later, it was even named as the Ramganga National Park after India got its independence and it was only in 1956 that it was renamed as Jim Corbett National Park- the name which is continued to be used till today. The name is derived from the name of Edward James Corbett, a British hunter born in India who was famous for hunting the man eating tigers. He later became a conservationist when he realised that all the man eating tigers that he had been killing on a rampage, were infected by some disease, making them lose their temper and hunt. Thus, he established a national park to conserve these wild cats and also educate the people regarding the importance of preserving wild life.

The location of Jim Corbett National Park in the sub-Himalayan belt along with its focus of conserving the Bengal Tiger, makes it a haven for adventure tourists. Beautiful dense forests and landscapes are important attractions of the national park along with its commitment to eco-tourism. Along with these features, the Jim Corbett National Park is also known for fishing, trekking, riding elephants, safaris and camping.

Tourist attractions in Jim Corbett National Park

Flora: The Jim Corbett National Park has 488 different varieties of flora. Some of the most common trees found in the territory are Sal, Ber, Khair, Semal, Kharpat, Pula, Bakli and bamboo trees. In addition, the national park also preserves rare species of flowers like the Amaltas, Indian Coral, Flame of the Forest, Kachnaar and Semal. Chir Pine is the rare coniferous variety found in the national park. Few tree species have also been artificially planted in the national park like Silver Oak, Teak, Bottlebrush, Jacaranda and Eucalyptus. Along with it, there are 70 different varieties of grasses that are also grown in Jim Corbett National Park, and these are, Khus Khus, Khansi, Spear Grass, Narkul and Bhabar.

Fauna: Approximately 586 wildlife species can be found in Jim Corbett National Park. It is known for protecting the endangered species of Bengal tigers in India. Apart from the tigers, one can also spot Sambar Deer, Nilgai, King Cobra, Indian Pangolin, Gharial, common musk shrew and wild boars in the national park. There are around 600 varieties of birds found in the national park. Some of them are Kingfisher, Wagtail, thrush, Patridge, Magpie, Minivet, bunting, Sun bird, dove, woodpecker and Bulbul. 33 different varieties of reptiles are also present here with Indian python being the main attraction.

Excursions from Jim Corbett National Park

Sitabani Forest Reserve: Consisting of 19 villages, it is the buffer zone in the Jim Corbett National park. Jeep Safari and the elephant safari are the two main modes of transport in this buffer zone. It also includes a famous Sitabani temple that has been dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Corbett Waterfalls: It is located 25 km away Ramnagar. The waterfalls falls from the height of 60 feet. It has also developed as a camping site. Pin drop silence in the soft and subtle ambience of the waterfalls makes it a very sought after destination. A Nature Walk Museum is also located near to it.

Sun Rise Point: It is the highest peak in the Jim Corbett National Park and is surrounded by the Bhuwankhal Village. From the very peak, along with watching the beautiful sun rise , one can also see the beautiful rivers of Kosi and Ramganga.

When to Reach
There are five different zones present in the Jim Corbett National Park and the tourists can easily throng the different zones, at the respective visiting time. The Jhirna Zone is opened round the year along with the Sonanadi and Sitabani Zone. The Sonanadi Wildlife sanctuary is closely located to the Jim Corbett National Park. The Dhikala Zone forms the core of the park and it is opened from 15th November to 15th June. The Bijrani Zone is opened from 1st of October to the 30th of June. The Durga Devi Zone is open for tourist from 15th November to 15th June.

How to Reach
Air: The nearest airport to Jim Corbett National Park is located at a distance of 50 km at Phoolbag, Pantnagar.
Rail: The closest railway station to Jim Corbett National Park is Ram Nagar and it is located at a distance of 12 km.
Road: Mostly tourists drive from Delhi to Jim Corbett National Park which is located at a distance of 295 km. One needs to travel through Hapur, Garhmukeshwar, Moradabad and Ramnagar to reach the Jim Corbett National park.