Location : 63 Kms southwest of Nainital, Uttaranchal
Area : 1,200 sq. kms
Prime Attractions : Tigers, Leopards, Crocodiles, Sloth Bear,
Himalayan Black Bear, Dhole, Jackal, Yellow Throated Martem, Himalayan Palm
Civet, Indian Grey Mongoose.
How to Reach : Nearest airport is Phoolbagh (Pantnagar), Ramnagar is
the nearest railhead. One can reach the park by bus, taxi or car.
Where to Stay : Plenty of accommodation options are available at
Dhikala. Tourists can stay in forest rest houses, huts, tents and
dormitories.
Ideal Time To Visit : The park is close for visitors between 15th
June to 15th November. Ideal time to visit the park is February to May.
Corbett National Park - The Hunting Preserve of the Erstwhile Rewa
Rulers
Situated in the foothills of Kumaon ranges, the Corbett National Park
is the first national park of India. Today the park is regarded as one
of the finest wildlife parks in the world. Established by Jim Corbett in
1936, the park was formerly known as the Hailey National Park, which was
later changed to Corbett National Park. Once the hunting preserve of
erstwhile Rewa rulers, Corbett was declared a Tiger Reserve on April
1,1973. The project was started with the help of WWF (World Wildlife
Fund) to save Indian tigers. The park is known for its White Tigers, but
it also houses several other endangered species. The beautiful landscape
is mainly a low valley is crossed by river Ramganga, with mountain range
running east to west.
Prime Attractions of the Park
Fauna of the Park
Corbett National Park is home to several faunal species which include
Tiger, Leopard, Elephant, Deer, Himalayan Palm Civet, Sloth Bear,
Himalayan Black Bear, Dhole, Jackal, Common Otter, Yellow Throated
Martem, Indian Grey Mongoose, Hare, Crocodile, Turtles, Tortoises,
Cobra, Krait, Python and Viper etc. Besides, the park houses above 600
avian species which include resident as well as migratory birds. Most
famous migratory birds which visiting the park are Sandpiper, Greylag,
Duck, Bar-headed Goose, Snipe, Grepe and Wagtail. The resident birds
found in the park include Egrets, Black-necked Stork, Parakeets, Herons,
Darters, Cormorants, Babblers, , Orioles, Rollers, Flycatchers,
Warblers, Hornbills and Kingfishers.
Flora of the Park
The topography of the park consists of hilly and riverine areas,
valleys, plateaus and ravines. The park area mostly dominated by the
deciduous forests, has 110 tree species. Lower areas are mainly
populated by Sal, Pine, Shisham and Khair trees.
Other Attractions
Jeep Safari
The Jeep Safari is the best and the most convenient option to explore
the wildlife of the park. It can be arranged from Ramnagar, from the
KMVN Tourist Lodge and other travel agencies.
Elephant Safari
Elephant Safari is an amazing experience to closely watch the wild
animals. The journey usually starts in the early morning with an
authorized mahout guide. While on Elephant Safari one can spot Chital,
Sambar, Deer species and even a tiger.
Ramnagar
Ramnagar is the main administrative centre for Corbett National Park
and Project Tiger. The busy market town is the base camp for fishing.
Permits are required for fishing. These permits can be taken from the
Project Tiger Office in Ramnagar.