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.