Home :: Wildlife in India :: Corbett National Park

Corbett National Park at a Glance :
• Altitude : Between 400 m to 1,100 m.
• Area : 520.8 sq km. (Approx.)
• State of Corbett National Park : Uttranchal
• Location : Foot Hills of Himalayas.
• Wildlife Attraction in Corbett National Park : Elephants, Tigers, Chital, Mugger, Crocodile, Migratory birds etc.
• Best Time To Visit : September March, July- August, April-June

About Corbett National Park :
The Corbett National Park, where Project Tiger was launched in 1973, is regarded as India's finest national park and its major attractions are the Tiger, Indian Elephant and Leopard.Corbett national park is drained by the Ramganga river, the dam at Kalagarh forming a huge lake to the west of the national park. The park is essentially a large low valley.

A range of hills runs through the middle of the national park, roughly east to west. The forests are moist deciduous, with Sal as the dominant tree.Chir Pine trees are to be found on the higher ridges of the hills. On the low-lying areas riverine forests, with Shisham and Khair trees, are intermixed with grasslands known locally as 'Chaurs'.

History of Corbett National Park :
Jim Corbett National Park India has always been famous for their resident tigers. Initially Jim Corbett National Park reserve was named as 'Hailey National Park' in 1936. Jim Corbett National Park was renamed in 1954-55 as 'Ramganga National Park' and again in 1955-56 as 'Jim Corbett National Park' after Jim Corbett who hunted down tigers that had turned man-eaters, between 1907 to 1939. Jim Corbett National Park India is the 1st and oldest National Park of India. Jim Corbett National Park India was one of the nine Tiger Reserves created at the launch of the Project Tiger in 1973.

Flora In Jim Corbett Park
The varied topography comprises hilly and riverine areas, temporary marshy depressions, plateaus and ravines. The lower areas are almost completely populated by Sal trees. In the Jim Corbett National Park are found 110 tree species, 50 mammals species, 580 bird species and 25 reptile species.

Fauna of the Park :
Here are found wild elephants, leopards, hyenas, jackals and wild dogs. There are also some magnificent hog deer, barking deer, sambhar, chital and bears, both sloth and Himalayan. There is an occasional serow and some gural, mongooses, palm squirrel, flying squirrel, ratel, wild cat, antelopes, deer, wild boar, otter and porcupine.There are eight watch towers in the park and elephants are available in Dhikala and Bijrani to view the wonders from November to June.

Birds at Corbett National Park :
The park, with its rich biogeographic diversity, is home to more than 600 species of birds - about half of the total species found in the entire Indian subcontinent! You can see parakeets, owls, orioles, drongos, thrushes, babblers, bulbuls, cuckoos, doves, bee eaters, rollers, flycatchers, warblers, robins, chats, finches, forktails, hornbills, kingfishers and many many more. It is also possibly one of the best places in the world for observing birds of prey. About 50 species out of the total 70 odd species found in South East Asia live in the park.

The numerous water bodies provide an ideal habitat for ducks and waders.Many of these birds are migratory: the park forms a natural crossroad and meeting ground for avian species from high altitude areas, plains and eastern and western regions.Because of this unique location, the bird population is pretty high throughout the year, with winter visitors, summer visitors, altitudinal migrants, passage migrants and local migrants.Even the fringes of the park are eminently rewarding. All you need is a pair of binoculars for hours - and even days - of fascinated birdwatching.

Jeep Safari in Corbett :
Jeeps Safari, is the most convenient way to travel within Corbett national park, and can be rented for the park trips from Ramnagar, from the KMVN Tourist Lodge and other travel agencies . One bus each day goes to Dikhala from Ramnagar, stopping at the Forest Rest houses en route. Banking and other important tourist facilities are available at Ramnagar and Lucknow.

Places to Stay :
• Kyari Resort, Jim Corbett Park
• Corbett Ramganga Resort, Jim Corbett Park
• The Claridges Corbett Hideaway, Jim Corbett Park
• The Corbett River - View Retreat, Jim Corbett Park
• Infinity Resort, Jim Corbett Park
• Roop Resort-Jim Corbett Park
• Corbett Jungle Resort, Jim Corbett Park
• Corbett Riverside Resort, Jim Corbett Park

How to Get There :
By Air : Phoolbagh, Pantnagar at a distance of 50 km is the nearest airport. Delhi at a distance of 300 km is the nearest international airport.

By Rail : Ramnagar is on the broad gauge track from where the road transport options have to be availed to reach the park.

By Road : Dhikala is 300 km from Delhi, 145 km from Lucknow and 51 km from Ramnagar. The route from Delhi spans Hapur-Murababad-Ramnagar. The turn off is some 7 km beyond Muradabad to the left, marked by a small board. The route from Lucknow spans Bareilly. Kichha. Rudrapur. Doraha. Kashipur.