Home > Destinations > Uttaranchal >

Corbett National Park

Elephants in Corbett National Park, Uttaranchal

Location

Corbett National Park is located in Ramganga valley in Uttaranchal. 263 kilometers from Delhi, it lies in the Himalayan foothills.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to be in Corbett park is after the months of monsoons (June to November). That's because the Ramganga reservoir becomes habitat of migratory birds from December to February. However, if tigers are your reason to be in Corbett then wait till the summers are in their full scorch. That's the time when tigers come out of deep forests for water.

About Jim Corbett National Park

Corbett National Park is the first National Park of India that was formerly known as Hailey National Park. The park, spread in a vast expanse of 520.82 sq km is the pride of India when it comes to wildlife sanctuaries. Initial efforts were done by Major Ramsay in 1900 and in 1936 an area of 256 sq. km was marked for the park by the then Governor General of United province Sir Malcolm Hailey. All these efforts had come up as a result of few conservationists who wanted to protect the park from being cut down and animals being hunted down on regular basis. The Park was finally named Jim Corbett National Park in 1957 after Jim Corbett. He was a known man in the area, a hunter turned conservationists. He knew the place inside out and played an important role in making the park a success story. He had also hunted down several man eating tigers in the area in 1950's. The park was named after him after he died.

In 1970's when extinction of tigers in the country became a serious issue, Project Tiger was inaugurated from Corbett National Park with the aid from World Wildlife Fund. In 1991 the area of park was increased and Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary was also included in it.

The park today is a major success as a result of continuous efforts by conservationists. It is one of the best preserved forest and tiger reserves in the country.

Corbett National Park Attractions

Flora

Adding to the beauty of Corbett National Park is its green belt i.e. the flora here. Sal trees are here in large numbers, especially in the lower regions. The higher regions have Chir, Anauri and Bakli trees. Bamboo varieties are also found at large (though they are a cause of irritant to the jungle authorities as they spread like weeds). Falling leaves of Sal trees make a beautiful sight during summers but are cause of concern as they can cause fire. A major part of the Corbett also comprises of the grasslands, the varieties popularly known as 'Dhikhala' and 'Khinanauli'. Not very tall, these grasses are good places to catch up with herds of elephants.

Animals

There are some fifty species of mammals in the park. Of all the species here, tigers are the obvious ones which attract tourists. Apart from tigers, there are Indian elephants which one would spot easily. Other animals which you can spot here, some on your own and some with little guidance are Leopards, Jungle Cats, Fishing Cats (a rare species), Caracal Sloth Bear, Wild Boar, Langur, Rhesus Monkey, Cheetah, Sambar, Pada (Hog Deer), Muntjac Bear (Barking Deer) and Ghoral (Mountain Goat). If you take a guided tour then you might even get to see Martens, Civets, Mongoose, Otters, Porcupines, Jackals, Pangolins and Macaques.

Reptiles

There are quite a number of reptiles also in Corbett National Park. Some of the common reptiles you will spot here are Gharials (fish eating crocodiles), Muggers (another species of crocodiles), Monitor Lizards, Turtles, Cobras, Pythons, Sal forest Tortoise, Russell's viper and kraits.

Birds

Surprisingly Corbett along with some ferocious beasts is also home to many species of birds. Especially the area around the Ramganga reservoir is a natural habitat of birds. According to a survey by zoological survey of India there are some 600 species of birds available in Corbett National Park. A lot of migrant birds can also be seen here.

Some of the species are Herons, Darters, Cormorants, Lapwings, Paradise Flycatchers, Munias, Weaver birds, Eagles, Black throated Payas, Mynas, Kingfishers, migrant Gulls, Kalij Pheasants, Grebes, Grey Lags, Snipes, Harriers, Ospreys, Minivets, Babblers, Hornbills, falcons and Stone Curlews.

Things to Do

Tiger Spotting

Most of the visitors, if not all, come with the purpose of seeing tigers in Corbett National Park. The best time to see them is April to mid June. The park authorities claim that the park has 140 tigers. However, there is no guarantee that you will spot one or not. In case you have come specially to spot a tiger then take jeep since it will help you cover more area in less time. The guides here are very well versed with the howls and cries, sounds and trails which will take you to tigers.

Elephant Rides

Enjoy the fun of sitting on the largest living mammal on land and feel the bumping ride as you go up and down on the rough terrain. There are less chances of spotting tigers this way but the fun is worth giving a try. And when you spot some animals, you actually have more time to see them then in jeep since elephants are slower, but take photographs on your own risk!

Fishing

Fishing is permitted in Corbett in Ramganga, Kosi, Mandal and Kothari rivers. But you need to take permission before you go fishing. Rods are available on hire. Resorts also arrange fishing and angling trips here. So you can catch fish, and have your own lunch here.

Treks

Walking in the park is not allowed but you can go trekking in the forest reserves around the park. Take comfortable trekking shoes and try to blend with the surroundings by wearing natural earth colours. It gets freezing in winters so be equipped for that. Don't disturb the natural habitat and make minimum noise. And most important of all do not forget your binoculars, in case you don't carry one, you will repent later.

Kids Corner In Corbett

There are special 'Earth camps' in Corbett to keep the kids hooked. Started in 2004, the camp aims to bring children closer to particular 'Biomes' to give them first hand experience of nature. The 'Biomes' are specially tailored to match with the requirements of biology curriculams of school going children.

Jeep Safari

A wonderful way to explore this vast park is through jeep safari. It is not possible to cover the entire length of the park on foot on a three to four day trip. If you are here specially for tigers then it is always advisable to take a jeep safari as you will be able to cover more area in less time. Besides the drivers are also experienced and instantly recognise the sounds and know the tracks of tigers. So it is always better to take a jeep safari.