Jim Corbett National Park
Uttarakhand – India’s Oldest National Park and the Birthplace of Project Tiger
Jim Corbett National Park, in the foothills of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand, is the oldest and best- known national park in India. It contains a great deal of sal forest, grasslands, wetlands and the Ramganga River environment; it supports the highest number of Bengal Tigers in India, in addition to Asian elephants, leopards, gharials, sloth bears, and over 600 kinds of birds. Being only a few hours by car from Delhi, Corbett has become a very well-liked place for wildlife tours, watching birds, and jungle safaris in northern India – and gives visitors a rare combination of excitement, the natural world, and history.
Corbett is even more remarkable because of its huge range of landscapes – from river areas and thick woods, to open valleys and quiet lakes – which make the best homes for a very large number of animals. It is not only good for seeing tigers, but is also among the best places in India for birdwatching, with birds which visit for a time, and birds which live there all year, making its skies more interesting. The park’s place in history as the beginning of Project Tiger in 1973 gives it more importance, and makes it a place which people who enjoy wildlife, photographers, and people who care about protecting nature must visit.
In 1936 the park was founded as Hailey National Park, and then renamed to remember the well- known hunter who became a protector of nature, Colonel Jim Corbett; the park is a tribute to his hard work in keeping India’s forests and animals safe. At first known as Ramganga National Park, it finally got its present name in 1956 to give credit to Jim Corbett’s part in setting up the park and deciding where its limits were.
Today, Corbett is one of India’s most famous wildlife areas, and is known for having one of the greatest numbers of tigers in the country – around one for every 5 sq. km.
The park’s landscapes are very different from each other; sal forests cover the high ground, mixed deciduous trees are in the valleys, and there are over 110 types of trees, 51 bushes, and more than 30 kinds of bamboo and grasses which make its environment richer.
Jim Corbett is a paradise for people who enjoy wildlife, giving chances to see:
- Predators: Bengal Tigers, Leopards, Asiatic Black Bears, and Sloth Bears.
- Large Mammals: Indian Elephants, Deer, Antelopes, and Gaurs.
- Reptiles: Marsh Crocodiles, Gharials, and King Cobras.
- Aquatic Life: The famous Golden Mahseer in the Ramganga River.
- Birdlife: With over 600 kinds of birds, including 49 types of birds of prey, Corbett is known around the world as one of the best places in India to watch birds.
This makes the park have more birds than all of Europe together, and represents nearly a quarter of all the kinds of birds in India.
One of the special experiences which makes Corbett different is its forest rest houses, run by the government, which are inside the park. Dhikala Rest House is the most popular of these; it is in a good position near the river and attracts an amazing number of wild animals right to its door, making it the perfect place for photographers and people who love nature.
Geographical details
Altitude : 400 m to 1,220 m above mean sea level
Vegetation : Humid deciduous forests, dry deciduous forests, meadows and riparian zones
Water resources : Ramganga River, Kosi River and numerous seasonal streams
Main area : 520 km²
Buffer zone : 797 km²
Coordinates : 29°25′N to 29°39′N and 78°44′E to 79°07′E
Rainfall : Approximately 1400 mm per year
Temperature : Min.: 4°C | Max.: 42°C
