Jim Corbett National Park

Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest national park in India and was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the endangered Bengal tiger. It is located in Nainital district of Uttarakhand and was named after Jim Corbett who played a key role in its establishment. The park was the first to come under the Project Tiger initiative.

The park has sub-Himalayan belt geographical and ecological characteristics.  An ecotourism destination,  it contains 488 different species of plants and a diverse variety of fauna.  The increase in tourist activities, among other problems, continues to present a serious challenge to the park's ecological balance.

Corbett has been a haunt for tourists and wildlife lovers for a long time. Tourism activity is only allowed in selected areas of Corbett Tiger Reserve so that people get an opportunity to see its splendid landscape and the diverse wildlife. In recent years the number of people coming here has increased dramatically. Presently, every season more than 70,000 visitors come to the park from India and other countries.

Flora

A total of 488 different species of plants have been recorded in the park. Tree density inside the reserve is higher in the areas of Sal forests and lowest in the Anogeissus-Acacia catechu forests.  Total tree basal cover is greater in Sal dominated areas of woody vegetation.  Healthy regeneration in sapling and seedling layers is occurring in the Mallotus philippensis, Jamun and Diospyros tomentosa communities, but in the Sal forests the regeneration of sapling and seedling is poor.

Fauna

Over 586 species of resident and migratory birds have been categorised, including the crested serpent eagle, blossom-headed parakeet and the red junglefowl — ancestor of all domestic fowl.  33 species of reptiles, seven species of amphibians, seven species of fish and 36 species of dragonflies have also been recorded.

Bengal tigers, although plentiful, are not easily spotted due to the abundance of camouflage in the reserve. Thick jungle, the Ramganga river, and plentiful prey make this reserve an ideal habitat for tigers who are opportunistic feeders and prey upon a range of animals.  The tigers in the park have been known to kill much larger animals such as buffalo and even elephant for food.  The tigers prey upon the larger animals in rare cases of food shortage. There have been incidents of tigers attacking domestic animals in times when there is a shortage of prey.

leopards are found in hilly areas but may also venture into the low land jungles.  Small cats in the park include the jungle cat, fishing cat and leopard cat.  Other mammals include barking deer, sambar deer, hog deer and chital, Sloth and Himalayan black bears, Indian grey mongoose, otters, yellow-throated martens, Himalayan goral, Indian pangolins, and langur and Rhesus macaques.  Owls and Nightjars can be heard during the night.

In the summer, Indian elephants can be seen in herds of several hundred.[6] The Indian python found in the reserve is a dangerous species, capable of killing a chital deer.[6] Local crocodiles were saved from extinction by captive breeding programs that subsequently released crocodiles into the Ramganga river.

Other attractions

Dhikuli is a well known destination in the park and situated at the fringes of Patli Dun valley. There is a rest house, which was built hundred of years ago. Kanda ridge forms the backdrop, and from Dhikala, one can enjoy the spectacular natural beauty of the valley.

Jeep Safari is the most convenient way to travel within the national park; jeeps can be rented for park trips from Ramnagar.

Treks: tourists are not allowed to walk inside the park, but only to go trekking around the park in the company of a guide. The winter season is cold, so tourists should make proper arrangements for their clothing, if they are traveling in the winter season.

Kalagarh Dam is dam located in the south-west of the wildlife sanctuary. This is one of the best places for a bird watching tour. Lots of migratory waterfowl comes here in the winters.

Corbett Falls is a 20 m (66 ft) water fall situated 25 km (16 mi) from Ramnagar, and 4 km (2.5 mi) from Kaladhungi, on the Kaladhungi–Ramnagar highway. The water falls is surrounded by dense forests and pin drop silence.

 Tourism zones in Jim Corbett National Park 

For better tourism management and convenience of visitors Jim Corbett National Park has been divided into five tourism zones each having separate entry gate.

Tourism zone	Entry Gate
Dhikala	Dhangari
Jhirna	Khara,Kalagarh
Bijrani	Amadanda
Sonanadi	Vatanvasa
Domunda	Durgadevi

FOREST REST HOUSES IN JIM CORBETT NATIONAL PARK

Rest Houses in Dhikala Zone

Dhikala: Dhikala is the most well known of the destinations in Corbett. It is located at the edge of the broad Patli Dun valley through which the Ramganga flows in numerous channels. Dhikala offers an awesome uninterrupted panoramic view of the valley, with the Kanda ridge in the backdrop. This sight appears all the more imposing from the watchtower near Dhikala. The Tourist Complex overlooks Dhikala chaur (one of the largest remaining grasslands of the Park) and Phulai chaur. A drive through the numerous trails through chaurs is rewarded with sightings of wild elephants, chital, hog deer and numerous grassland bird species and raptors. The old rest house at Dhikala is a historic structure, having been built over a hundred years ago.

Sarapduli: This rest house lies on the Dhangarhi-Dhikala road. It is located downstream of Gairal on the flat southern bank of the Ramganga while the opposite northern bank rises steeply to a ridge. Movement of large mammals (tiger, elephant included) is quite high at Sarapduli. It is also a good place to see crocodiles and also good for birdwatching.

Sultan: Sultan is the first rest house during the drive from Dhangarhi to Dhikala. It is named after the Sultan Sot, the seasonal stream running through that area. It typifies dense forest area and is located in one of the best stretches in the Park.

Gairal: This rest house is reached by a short detour off the Dhangarhi-Dhikala main forest road. It lies on the banks of the Ramganga near the place where it first enters the Park. At Gairal the Ramganga portrays a different character than it does at places downstream (like Dhikala). Here, it is a crystal-clear, fast-flowing mountain river flowing through scenic forests. Being out of the way, Gairal presents ideal conditions for viewing wildlife and birds in tranquillity.

Khinnanauli: Located in the middle of Khinnanauli chaur, this rest house is an excellent tiger territory. It is one of the most recently built rest houses of Corbett. Its strategic location provides an easy getaway to various parts of the Park.

Kanda: Kanda lies in the northern part of the Park flanking the Himalayas. It is the highest rest house in the Park at about 1100 m. due to its elevation one can get a bird’s-eye view of the Park and the Ramganga valley below. While most of Corbett has a Shiwalik type of vegetation and topography, the forests at Kanda show characteristics that are Himalayan. The fauna also is typically Himalayan, with mammals like goral, Himalayan black bear and leopards occurring here. Although the road to Kanda is bumpy and narrow the surroundings are extremely serene. 

Rest Houses in Bijrani Zone

Malani: This rest house lies 12 km due northwest of Bijrani. Located on the edge of the core zone of the Park, Malani has offers one of the most picturesque surroundings and solitude. The drive up to Malani is quite rewarding in mammal and bird sightings.

Bijrani: The area in and around Bijrani once formed part of a shooting block. During the British period it was much famed for the quality of game hunting that it offered to shikaris. In comparison to Dhikala, the terrain at Bijrani is drier and also has more diverse vegetation.


Rest House in Jhirna Zone

Jhirna: This rest house lies just inside the southern boundary of the Park. The rest house lies on the road from Ramnagar to Kalagarh that runs in an east-west direction through the Park. The landscape is drier than in Dhikala and vegetation is mostly scrub. Jhirna was a farming village until 1994 when it was successfully relocated under Project Tiger. The abandoned farmland is gradually reverting to a wild state and is being managed to develop grassland habitat. The nearby terrain consists of numerous sots and narrow gorges running through typically Shiwalik landscape. The hills to the north of Jhirna are covered with dense patches of bamboo. Apart from being a good habitat for tiger, leopard and deer, the place hosts other interesting mammals like sloth bear and wild boar. A variety of birds can also be enjoyed here. 

Rest Houses in Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary 

Lohachaur: This rest house is located in the northern part of Corbett Tiger Reserve in the RF buffer area. It lies on the banks of the river Mandal upstream of its confluence with the Ramganga. The access is from Durga Devi gate.

Rathuadhab: Located in the northern buffer, Rathuadhab lies on the forest road connecting Durga Devi in the east and Vatanvasa towards the west. It is a favoured spot for elephants.

Halduparao: The rest house, which was built about a hundred years ago, is located between the Palain and Sonanadi rivers a short distance before they drain into the Ramganga reservoir. It lies under the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary and is known for its quiet, peaceful surroundings. Halduparao is a good place to watch wild elephants from close quarters during summer.

Route: The town of Ramnagar is the headquarters of Corbett Tiger Reserve. There are overnight trains available from Delhi to Ramnagar. Also, there are trains from Varanasi via Lucknow and Allahabad via Kanpur to Ramnagar. Reaching Ramnagar, one can hire a taxi to reach the park and Dhikala.

Ramnagar is also well connected by road with Kanpur, Lucknow,Bareilly, Nainital, Ranikhet, Haridwar, Dehradun and New Delhi. One can also drive from Delhi (295 km) via Gajraula, Moradabad, Kashipur to reach Ramnagar. A direct train to Ramnagar runs from New Delhi. Alternatively, one can come up to Haldwani/Kashipur/Kathgodam and come to Ramnagar by road.