Jim Corbett National Park

Named after the legendary hunter turned conservationist and author Jim Corbett, the Corbett National Park is India’s first. Established in 1936 as the Hailey National Park, it was renamed in 1957 in honor of Jim Corbett, who played a crucial role in its establishment. The park is primarily a protected area for the critically endangered Royal Bengal tiger. Wild Elephants are seen quite often in here. The park is rightly called the ‘Land of Roar and Trumpet’, this forest of flowing rivers, blue waters and sal-dappled glades. There is something absolutely magical about being in tiger and elephant country, where unexpected sights and sounds present themselves at almost every turn.

Wildlife

Tigers and Elephants are the prime attractions of the park. However, there is a diverse selection of smaller animals such as the Jungle Cat, the Himalayan Palm Civet, Indian Gray Mongoose and Blacknaped Hare. The fish-eating Gharial, Otters and Goonch, a freshwater fish that can grow up to 300 kilos, can be seen here. Leopards are often seen in the hilly areas and outskirts of the park. Elephants can be seen bathing, drinking and feeding in the Ramganga River and its food-rich surrounds.. Commonly seen are Chital Deer, Sambar (the largest deer in Asia), Hog Deer and Barking Deer. Bharal, Goral, Himalayan Tahr and Serow can also be seen in winters.

Birds

The birdlife is especially impressive with over 600 species, including a wide range of water birds, birds of prey such as the Harriers, Pallas’ Fishing Eagle, Osprey, Buzzards & Vultures. Woodland birds include Indian and great Hornbills, Parakeets, Thrushes, Babblers & Cuckoos. The rarer Ibis Bill is one of the main attractions for serious twitchers. Winter migrants include the Greylag and the Bar-headed Goose, Great Crested Grebe, Snipes, Sandpipers, Gulls and Wagtails. Himalayan Golden Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Honey Buzzards, Long-legged Buzzards and Kestrels can be seen here. There are as many as 17 kinds of woodpeckers, 5 species of barbets, including the Great Himalayan Barbet.

Forest

The park lies in the undulating Shiwalik hill ranges, difference from the Himalayas is that they were formed from massive erosion – sand, gravel and stones – of the Himalaya. In this part of the Kumaon hills, they fade into the Himalayan chain. The park is an elevated flat valley called Patlidun through which Ramganga River flows. The park has more than 100 tree species and about 450 species of plants. The tree density inside the reserve is much higher in the areas of Sal forests and is the lowest in the Anogeissus - Acacia catechu forests. The flora here is varied with trees such as Sal, Jamun, Shisham, Khair, Mahua, Flame of the forest (Palash), and the Silk Cotton tree (Simal), among others.

Getting There:
Corbett is linked by a good motorable road from Delhi its about a 5 hour drive. By air you can fly from Delhi to Pantnagar about 51 kms from Corbett NP. However the most popular way is by fast air conditioned train Shatabdi Express from Delhi to Kathgodam and then drive 2 hrs to Corbett.

Recommended Circuit:
Tigers, Elephants, Birds and Culture: Delhi - Corbett - Agra - Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary - Ranthambhore - Jaipur.

Tigers, Elephants and Himalayan Birds : Delhi - Corbett - Delhi - Kanha - Bandhavagrh - Delhi

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