Asia's oldest National Park and India's First Tiger Reserve, Corbett
National Park lies in two districts Nainital and Pauri in the hill state
of Uttaranchal in northern India. It was established as a National Park
in 1936 under the United Provinces National Parks Act of India. Then
the reserve area, known as Hailey National Park, was renamed in 1954-55
as Ramganga and in 1955-56 was given its present name.
The park is named after Jim Corbett, a legendary hunter-turned-conservator
cum writer, best known for his hunting expeditions of man-eating tigers
and leopards in this region in the first half of the 20th century. The
original area of the Park was 323.75 sq. km. to which 197.07 sq. km. was
added later. The 521 sq. km area of the park together with the near by
area of Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary (301.18 sq. km) and Reserve forest
areas of Kalagarh Forest Division and the Ramnagar Forest Division forms
the Corbett Tiger Reserve covering over 1288 sq. km.The Park is
situated at the junction of two distinct hill regions of Uttaranchal,
Garhwal and Kumaon.The altitude of the park
is385- 1100
m above sea level and the temperature ranges from 4°C in winter to
42°C during summer. The park gets an annual rainfall of about 1400-2800
mm.It is closed during the Monsoon season and opened to tourists after
the monsoon, from 15th November to 15th June.
The Park has a remarkably varied landscape with streams,
rivers, mountains, hills, forests and grasslands. It covers the majestic
ranges of the Himalayas including Patlidoon bordering the river Ramganga
and the undulating Shivaliks interspersed with flat plains and savannah
grasslands known as 'Chaurs'. Here is a dynamic ecosystem with a variety
of cover and trees including Sal, Khair, Sissoo, Kisson, Chaurs etc. capable
of sustaining diverse fauna.Sal which grows up to 35 m tall is the main
tree species of Corbett and often grows as a dense forest. Khair - Sissoo
grow on sandy, gravelly areas mostly near the rivers and streams. Chaurs
or savannah grassland is the most unique vegetation habitat of Corbett. Some
of the grasslands got submerged when the Ramganga reservoir across the
Ramganga river at Kalagarh came into being in 1974, stretching over an
area of around 40 sq. km. of the park.
Apart from the above, more than 600 species of trees, shrubs, herbs, bamboos,
grasses, climbers and ferns have been identified in the Park. Major trees
are Chir pine, Palms, Kanju, Jamun, Aamla and Tendu, Bel , Kusum, Mahua
and Bakli. which occur naturally in the Park and Teak, Eucalyptus,
Jacaranda, Silver Oak and Bottlebrush planted artificially in and around
forest rest houses. Flowering trees such as Kachnaar, Semal, Madaar, Dhak,
Amaltas with their colourful blooms add beauty to the park.
Corbett is famous for its Bengal Tigers and Asiatic
Elephants, as well as its rich avifauna with about 600 species.As a part
of saving the endangered species, the park has three conservation projects
- Project Tiger, Crocodile Conservation Project and Project Elephant.
he major animals found in the park besides tigers and Asian elephants
are jackals, deer, chital, Hog Deer, Sambar, Kakar or Barking Deer, Rhesus
Macaque, Langur, Himalayan Goral or Ghural, Wild boar, Otter, Gharial
and Mugger crocodile, two of India's three crocodilian species. King cobra,
Indian cobra, Indian Rock Pythons and several kinds of vipers, kraits
are also found in the park. The Bengal Monitor is the most imposing
of Corbett's lizards. There are other species of Agamas, Geckos and Skinks.
Some of the Bird species include peafowl, jungle fowl, partridges, flycatchers,
great barbet, wall creeper etc. Bird life increases during winter with
the arrival of migrant birds which come here to escape the extreme climatic
conditions. These includes birds like osprey and ducks, coming all the
way from East Africa, Europe and Central Asia. Ramganga river is
the largest of the precious few perennial sources of water in the Park.
Other rivers are Sonanadi, Mandal, Palain and the Kosi river.Sonanadi
river adjoins Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary and Corbett National Park and
forms an important part of the Corbett Tiger Reserve. Even though Kosi
river which lies on the eastern boundary of the park, does not enter the
park, it is a source of drinking water for the animals. There are many
seasonal streams called 'sot' running through the park. Sots in Corbett
are Paterpani, Laldhang, Kothirao, Jhirna, Dhara and Garjia. Most common
fishes seen in the park are Golden Mahseer, Goonch, Indian trout, Rohu
etc.
Corbett Tiger Reserve is divided into five tourism zones,
each having a separate gate for entry. The zones are Bijrani Zone and
the gate way to this place is Amadanda, the gate way to Dhikala Zone is Dhangarhi,
the gateway to Jhirna Zone is Khara or Kalagarh, gateway to Domunda zone
is Durgadevi, and Sonanadi zone gate way is Vatanvasa. Tourists need
permission to enter Corbett Tiger Reserve.Permission for day visits
are issued at the respective Entry Gates and night halts at the CTR Reception
Office at Ramnagar.
Elephant rides are offered at Dhikala, Khinanauli, Bijrani,
Gairal and Jhirna during mornings and evening. Nature guides are available
for tourists. There are watchtowers at Dhikala, Phulai and Jhirna, and
several machans near Dhikala, Bijrani and Kothirau to facilitate the viewing
of wildlife. There is also a Visitor Centre and Museum at Dhangarhi Gate
which remains open through out the year.
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Wildlife 
