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Oct 4, 2009

Jim Corbett National Park - The Tiger Country

The first wildlife reserve of India, the Jim Corbett National Park - also called the Corbett Tiger Reserve - is located in Uttarakhand, India. The Park has a total area of 1318 sq km and a core area of 520 sq km. In its buffer area the Jim Corbett National Park has the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary.

Earlier called the Hailey National Park and later the Ramganga National Park, the Jim Corbett National Park, or the Corbett Tiger Reserve, is named after the famous conservationist and naturalist Jim Corbett who had shot many man eaters and also authored the "Man Eaters of Kumaon".

Jim Corbett's winter home is located just outside the Corbett Tiger Reserve at Kaladhungi around which the Chotta Haldwani village is situated. Jim Corbett's house now has been converted into a wonderful museum which is one of the many attractions of the area.

The successful "Project Tiger", to protect tigers and increase their population, was started at the Ramganga National Park in 1973. Presently, the national park has the highest density of tigers in India with one tiger every 10 sq km. No wonder, the Jim Corbett National Park is called the "Tiger Country".

Flat valley, hilly ridges and mixed deciduous forests characterize the landscapes through which the Ramganga River flows. The scenic river has rich populations of the Mahaseer Fish and Ghariyal (crocodile).

The Corbett Tiger Reserve offers many thrilling adventure activities that include, among others, fishing and angling, elephant safari, and jeep safari to its visitors. Elephant safari and jeep safari enable the visitors to explore the park and enjoy great views of the dense jungles and its many inhabitants.

Flora and Fauna

With 575 species of birds, 25 species of reptiles, 7 species of amphibians, 110 species of trees, 51 species of shrubs, 27 species of climbers, and 33 species of bamboo and grass, it is rich in flora and fauna.

Apart from the tigers for which the Jim Corbett is renowned the world over, the national park also has chital, elephant, jackal, wild pig, barking deer, sambar, common langur, and rhesus macaque. The tiger reserve is also a haven for the bird watchers and boasts of several species of the winged creatures that include, among others, sandpiper, woodpecker, kingfisher, peacock, jungle fowl, duck and stork.

How and when to visit

The Jim Corbett National Park is well connected and located 250 km away from Delhi. For the visitors, it remains open from November to June. The first three months (Nov-January is perfect for bird watching).

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