The Corbett National Park nestles in the foothills of the Himalayas in Uttranchal in North India. It extends over 525 Sq Kms and is crisscrossed with little ridges and ravines. The park is a large valley and the beautiful Ramganga river flows through its entire length. Dense deciduous forests are found throughout the park . It is the grasslands or the chaurs that offer nature lovers a beautiful feel and view of wildlife. The elevations of the park range from 410 meters to 1220 meters and this enables a wide variety of flora and fauna to flourish in these environs.
Over 60 mammals and 30 reptilian species along with a wide variety of flora can be seen in the park There are tigers, leopards, elephants, wild dogs, hog deer, sambhar, spotted deer, chetal, barking deer, Rheus , Langur, Jackal , foxes, Wild Boar , Sloth Bear , Black Bear , crocodiles , Cobras , pythons and more…….
The Park is home to almost 600 species of birds . Woodpeckers, fishing eagles, harriers, kites, red jungle fowl, shrikes, cuckoos, drongos, barbets and more can be seen and the tourist can really enjoy the jungle environment in the company of these rare birds. A comparatively new reservoir on the river Ramganga, at Kalagarh ( courtesy a new Dam ) attracts a diverse range of water birds , both local and migratory . This is a must see for all visitors.
The various centres of all tourist activity are:
Dhikala at the heart of the core area is the main attraction for tourists. This picturesquely located area is at the edge of a grassy plateau perched high above the Ramganga flowing river. The grasslands of the Dhikala chaur disappear into the dense Sal forest of the foothills. Tourists can enjoy the beauty of the wildlife and the majestic environs of the Corbett National Park from here. This is the place to be. Tourists can spot tigers , herds of elephants , deer and a wide variety of birds and flora. There are viewing towers , elephant rides and beautiful rest houses all over this part of the jungle. The elephant ride is an ideal way to spot wild animals and enjoy the jungle in comparative comfort and safety. Enjoy wildlife watching in towers which have been specially constructed for tourists. The experience is unforgettable.
Bijrani is another part of the jungle open to tourists .It is accessible from Ramnagar and the distance is approximately 3 kms . This part of the jungle is also beautiful grassland and wild animals and wild birds can be seen a plenty. If the tourist is luck , he/she may spot a rare majestic tiger in the wild. A tourist can enjoy elephant rides and take in the breathtaking beauty in comparative comfort at Bijrani.
Museums at Dhangarhi Gate and the Corbett museum at Kaladhungi are open throughout the year. They are a must see for tourists who want to get a feel of the bygone era when man eating tigers were hunted here and life was much different from what it is today.
Kalagarh Dam is another beautiful scenic spot. The reservoir has a large collection of local and migratory birds . Any nature lover will enjoy the visit to the river side with its lush banks and beautiful water bodies. Crocodiles can be spotted sun bathing and enjoying themselves on the banks of the river.
My exclusive Tips and Useful Information :
Most tourists prefer to stay at private hotels and resorts constructed along the Ramnagar- Gargia- Dhangarhi road. These hotel and guest houses have all creature comforts but are outside the main jungle area. A tourist who stays at these resorts cannot access the beautiful environs of Dhikala during a day excursion.The rules and regulations of the Corbett national park do not allow this access. This tourist has to access the jungle ( national park ) from a separate entry point 3 kms from Ramnagar and can travel to Bijrani for a day excursion.
In order to experience the true jungle and the wild life therein , one must be prepared to rough it out. There are beautiful rest houses and small bungalows all over the Corbett national park but these are owned and operated by the government. These places of stay have basic creature comforts and the tourist must carry his own camping gear and food stuff to enable a comfortable stay. It is necessary to take special permission from the Director of the national park to get access to these rest houses. Permission is given for a stay of 2- 3 days only and is a must for any nature lover. Do contact your Hotel or resort in advance to ask for a booking. Timely request for booking can lead to an enhanced jungle experience.
A excursion may be planned for 3- 4 days to be able to enjoy a wild jungle experience.
Some useful data :
Area of Jungle Reserve : 520 Sq Kms
Altitude :380 – 1120 meters
Nearest Town : Ramnagar
Temperature :Summers : 19 degrees Celsius to 43 degrees Celsius.
Winters : 3 degrees Celsius to 24 degrees Celsius.
The Park is open between 15th November to 15th June.
Nearest airport :Patnagar ( 110 Kms from park ), New Delhi ( 295 Kms from park)
Nearest Railhead : Ramnagar ( 50 Kms from the park )
By Road : Reach Ramnagar , then access the park from the Amdana gate or Dhangarhi gate . Do ensure you have prior permission to stay at Dhikala before picking the gate of entry. Distance from Delhi to Ramnagar is 243 Kms . Road is motorable with average speeds of 40-50 Kms per hour.
