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CORBETT
NATIONAL PARK
 Located
in the Patlidun Valley at the base of the Himalayas in the state of Uttar
Pradesh, Corbett was established in 1936, as the Hailey National Park.
India's first national park and the first sanctuary to come under Project
Tiger, Corbett supports a variety of vegetation making it the
ideal habitat for the Tiger and its prey.
Once
a popular hunting ground of the British, this 201 square mile park was
named in honor of the late Jim Corbett, the legendary hunter-naturalist
turned author and photographer who helped in demarcating the park's boundaries.
With the help of the World Wildlife Fund, Project Tiger was launched in
Corbett National Park in 1973 and this park was one of the first such
tiger reserves in the country.
The varied
topography comprises hilly and riverine areas, temporary marshy depressions,
plateaus and ravines. The lower areas are almost completely populated
by sal trees. In the park are found 110 tree species, 50 mammals species,
580 bird species and 25 reptile species.
Corbett is a haven
for tigers with its plentiful prey - four kinds of deer, wild boar and
lesser animals. Leopards are found in the hilly areas of the park but
often do not cross paths with tigers in their territories. Some nocturnal
cats found here are the leopard cat, jungle cat and fishing cat. Sloth
bear is found in the lower regions of the park while the Himalayan black
bear is seen in the higher hills only. The dole (wild dog), though rare,
can be seen in the southern areas of the park along with the jackal. Some
of the smaller residents of the park are Himalayan palm civet, Indian
gray mongoose, common otter, blacknaped hare and porcupine. Elephants
(solitary bulls and breeding herds) are one of the main attractions of
Corbett. Along the Ramganga River shores, one can spot the long-snouted,
fish-eating gharial crocodile and the mugger crocodile. Also seen on the
rocky hillsides is the ghoral (goat-antelopes). The langur and
rhesus monkeys are well distributed through out the park and also warn
the jungle with alarm calls when they see either a tiger or leopard from
tree-top perches.
Some
statistics about the Park:
| Animal |
1995 |
1997 |
| Tiger |
90 |
91 |
| Panther |
39 |
40 |
| Elephant |
394 |
602 |
| Sambhar |
3778 |
3816 |
| Chital |
26315 |
26390 |
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Area
: 520 sqkm
Best
time to visit : Dec to April
How
to get there ?Road connections from Delhi (290 kms)
lead to the Corbett National Park. There are other ways of reaching
too. Ramnagar is the nearest railway station which is about
50 kms from the Park. The nearest airport is the Delhi Airport.
Where
to stay ?
Adjoining
the forest reserve - Quality Inn, Tiger Tops,
Forest Rest Houses, Tented Camps and Tourist Huts. The
budgeted traveler can find a host of comfortable rest places
in and around the reserve, most of which are equipped with
modern facilities.
For
Additional Information:
Field
Director, Project Tiger
Corbett National Park
P.O Ramnagar, District: Nainital, Uttar Pradesh,
OR
Click
Here for customized tour
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