The Corbett National Park at the foothills of the Kumaon Himalayas is the first among the nine forests reserves to be a part of the Project Tiger (an Indian wildlife protection initiative) which aims to protect the dwindling tiger population in the country. Home to innumerable species of flora and fauna, the Park was originally known as Hailey National Park and later renamed Corbett National Park in 1956 after Jim Corbett who hunted down tigers that turned man-eaters. Jim Corbett contributed in setting up the park. The park is famous for its tigers, leopards and elephants. The park is spread over an area of 520 sq km. and has recently gained popularity as an ecotourism destination.
Corbett National Park remains open to public from November 15 to June 15. The rest of the year the park remains closed due to monsoon rains that cut off the road links. An exception to this is the area around the Jhirna Gate in the southern part of the reserve that remains open throughout the year. The winter is pleasant with temperature varying between 5°C and 30°C. Summer temperature rises to about 40°C. April-June and November-January are the best seasons to visit the park. Chances of sighting a tiger is very likely in the dry season (late April to May) when the tigers usually come out in the open.
Apart from being famous for its tigers the Park is also a birdwatchers paradise with over 500 species. In winters many migratory birds can be found here. Darters,Egrets, Herons, the black-necked Stork are some of the species that can be found here. Greylag, Bar-headed Goose, Snipe, Sandpiper and Gull are a few migratory birds. Indian Python, Viper, Cobra, Gharial, the rare long - nosed Crocodile Turtles and Tortoise are the reptiles found in the park. The park is also home to elephants, leopards, deer and a variety of fish.
Money changing & banking facilities are available at Ramnagar which is the administrative center for the Corbett National Park.
Entry to the park is only allowed after obtaining permits from the park administration in Ramnagar. Boarding and lodging charges have to be paid separately in addition to the entry permit charges.
By Air:Delhi about 300 kms from Corbett National Park is the nearest International airport. Phoolbagh, Pantnagar at a distance of 50-kms is the closest airport to the park.
By Rail: Ramnagar is the nearest railhead & is 51 kms away from Dhikala in the core area of the park. The railway station is about 1.5 km south of the main reception centre. There are trains from Delhi like the Corbett Link Express. One can also find trains from Lucknow & Moradabad.
By Road: Ramnagar is well connected to the surrounding areas mainly by regular buses. There are frequent buses to Delhi, Haridwar, Dehradun, Nainital, Ranikhet, Lucknow and Almora. As an alternative, cars can also be rented from these places for a road trip.
Jeep Safaris are a convenient way to explore the park. Jeeps can be hired at the KVMN Tourist Lodge at Ramnagar. A few travel agencies also let out jeeps for safari trips.
Alternately, one can take an elephant ride to look around in the park. Two-hour elephant rides are available to take the tourist around but one must prod the Mahout to go deeper into the forest to get a better feel of the forest.
Dhikala: Dhikala is the most popular tourist location in park. You can have a spectacular view of the valley from here. Here one can also see the old rest house that is over a hundred years old and also drive through the numerous trails.
Corbett Museum: The Corbett Museum at Kaladhungi gives a glimpse into the history of Jim Corbett and his wildlife escapades.
Garjia Temple: About 14 kms ahead of Ramnagar is the Garjia Temple. The temple is dedicated to Garjia Devi and is a huge rock in the midst of the river Kosi. it is visited by thousands of devotees especially during Kartik Poornima when a large fair is held here.
Ramnagar: Ramnagar is the administrative center of Corbett National Park and is also a good fishing base camp. Permits have to be obtained for fishing from Project Tiger office in Ramnagar. Lohachaur, 15-km north along the River Kosi is a popular spot for fishing and anglers can expect a good catch.
Note: It is advisable to carry good shoes, torchlight, binoculars and mosquito repellant. It is also advisable to avoid wearing bright colours and strong perfumes.
There are buses that take tourists to Dhikala (within the park) from Ramnagar. Jeeps can also be rented. Once within the park, tourists can view the wildlife on elephant rides or jeep rides. (Elephant rides are recommended!)
Corbett national park & Ramnagar have a range of accommodation. Rest houses, log huts, lodges and hotels are available in Dhikala & Ramnagar. Accommodation facilities are limited so it is better to book in advance. Accommodation in Dhikala- Log Huts & Tourist Hutments. Accommodation in Ramnagar- Hotel Anand and Corbett Inn.
Khinanauli, Sarapduli, Bijrani, and Ghairal Rest houses are located in other parts of the park and have some of the best facilities for accommodation. Most of these hotels & rest houses also have guides who can be hired to take the tourist around in the park. There are a few good resorts ahead of Ramnagar like the Tiger Camp, Infinity Resorts and Corbett Hideaway.
Almora, Nainital and Ranikhet are popular tourist destinations near Corbett National Park. Nainital is a 3-½ hrs drive from Corbett National Park and Ranikhet is a 4-½ hrs drive. Almora is a 6-½ hrs drive.
