Corbett National Park
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Jim Corbett national park is located in the state of Uttaranchal, India. This park is a part of the Corbett tiger reserve which lies in the foothills of the Himalayas within the districts of Nainital, Pauri Garhwal and Bijnore. The first wildlife reserve of India, extending over an area of more than 500 sq. km, was established in 1936. The rich biodiversity of the reserve is partly attributed to the variety of habitat found here. Due to the location of the reserve in the foothills of the Central Himalayas both Himalayan and peninsular flora and fauna is found in the reserve.
Corbett National Park is one of the greatest national parks in Asia with over 1300 sq kms of forests, mount and grasslands, fed by a lively river. Its proximity to Delhi and abundant wildlife makes Corbett one of the most visited destinations in India. The park was originally established as Hailey National Park in 1936 in the honor of Sir Malcolm Hailey, the then Governor of the United Provinces. The name of the park was consequently changed to Ramganga National Park in 1952. Finally in 1957, the park was rechristened Corbett national park in the reminiscence of Late Jim Corbett, the renowned hunter turned conversationalist, environmentalist, writer and photographer who had helped in setting up the park and demarcating its boundary. Soon after the establishment of reserve, rules prohibiting killing and capturing of animals and birds within its boundary were passed. In 1991, 797.72 sq km of area was added as a buffer for the Corbett Tiger reserve. It includes Kalagarh forest division and Ramnagar forest division. Corbett National Park is one of the thirteen protected areas covered by World Wildlife Fund under their Terai Arc Landscape Program. It aims to protect three of the five terrestrial species, the tiger, the Asian elephant and the Great One-horned Rhinoceros.
Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, the Corbett national park extends over an area of 1318 sq kms including 520 sq km of core area and 797.72 sq km of buffer area. The core area forms the Jim Corbett Park while the buffer contains reserve forests (496.54 sq km) as well as the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary (301.18 sq km). The core is bounded to the north by the Kanda Ridge, with a height of 1043 meter at its highest point. The entire area of the reserve is mountainous and falls in the Shiwalik and outer Himalaya geological region. It has numerous ravines, ridges, minor streams and small plateaus with varying aspects and degrees of slope.
Diverse topography and flora gives Corbett a rich variety in habitats and innate beauty. The park acts as a protected area for the critically endangered Bengal tiger of India. The Jim Corbett national park is a heaven for the adventure seekers and wildlife adventure lovers. Though the main focus is protection of wildlife, the reserve management has also encouraged ecotourism.
The weather in the park is temperate compared to most other protected areas of India. The temperature may vary from 5-30 degree Celsius (41-86 degree Fahrenheit) during the winter and few winter mornings may be foggy. Summer temperatures normally remain below 40 degree Celsius (104 degree Fahrenheit). Rainfall ranges from light during the dry season to very heavy during the monsoons. The best time to visit the park is from Nov to mid-June. The park remains closed from mid-June to mid-November due to monsoons.