Jim Corbett National Park- Erakina

Jim Corbett National Park is one of the first National Parks of India and is located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. The National Park was established in the year 1936 as Hailey National Park which later came to be known in the year 1956 as Jim Corbett National Park. It is one of the oldest and most esteemed National parks situated in India. The sublime landscape of the National Park is well known for its Tiger population. Jim Corbett National Park is also honored as the destination where Project Tiger was first launched in the year 1973. The main aspect of the project is to safeguard one of the royal animals of the forest i.e. the Tiger.

The National Park comprises a large area that surrounds itself with rivers, grasslands, hills, and a large lake. The nights in the winter season are cold while the days are sunny and bright. It rains generally from July to September. The National Park has a dense deciduous forest that consists of sal, mango, peepal, and Rohini trees. The park also houses a variety of species which includes mammals, reptiles, and birds. It also has a diverse variety of fauna which enriches the forest by enhancing its beauty and making it suitable for ecological importance to a great extent. It mainly occupies the Patlidoon valley through which the Ramganga river flows in the westerly direction.

Flora of Jim Corbett National Park

• Jim Corbett is quite rich in flora which makes it a favorite destination spot for many tourists who loves to enjoy nature and spend time with it.
• There are almost 600 species of trees which consists of grasses, shrubs, bamboo, and climbers and it also supports alpine vegetation.
• One of the fascinating facts about Jim Corbett National Park is that 75% of the forest area is covered with Sal trees.
• Pine trees in the National park make the site more amazing for visitors to enjoy the mesmerizing beauty of the forest.
• Jim Corbett can be considered a heavenly abode as the whispering surrounding makes it a perfect location for wildlife photography.
• The prominent trees which can be found in Jim Corbett National Park are pine, banj oak, Kanju, palms, Jamun, amla, bel, Kusum, mahua, and Bakli.
• Jim Corbett is also famous for a wide variety of flowers that supplements the beauty of the park and also the tourists find it quite attractive and refreshing.

Fauna of Jim Corbett National Park

• Jim Corbett National Park is one of the suitable places for the Tiger population in the Himalayan region.
• The park is also one of the popular wildlife destinations in India where every year numerous tourists visit and praises the natural beauty of Jim Corbett.
• The Park is home to some endangered species like African elephants, Alligators, Sambhar deer, etc.
• Some of the other prominent species that can be found here are Asian Black Bear, Walking Deer, Hog Deer, Sambar, and Sloth.
• Corbett National Park also has a wide variety of bird species as well and some of them are the Great Pied Hornbill and White-backed Vulture. Peacock, Hodgson Bushchat, orange-breasted green pigeon, sea eagle, etc.
• Jim Corbett is also famous for its reptile population among which King Cobra and Mugger crocodiles are the famous ones.
• The park also includes various types of cats like fishing cats, jungle cats,s and leopard cats.
• Therefore, Jim Corbett National is one of the most beautiful places that one should visit to witness the beautiful landscapes, the rivers, the forest, the flowers, the animals, and many more.

Tourist sectors of Jim Corbett National Park

Jim Corbett National Park is famous for its tourist attractions and it is one of the perfect places where one can enjoy wildlife holidays as there are five Safari zones in the park for the convenience of the tourists:

• Bijrani zone: 

This zone is the most suitable for Tiger seeing. Not only tigers but also Leopards, Elephants, Black Bears, Deer, and migratory birds can be found in this area which makes it quite an attractive zone to visit. Elephant safari is the most exciting thing to do here but now it has been stopped by the Uttarakhand government as commercial activities are not allowed in the park.

• Dhikala zone: 

This zone is one of the most delightful eco-zones among the others. The Ramganga river, the dense Sal forest, the steep valleys, and the trees will compel one to dwell in the wild beauty of the park. We can also witness rich wildlife species like the Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic elephants, Hog deer, Sambhar deer, Langurs, Crocodiles, and Reptiles.

• Jhirna zone: 

It is one of the most famous zones that one should visit as it was added to the tourist zone in 1994. Earlier it used to be a part of the Jhirna village where people used to do farming activities but later in order to increase the area for the tiger reserve the village was shifted to another place. This zone is admired for its grasslands which are known as Laldhang Chaur which is home to several deers, Chitals, Nilgais, Elephants, etc.

• Dhela zone:

 In this zone, one can see not only one tiger but more than that. This is one of the most favored destinations of tourists as it is also one of the sites where we can enjoy seeing diverse species of birds like black eagles, grey herons, cormorants, etc.

• Durgadevi zone:

Beautiful landscapes, hills, rivers, and forests make it one of the most visited tourist zone among the others. It is also home to a number of foreign birds. This zone is one of the best Safari zones in Jim Corbett National Park. These five zones are one of the most visited areas through which tourists can get a glimpse of nearly every hook and corner of the National Park.

What you can do in Jim Corbett National Park?

• Wildlife photography

One can involve in wildlife photography and also enjoy the Jeep Safari in the Jim Corbett National Park.

• Fishing

Fishing is also one of the most fascinating things to do if one visit Jim Corbett as we can find various types of fishes over there.

• Camping

One can also do camping in the lush green forest of the National park and enjoy the scenic beauty of nature around.

• Cycling

Cycling can also be done in the park which will definitely add amusement to your journey in the Jim Corbett.

• River rafting

River rafting can also be done in the Kosi river which will also add thrill to one’s journey to the park.

• Place of worship

One can visit the Garija temple over there and seek blessings from God.

Best time to visit Jim Corbett National Park

Jim Corbett National Park is open all throughout the year. One can definitely visit the beautiful forest and witness its beauty any time of the year.

Durgadevi and Birjani zone is open from mid-October to mid-June.

Dikala zone can be visited from mid-November to mid of June.

Jhirna and Dhela zones are open all throughout the year for day outs.

Conservation projects of Jim Corbett National Park

• Uttarakhand Tiger Project

The population of the tiger species seems to be declining since the independence because of various reasons like deforestation, poaching, hunting, etc. So, in order to conserve the Tiger species, Project Tiger has been initiated for the first time in 1973. As a result of this today, Jim Corbett National Park is one of the safest national parks which houses nearly 164 tigers and 600 elephants.

• Crocodile Conservation Project

This project has been initiated in Jim Corbett National Park in the year 1976. The main aim of this project is to safeguard the three species of crocodiles to be found in Corbett i.e. Ghariyal, Freshwater crocodile, and Saltwater crocodile. The project also helped towards the conservation of a large number of species as well.

• Project Elephant

It is a centrally sponsored scheme which has been launched in the year 1992 for providing financial support to the major elephant-bearing states in India for the protection of the elephants. The same scheme was launched in Corbett for conserving the elephants from extinction.

How to reach Corbett National Park?

The closest town to Corbett National Park is Ramnagar which is connected by road to places like Lucknow, Nainital, Ranikhet, Haridwar, Dehradun, and New Delhi.

One can travel to Corbett by bus, train, and flight.

By Flight: New Delhi is the nearest international airport to Corbett.

By Train: Ramnagar is the closest place to Jim Corbett, only 5 km away.

By Bus: The Park is connected to all the nearby towns from where one can easily rent a private vehicle and visit the National park.

Where to stay in Jim Corbett National Park?There is a large number of resorts, hotels, and camps near the National Park. All the accommodations are well maintained and very comfortable to stay in. One can also stay in camps while visiting Corbett National Park. Jim Corbett National Park is thus one of the amazing destinations that one should visit at least once and witness the beauty of its forest, rivers, landscapes, animals, flowers, birds, and many more.

Shramana Sarma Roy

(Content writer intern)

19.01.2023