Jim Corbett National Park- the first national park of India

JIM CORBETT NATIONAL PARK

A jungle at the foothills of Himalaya- just the thought will give wings to your imagination! Living in Delhi, a lot of places become weekend getaways.  And Jim Corbett national park started featuring in one of my long weekend break plans. The good part these days is that, thanks to the internet revolution, my planning time has reduced drastically.

Jim Corbett national park is around five and half hours’ drive from New Delhi. Though it appears to be a long drive, the roads were in good condition and the drive became very pleasant after exiting the Uttar Pradesh border.  The park is located in Uttarakhand and some areas of the park were a part of Tehri Garhwal princely state before independence.

Did you know that Jim Corbett national park is the first national park on India? It was established in the year 1936 and was called Hailey National Park then.  The park was renamed in the year 1956 after Jim Corbett, who was a renowned hunter, naturalist and photographer. It was the first park under Project tiger to save the endangered Bengal tiger.

Corbett national park is nestled between Himalayas and Shivalik range.  It has resort kind of feel rather than just a jungle, because of its mountainous landscape. It gives a feeling of being up close with the nature.  The weather is great and it is a year round destination. Winters are great from a sighting point of view. The park is covered with Sal trees and 600 species of distinct plants. Besides, compared to other national park, there are a lot of experiences apart from wildlife sightings.

What are the top things to do in Jim Corbett National Park ?

Safari:

Now, that is a no brainer. If you are in a national park , safari will be the top priority, even if it is by the mountains. One quick word of caution, one should always book the safari in advance , usually 3 weeks prior , else it will be a disappointment . This national park is known for Bengal Tiger, leopard, jungle cat, fishing cat , Indian Elephant, buffalo and Himalayan Black Bear. One can also see the  barking deer, sambar, hog deer, chital, , Indian grey mongoose, yellow throat martens, Himalayan gorals etc.

River rafting:

Though this is seasonal, river rafting on Kosi river is something, one shouldnot miss out on.  In case you in the park between July and September, and you are an adventurous soul, then you will enjoy this lot

Birding:

Corbett national park boasts of 650 plus species of birds which includes both incumbents and migrants. Some of the birds are from as far as Siberia. Winter month are the best for birding. For the birders there are a lot of rare species like cinnamon Bittern, Hornbill,  black-headed night heron etc .

Angling

Jim Corbett national park is a great place for angling or fishing. The Ramganga river, Matwasha and Rikawasi are great fishing spots.  The Kosi river flowing through the national park is also a good fishing spot, though fishing is permitted between June to October only.

Trekking

If you are up for a hike, then trekking would be a bonus for you here. There are trekking trails in the reserved area of the park. Along with trekking you can also enjoy some adventure activities like rappelling and river crossing. Sitabani reserve is the best for trekking.  November to March is a good time for trekking.

Relax by the Corbett waterfalls

This is a 60 feet high waterfall surrounded by teakwood forest. Though it is a short hike of 1.5kilometres, it is worth it.

Mountain biking

For the super adventurous, biking through the forest trail would be exciting. The trail covers forest streams, old temples, villages, farms and some wildlife.

Didn’t it sound like a vacation for a couple of days rather than just a visit to the National Park ? Irrespective of whether you spot the tiger or not, a few days in the national park is an experience which is about taking a break amidst a great landscape coupled with some adventure and lots of learning. What more can one ask ?

How to reach Corbett National Park ?

It will depend on whether it is a part of Uttaranchal itinerary or a standalone visit. The nearest airport is Pant Nagar which is connected with Delhi. Or another option could be to fly to Dehradun which has better connectivity as compared to Pant Nagar .

The nearest railway station is Ramnagar, which is just 12 kilometres away from Jim Corbett National park. It has regular trains from Delhi .  Or else you can choose to drive from the nearest ( or a little far) cities like Dehradun, Delhi, Rishikesh, Lucknow etc.

Best time to visit Corbett National Park

Though Corbett national park is a full year destination other than the monsoons, winter months that is between mid October to February are the best experience .

For more such wildlife experiences, please read about some of the wildlife experiences in India 

In case you are keen on traveling to Jim Corbett national park , you could take a look at the  Uttaranchal itinerary and  cover the  Jim Corbett national park as a part of this itinerary.

In case you are a nature lover, check out the natural wonders of India.

India is not just about wildlife. There are many more facets to this ancient land – culture, mystery, history, nature, wildlife and so on. Read more about how the different facets of India travel are celebrated