Have you been craving for an adventurous trip with your friends or family for a while, but have never been able to make it? Or have you been planning for a solo weekend trip navigating in a safari jeep through the woods scouting for tigers? No worries. You have come to the right place! Pack your backpacks and pay a visit to Jim Corbett National Park this weekend and let your wishes come true.
Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest national park in India! It was established in 1936, primarily to protect the endangered Bengal tiger. It is located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand and was named after the famous Jim Corbett, a British-Indian hunter and tracker, who later became a conservationist. Also, did you know that it was earlier known as Hailey National Park?
It will be a bumpy ride through the national park, because of its hills, riverine belts, dense moist deciduous forests, marshy depressions, grasslands and a large lake, which represent geographical and ecological characteristics of the sub-Himalayan belt of India. It has become a major ecotourism destination over the years although tourism activity is actually only allowed in selected areas of Corbett Tiger Reserve. But you get to see its splendid landscape and the diverse wildlife as as you take a tour through the Reserve.
The national park covers a vast area with elevation ranging from 1,300 to 4,000 ft. The forest cover itself occupies 73% of it with a growth of sal, mango and peepal trees, whereas grasslands cover 10%. As a result, it is home to a number of rare and endangered species of plants and animals, including 110 species of plants and trees, 50 species of mammals, 580 species of birds and 25 species of reptiles!
How To Reach
Jim Corbett National Park is situated in the state of Utarakhand in Northern India. Due to this ever increasing tourist influx, there has been an improvement in the transportation leading to Jim Corbett in the past years. So it will be pretty easy for you to reach the park. You can choose from these three options below:
Road: The town closest to Corbett National Park is Ramnagar, which is well-connected via road to Lucknow (145 km), Ranikhet (112 km), Haridwar, Dehradun and New Delhi(260 km).
Air: The closest domestic airport to Corbett National Park is Phoolbagh, Pantnagar (50 km). The nearest international airport from Corbett is Indira Gandhi International Airport, in Delhi (295 km).
Rail: Ramnagar also has the closest railway station to Corbett National Park (12 km). The Ranikhet Express runs between Delhi and Ramnagar, departing Delhi at 10.45 pm and arriving at 5.15 am the next day.
Where To Stay
Jim Corbett National Park provides a range of hotels and resorts with Luxury, Deluxe and Standard categories of rooms. A few are located along the Ramnagar – Ranikhet road along with the Corbett Tiger Reserve eastern boundary, in between Bijrani and Dhikala entry gate. There are several in the southern part of the Tiger Reserve on the way to Jhirna zone and the others are along the Sitabani buffer zone.
Safari
Jeep – If you intend to explore the local flora and wildlife in their natural abode, jeep safari is the best way of doing so. It take you to the three most popular Jeep Safari Zones are the Bijrani, Jhirna, Sitavani and Durgadevi zones. Jim Corbett National Park plans out day visit safari two times in a day and there is a time schedule of morning and evening. There are only 30 open jeeps, which can be permitted at any point of time. During the winter season, the safari is famous for bird watching when migratory birds fly in, while during the summer season, you can see herds of elephants, tigers and other wildlife along the safari route.
Tiger safari – The Tiger safari is the most famed thing about this park and do not make the mistake of missing it. The Corbett Safari Tour Package provides Special Tiger Safari Tour By Gypsy In Corbett Park lasting for 2 nights and 3 days, that includes:
- 2 Night’s accommodation at wildlife resort at Corbett Tiger Reserve.
- All meals (2breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners).
- 2 times jeep safari at Jim Corbett National Park.
- All park permit, road tax, driver fee, guide fee included.
- Morning/Evening Tea/Coffee with cookies.
- All taxes.
Elephant Safari – If you have always wanted to ride on an elephant’s back, now your dreams are going to come alive. Take the Elephant Safari in Jim Corbett National Park, which is usually arranged twice daily, in the morning and the evening. One is during dawn (6-8 a.m.) and the other, during the twilight hours 4-6 p.m.). You can ride on an elephant’s back only four at a time. The safari commences from the Ramganga valley, crossing through the Mandal valley, and ends at the forest Resthouse of Halduparao, in the Palain Valley.
Canter safari – Probably the most economical form of all the Corbett safaris, canter safari or open bus safari enables you to look at and observe wildlife from a closer angle, and takes you through the core of the park. The safari is permitted twice a day, and starts from the Dhikala Zone with a limit of 18 passengers.
Other Activities
If you have come for some quiet alone-time, you can enjoy activities like bird watching, especially during winter. The park is home to both local and migratory birds like Long-tailed Broadbill, Himalayan Pied Kingfisher and Pallas Fishing Eagle; so you will clearly hit the jackpot with this one. Do not forget to put your bird-watching glasses on, a.k.a. binoculars!
If you are an adrenaline junkie, here is an all-you-can-eat buffet for you. You can come here for the tigers and wildlife, and stay a little longer for adventure activities like rock climbing, rappelling, river crossing and river rafting, bridge slithering activity on Kosi River, and night jeep safari.
Nearby Tourist Locations
Nainital – While you are at it, make sure you make the most out of it. Go on take a little tour around the national park. You can always visit Nainital, which is a popular haunt for tourists. Nainital is a Himalayan hill station and tourist haunt located in the foothills of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. It is set around the Nainital Lake, a popular boating destination. It is famous for its cool and pleasant climate throughout the year. It runs a huge shopping site for tourists, who come in for leisure or hiking. It is just about 149 km from Jim Corbett National Park, so complete your trip with a short leisurely stay in the town.
So what are you waiting for? Get going! And enjoy your trip!