Jim Corbett National Park
The awe inspiring presence of tiger and the lustrous valley of Himalayas is what attracts tourists from around the globe to the Jim Corbett National Park. This reserve is the oldest in India and is obviously the best one. This is the abode of more than 50 types of mammals and 250 types of birds. So if you want to pass your holidays in the roaring of Royal Bengal Tiger and chirping of birds then Jim Corbett National Reserve is a must destination for you. The thrill and excitement is enhanced with the presence of Safari zones in Corbett they are the entry gates for us to the dwellings of the unseen wonders.
If wildlife is your passion and wilderness pushes your adrenaline level into high gear, visit Corbett National Park. It is one of the oldest wildlife destinations of India which is famous the world over. Rich in wildlife, the Park also boasts of picturesque landscape.
There are mainly four Safari zones in Corbett. They are Bijrani Safari Zone, Dhikala Safari Zone, Durga Devi Safari Zone and Jhirna Safari Zone. Out of all of them people mainly gets attracted to the Bijrani Safari Zone and Dhikala Safari Zone. They are the nearest to the forest gates and they are very popular as easily the presence of man eating mammals can be seen from here. The most exciting journey of the jungle comes to proper shape with the presence of the Elephant safari in Corbett. There are other two also the jeep safari and the Canter safari, but the most exciting one is obviously the Elephant safari in Corbett. This is a proper wild journey to the abode of those for whom you have come here.
The Safari zones in Corbett are all the homes of excellent holiday destination with almost all the elite class facilities that you have dreamt off. Take for instance the presence of over 30 resorts in Corbett makes it an easy to get accommodation place. The resorts in Corbett are facilitated with features like jungle camp, spa and various sports amenities. Other than this they are naturally set in the beautiful valley of Nainital, blessed with River Koshi which makes the scenic beauty of the Resorts take a whole new dimension. If you are a nature lover this is simply the best holiday destination in India for you. Early booking is a must to get the best rooms and facilities.
The Elephant safari in Corbett will take you to the unknown lanes of the reserve making you see the wild animals from as close as where you really do not need to have a binocular. This makes your thrill; excitement and joy take a whole new shape making you get the joy of a life time. Two times you can get the Elephant safari in Corbett. They are early morning 6.30am and evening 3.30 pm. My suggestion would be to go for both of them once to take a trip of the nature with all its color and other than this the morning and the evening safari will make you understand the presence of the wildlife fully in the reserve.
Facilities inside the Jim Corbett National Park
The National Park office at Ramnagar offers jeeps on hire at reasonable prices. Elephants are available for wildlife viewing at Dhikala and Bijrani. Elephant-back rides on every morning and evening are worth the experience.
The park houses more than 50 mammal species and 25 reptile species. Antelopes like the Nilgai and the Ghoral, many varieties of deer including Hog deer, Sambhar, Chital etc, the ancestors to us humans like Rhesus and the good-old Langur are found in the area. The tiger and leopard are part of the species of cats found here. A special resident is the Dhole, the wild dog.
Many other species of animals like jackals, fox, wild boar, sloth bear, black bear and a vast range of reptiles like the cobra, python are also found apart from two species of crocodile. The Gharial can be seen relaxing in the pools of the Ramganga.
A staggeringly high number (580 to be precise) of species of birds are found here including water fowl, 17 types of woodpecker, kites, peafowl, the rare chir pheasant, the red jungle fowl, minivets, cuckoos, drongos and barbets. The reservoir on the river formed with the building of kalaghar dam attracts large number of migratory and other species of water birds. This makes it a Bird watcher's paradise. It is considered a 'Bird Park' in the true sense.
How to Reach Jim Corbett National Park
Air : The Nearest airport is Pantnagar, 133kms. away.
Rail : the near-most railway station is Ramnagar, 50kms. from Dhikala.
Road : Dhikala is connected to almost all the nearby big cities. The distance of various big cities from here is Delhi (290kms), Lucknow (503kms) and Ranikhet (114kms)