Places to See in Corbett National Park

Corbett national park, also referred to as the Jim Corbett national park, takes among the several national parks in India as the oldest national park. Named after Jim Corbett, a conservationist and hunter who played a key role in its establishment, the park was established in 1936, then named Hailey national park. Corbett park was later renamed Corbett national park to honor the man who helped establish it. The park is situated in Nainital district, in Uttarakhand between the Shivalik and Himalaya ranges. The park covers a total area of approximately 500 square kilometers, an expansive area rich in biodiversity.

The wide range of natural phenomenon that the Corbett national park has to offer, not only in terms of its flora and fauna but in terms of its landscape, as well, is what ultimately makes the park a favorite destination for both local and foreign visitors. The Corbett Park is mostly famed for being the first national park in India to adopt a tiger reserve project. The park receives thousands of visitors every year, majorly because of the varied forms of wildlife that are found in the park. Not only does the park provide a haven for the tigers, but for their prey and numerous other species, as well.

The Corbett national park is not just a typical national park, but a primal jungle that captures the imagination of many with its breath-taking beauty and diversity. The park is a perfect spot for both sight seers, as well as any visitors who are out to have an adventure. Some of the wildlife such as the tiger, king cobra, flying fox, chital and samba, which are rare in other parts of the world, are found in the Corbett Park. The park is also home to over 600 species of birds and immense, varied vegetation.

Corbett National Park Attractions

Wildlife

The major element that attracts visitors to the Jim Corbett national park is undoubtedly the wildlife. Not just the tigers which are a major spectacle, but numerous other species of animals, as well. Over 600 species of both migratory and resident birds are found in the park, including the red junglefowl which is considered the ancestor of all modern domestic fowl, as well as the crested serpent eagle. More than thirty species of reptiles are also found in the park, together with seven species of fish, seven species of amphibians and about forty species of dragonflies. The Bengal tigers, although not easily spotted because of their camouflage, serve as one of the most prominent attractions in the park.

A scene of the Bengal tigers hunting is especially spectacular given the fact that they can hunt and fall prey larger in size than themselves, including the buffalos and the elephants. Where other prey is scarce within the park, the tigers resort to hunting these large preys. Elephants are also one of the major attractions in the park. During the summer, these elephants can be spotted roaming around in herds of hundreds around the park. Visitors in the park can also get to ride some of the elephants, an exercise which is very fun and adventurous. The Indian python is also one of the prominent wildlife in the park. The Indian python is a vicious creature which is capable of killing even a deer. Visitors also get to see the rare Rhesus monkeys and the local crocodiles which were saved from extinction.

Flora

Apart from the wide variety of wildlife in the Jim Corbett national park, the park is also well known for its varied vegetation which also contrasts immensely, from dense to mixed forests. The dense forest, characteristic of deciduous forests, is home to numerous tree species that cover about 73 per cent of the total area of the national park. Additionally, another 10 per cent of the total area of the national park is covered by grasslands. In total, the Corbett national park is home to more than four hundred species of plants, all of which give the park exceptional beauty through their diversity. The vegetation in Jim Corbett national park ranges from grasses, shrubs, herbs and ferns to bamboos. Trees in sight within the park include Dhak, Semal, Amaltas, Madaar, Kachnaar and Karipak.

In addition, trees, which do not grow in the local habitat in which the national park is situated, have been grown in the park artificially. Such include the jacaranda, Eucalyptus, Silver oak and Bottlebrush. While the basal cover of the trees is very thick in some of the areas of the park such as the Sal region, which is dominated by woody vegetation, visitors can drive through the roads of the park and get to take in the beauty of the diversity of vegetation that the park presents. The rich bio-diversity visible in the Corbett national park would especially make an exciting experience for nature lovers and sight seers since the park offers literally every type of flora characteristic of the Asian continent.

Kalagarh Dam

Apart from the flora and fauna in the Jim Corbett national park, other sites also make for excellent attractions. Failure to visit such sites would leave the Corbett tour incomplete. Such a site is the Kalagarh dam which is also known as the Ramganga dam. The dam is located roughly three kilometers upstream of the Kalagarh town in Pauri Garhwal district. Although the dam, which was completed in the 1970s, was initially designed as part of a multi-purpose project which sought to provide hydroelectricity and water for irrigation, the dam serves as an attraction point for a number of reasons. Firstly, the dam, which covers an area of approximately 80 kilometers squared, plays habitat to a number of prominent aquatic species.

These include such species as the endangered gharials, the mahseer fish, mugger crocodiles, turtles, as well as otters. Many species of birds and animals which ultimately depend on the Ramganga River, which feeds the dam, also frequent the dam to quench their thirst. Such birds as fish-eagles, stocks, terns and the kingfishers are among the birds that are most prominent around the dam. The Corbett river view presents visitors to the dam with a wide range of bird and animal species that come to the dam, which they can watch in the serene environs. During the winter, the Kalagarh dam attracts numerous birds, not just from India, but from Asia at large, as well as from Europe. For bird watchers, visiting the Kalagarh dam during winter could make a very exciting experience. This is because they would get the rare chance of viewing some of Europe’s most famous birds.

Sitabani

Sitabani, a serene place located in the heart of the Jim Corbett national park, is a popular forest area that visitors go to for bird watching. The place also stands out from the numerous other places around the park in that it is the only place within the park that tourists can walk freely. Whilst standing at this famous forest area, visitors can get to see the eminent Valmiki temple. Tourists frequent the place for a nature walk since they cannot do so within other parts of the natural park. Not only do visitors get to enjoy bird watching, but they also get to see the occasional crocodiles that roam around a nearby river.

The area is also a natural habitat for a wide range of animals such as the king cobras, deers, tigers, sambars and porcupines. When the season is at its peak, these animals, together with other prominent wildlife such as panthers, move to this area and make it a hotspot. The area is also a natural habitat for elephants, and visitors can make arrangements with the Sitabani Forest Department and enjoy elephant safaris within the area. This area of the park is not managed by the Corbett tiger reserve authorities, and thus visitors have to make prior arrangements with this local body. Sitabani is also home to a number of Indian legends and Ramayana epics depict the place as of great importance. Local visitors who wish other people who profess the Hindu religion thus hold the place with high regard.

Corbett Museum

A visit to the Jim Corbett national park would not be complete without a visit to the Corbett Museum. The museum is located near the Corbett waterfall, a key attraction in itself, and serves to safeguard and keep alive the distinguished personality of the person who helped establish the national park, Jim Corbett. The museum is found in the heritage bungalow of Corbett himself, and it brings to life activities and memories of this great adventurer and conservationist. In attaining this aim, the museum showcases some of Jim Corbett’s valued belongings, rare photographs, antiques, as well as letters written by him and his friends. The museum also plays homage to some of his paintings, together with the heads of elephants and tigers which are conserved in glass boxes.

It is only through a visit to the museum that visitors can decipher the magnitude of the threat that Corbett was faced with when he encountered the man-eating tigers. The museum also serves as a place where visitors can obtain information about some of the other attractions of the national park and information about the national park at large, as well. Additionally, visitors who wish to carry a memory of their experience in the Jim Corbett national park with them can get to buy locally made artifacts in the museum. Photography is permitted within the Corbett Museum, and visitors can take pictures to remind them of their experience, as well. A visit to the Corbett national park can only be culminated in a visit to the museum because the museum highlights the relevance of the national park.

Important Corbett Hotels & Resorts

Being one of the most famous national parks in India, Corbett national park plays homage to a number of prominent hotels and resorts. One prominent resort Jim Corbett national park has to offer is the Corbett jungle club resort. The resort covers an expansive area of seven acres and lays hidden in a thick mango grove. The resort offers luxury cottages that are equipped with superior modern amenities to make visitors stay a haven of comfort in the heart of the jungle.

Such amenities include 29 well appointed air conditioned rooms, multi-cable television, intercom facilities with 24 hour room service, doctor on call services, as well as massages on request. Additionally, the resort arranges for two elephant safaris daily and offers visitors the thrill and adventure of exploring the dense jungle around. The Corbett jungle club resort simultaneously serves as a Corbett hideaway for visitors who wish to experience the calm of the jungle.

The Den Corbett Resort

The den Corbett resort is an excellent addition to the many resorts in Corbett. The resort is located on the foothills of the Himalayas, on an expansive piece of forest reserve measuring a total of 13 acres. All around, the resort is surrounded by the thick Sal forest, giving the resort a feeling of being intertwined with nature and a general state of relaxedness. Its high point is the Mimasa spa which is an excellent place to unwind and ease away the stress of the body and mind while being pampered by the highly competent staff.

Various types of massages are provided within the spa. The resort also offers numerous other world-class amenities such as a multi-cuisine restaurant that serves both local and foreign delicacies. The Den Corbett resort is one resort Corbett holds high in regard, one which reflects the natural and relaxed atmosphere that is associated with the park.

The Corbett View Resort

The Corbett view resort, unlike most of the other Jim Corbett resorts, has been designed in a traditional manner to give visitors an even more relaxed and natural feeling. The resort is found in the southern parts of the Jim Corbett national park and is made up of several mud hut cottages. The cottages also have thatched roofs. The resort, although located in the heart of the wilderness, promises its visitors safety through the electric fences that surround it.

A stay at the resort presents one with a view of the Himalaya mountain ranges on one side and a slowly flowing river on the other side, creating a serene atmosphere that visitors find very relaxing. The traditional setting of the resort, however, is contradicted by the ultra-modern amenities that the resort provides. These amenities include cable television, multi-cuisine restaurants, and modern activity games for children. The resort also offers jeep safaris within the park.

The Infinity Resort

The infinity resort, Corbett, is another one of the ultra modern Corbett national park resorts. Just like the Corbett view resort, the resort is located at the foothills of the Himalayas, on the banks of River Kosi, and is thus also a Corbett riverside resort. The traditional and free setting of the resort gives one a sense of the famous resorts of Africa. The infinity resort plays homage to a number of modern amenities and prides itself in the provision of exceptional services.

The resort houses a total of 32 spacious bedrooms, each with its own spacious bathroom together with an individual balcony. Infinity resort also houses a full sized swimming pool for the ultimate relaxation of visitors that seek accommodation there. The resort also contains cozy fireplaces and a fully stocked bar. Some of the facilities provided there include a professionally laid out conference hall, a medical center, a jungle gym, a club café, and a wildlife library.

The national park is also dotted by number of Corbett hotels all around. Hotels in Jim Corbett national park are also characteristic of ultra modern facilities and strive to keep up with the exceptional experiences associated with the national park. The newly established Corbett Treff hotel is one such hotel. The hotel is similar to other Jim Corbett hotels that provide their customers with the opportunity to enjoy nature by being in close proximity to the jungle.

However, unlike other Corbett national park hotels, the Corbett Treff hotel prides itself in offering some of the best customer focused amenities such as a multi-cuisine restaurant, games such as table tennis and badminton, coffee maker and television sets in every room, as well as offering excursion and travel arrangements for guests. The hotel has a total of 10 cottage rooms which are well furnished to give guests a memorable experience at the hotel.

Best Time to Visit

The climate in Jim Corbett national park is temperate and generally fair throughout the year. The park is also open throughout the year so visitors can visit at whichever time they find convenient. However, some parts of the national park such as the core Dhikala zone are only opened from 15 November onwards for some time because the monsoons wash the roads within the zone away.

There are three distinct seasons in the park; the winter which runs from November to February with temperatures as low as 5 degrees Celsius and highs of 30 degrees, the summer from March to May with temperatures between 30-40 degrees, and the monsoon from July to October, which is characterized by heavy rainfall. The best time to visit the park, therefore, would be between 15th November and 15th June when temperatures are fair in the winter and the summer is just setting in. Visitors can go on jungle safaris during the winter, and summers are good for sightseeing.

How to Reach Corbett National Park

The Jim Corbett national park can be reached through various modes of transport. Information on how to reach Jim Corbett national park and the map of the park can also be found in a number of travel guides. Although he national park does not have an airstrip of its own, visitors who wish to travel by air can alight at the nearest airport which is only 50 kilometers away from the park in Pantnagar. There are regular flights that link this airport with New Delhi. Visitors can also reach the Corbett national park by road. An expansive road network links the park with major cities in India.

There are regular buses from some of India’s most prominent cities that travel up to the national park. Travelling by road from Delhi can be convenient especially since the Delhi to Jim Corbett distance is roughly 230 kilometers and takes only about four and half hours to travel by bus.