ATTRACTIONS : Jim Corbett
National Park
India national animal, the tiger is the largest amongst the living cats and
universally acclaimed as one of the most grand animal found on the earth.
Originally there sub species have already become extinct and remaining five are
critically endangered through out their range. According to he current estimate
the world wide numbers of tiger in the wild has declined to another six
thousand, half of which are found in India. Jim Corbett National Park
harbours one of the last sizeble population of the bengal (Indian) tiger-
Panthera tigris.
Govt of India launched an ambitious
conservation scheme project tiger on 1st april, 1973 to secure the preservation
of tiger by using the tiger as a symbol of national heritage to ensure the
protection of all major ecosystem in the tiger range. Jim Corbett National
Park is the site of launch of project tiger. A network of 23 tiger reserves
spread over fourteen states has been established under the project during the
last twenty five years.
Jim Corbett National Park spread over an
area of 1318.54 sq. km. is situated in the foothills of Himalayas mainly in the
district of Pauri Garwal and Nainital. Jim Corbett National Park contains
two protected areas within its precincts, namly Jim Corbett National Park
{ CNP 520.82 sq.kms.} and Sonanadi wildlife sanctuary {WLS-301.18 sq.kms.}. Jim
Corbett National Park was established on 8th august, 1936 and happens to be the
oldest national park of the Indian subcontinent. Jim Corbett National Park
lies in the Shiwalik- terai biotic province abutting the Himalayas. This has
resulted in great habital diversity. One can see Himalayan animalsalong with
numerous other animals and flora of peninsular India.
The tiger reserve has a tall mountain of
outer Himalayas towards its north while the drier Shivalik range lies on the
south. The rain fed river Ramganga is the life line of Jim Corbett National
Park, it enters tiger reserve near Marchula, flows through the south
Patlidoon valley in the heart of Jim Corbett National Park before
emerging out of the reserve at kalagarh after covering a distance of nearly 40
kms. Mandal, Palain and Sonanadi are its main tributaries. Construction of a dam
across Ramganga at Kalagarh led to the formation of a large manmade reservior
spread over an area of 82 sq. kms.
Khair -sisco forest thrive in river line
areas while sal forest are found on hilly slopes and ridges. Around aone tenth
of Jim Corbett National Park has open grasslands which are locally known
as chaurs. Dhikala, Paterpani, Phulai, Khinnanauli, Bijrani, Patila, Kothirau
and Jhirna are some of the important chaurs of Jim Corbett National Park.
Jim Corbett National Park along with Rajaji National Park contains the
northwestern most tiger population of India. Other cats which can be seen in
corbett are Leopard, Jungle Cat and Leopard Cat. Large herds of asiatic
elephants aggregate in the Ramganga valley in the summers. A variety of deers
sre found here: Sambar, Barking Deer, Spotted Deer and Hog Deer. Some of other
mammal species found are blue bull, sloth bear, jackal, wild pig, goral, yellow
throated marten, small Indian civet, grey mongoose, procupine, otters and
rabbits.
The fish eating crocodile or gharial, a
highly endangered species, is found alongwith mugger crocodile in the Ramganga
river and the reservoir. Mahaseer, goonch and trout fishes, several species of
turtle abound in the river. Sal forest tortoise is restricted to forest areas.
King cobra, python and monitor lizard are also found within Jim Corbett National
Park.
Jim Corbett National Park has a spectacular
avifaunal diversity. Over 500 species of resident and migratory birds have been
recorded in and around Jim Corbett National Park. Forty nine species of diurnal
reptors are found here forming a characterstics element of a avifauna. Great
pied hombill, pallas's, fishing eagle, collared falconet are some of the
endangerd birds found in the Jim Corbett National Park. The bird life is varied
in different parts of the reserve. The avifaunal diversity is at peak during
winters
Annually around 50,000 tourist visit Jim
Corbett National Park. More then one tenth of these are foreigners. The
visitor facilities of Jim Corbett National Park are maintained by the
Tiger Reserve management and there are no private lodges inside the reserve.
There are five mutually exclusive tourism zones each having separate gate for
entrance.
Tourism zone
Gate Bijrani
Amdanda
Dhikala
Dhangari
Domunda Durgadevi
Jhirna
Khara, Kalagarh
Sonanadi Vatanvasa
Information and park publications can be
obtained from the reception offices located at Ramnagar, Amdanda, Bijrani,
Dhangari, Dhikala, Kotdwara and Kalagarh, visitors can stay outside the reserve
in hotels/ private lodges and go on day visit or halt inside the reserve in
forest rest houses. Apart from three tourist complex located at Dhikala, Gairal
and Bijrani eighteen other forest rest houses located inside and around Jim
Corbett National Park are open to tourists.
Private vehicles can be taken inside the
reserve alternatively, visitor can avail of the conducted tours being run by Jim
Corbett National Park. Private open jeeps are also available at Ramnagar,
food is available at Dhikala and Bijrani canteens. Visitors are required to cook
their own meals in other forest rest houses. Basic cooking utensils and crockery
are available in all forest rest houses.
The complex at Dhangari gate has a visitor
center where visitors are oriented towards Jim Corbett National Park's
ecology and biodiversity. In a museum nearby triphies of tiger, leopard and
other animals have been put on display. The complex also has a cafe and a nature
shop from where souvenirs can be purchased.
Elephant rides are available only at Dhikala,
Khinanauli, Bijrani and Gairal. For wildlife viewing therre are watch tower at
Dhikala, Phulai and Jhirna and several machans near Dhikala, Bijrani and at
Kothorau. There is a five kilometer long nature trail at Bijrani.
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