Corbett National Park

Corbett National Park

Corbett National Park lies in two districts – Nainital and Pauri – in the hill state of Uttarakhand in northern India. It covers an area of 521 sq. km and together with the neighboring Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary and Reserve Forest areas, forms the Corbett Tiger Reserve over 1288 sq. km. Its geographical location between the Himalayas and the Terai, and the streams, rivers and ridges crisscrossing the terrain, present Corbett with a remarkable variety of landscapes. For the survival of such a remarkable gamut of floral and faunal species in Corbett National Park, water is a crucial factor. The Ramganga river forms the most prominent hydrological resource, supplemented by tributaries, most prominent of which are the Sonanadi, Mandal and Palain rivers. The river Kosi runs proximate to the Park and is also a significant water resource for nearby areas.

Corbett National Park has captured the imagination of many with its diverse wildlife and breathtaking landscapes. The natural uniqueness of the area was recognised long ago and so in 1936 Corbett attained the distinction as the first national park to be established in mainland Asia.

Every year thousand of wildlife lovers come to Corbett National Park in search of Tiger and other natural world. Corbett National Park offer hotels, resorts and lodges of all categories for the visitors coming to the Park. We believe that the best vacation is neither the cheapest nor the most expensive, but rather it is the one in which you are most relaxed and enjoying yourself. 

CNP is one of the most congested park in India with a ratio of 1 Tiger of every 5 acres. CNP is famous as the land of roar, trumpet and song.

Corbett National Park has a long list of birds in its Habitat, A visit to CNP would surely be a rewarding experience for ornithologists as well as bird lovers.

Jim Corbett National Park is one of the biggest national parks in India. Tourism Management has distributed the national park into five zones so that tourists can tour the park with much more convenience. All the five zones are facilitated with an entrance gate. The best thing about these five zones is the available accommodation facility i.e. Forest Rest houses.

The elephant, largest of the land mammals, has been an integral part of the history, mythology, tradition, culture and religion of India. There are three surviving species of elephants in the world, one in Asia and two in Africa. Elephants are notable for their remarkable intelligence and a sharp memory. This is because elephants have the largest brains in the animal kingdom. Males have tusks and such elephants are commonly called “tuskers”.

CTR has always been known for its tigers. CTR today holds probably the second largest population of living Tigers in the world. Tiger is an important member of carnivores once dominated all over South East Asia. The predating style of Tiger is worth observation, unbelievable indeed, as on can encounter slowest possible slow motion to fastest possible fast. Swimming excellence of Tiger is an exclusive edge.

Corbett is home to over 585 species of birds, 7 species of amphibians, 33 species of reptiles, 7 species of fishes and 37 species of dragonflies. 

Although the main highlights of Jim Corbett Park are the endangered Bengal tigers, leopards and crocodiles; yet other wildlife animals like sambas, hogs, otters, boars, elephants, sloths, gorals, pangolins and langurs can also be easily spotted here.

The charm of the national park is further enhanced with the presence of black bucks, spotted deer, Himalayan Black bears, yellow-throated martens and Indian Grey Mongoose. Not only this, due to it’s varied climatic conditions Corbett is the preferred habitat of many resident and migratory birds like peacocks, eagles, jungle fowls and parakeets. 

Corbett homes an impressive varieties of the birds. The number of birds increases further during winter season due to the arrival of migrant birds like osprey and ducks that come all the way from Europe, East Africa and Central Asia. Not only this, many Himalayan birds take refuge in this national park to escape the extreme conditions prevailing in the mountains during winters.

Entry Inside The Corbett National Park : Visitors are advised to reach the gate half an hour in advance to complete the formalities for entry into the park. 

Area 520.8 sq km. 

Altitude Between 400 mt and 1,100 mt 

Temperature:

Max 40 deg. cel. and Min 19 deg. cel. (summer) 

Max 25 deg. cel. and Min 4 deg. cel. (winter) 

Main Entry Dhangari Main Tourist Center Dhikala 

Season Nov 15 to Jun 15

The park is located between 29°25' to 29°39'N latitude and 78°44' to 79°07'E longitude. 

The average altitude of the region ranges between 360 m (1,181 ft) and 1,040 m (3,412 ft).

It has numerous ravines, ridges, minor streams and small plateaus with varying aspects and degrees of slopes

Local Transport Coaches and jeeps can be hired from the national park office at Ramnagar.

Elephants are available for wildlife viewing at Dhikala, Khinanauli and Bijrani. Elephant rides are conducted every morning and evening. 

The Facilities for Visitors: The food arrangement is there in the canteens located at Dhikala, Gairal and Bijrani. Even the cooking utensils and crockery available to the visitors for facilitating self-cooking. One should keep in mind that the consumption of non-vegetarian food and alcohol is strictly prohibited inside the national park. 

Well-trained Nature Guides are available at the park to guide the tourists about the different routes and the wildlife at the national park. It is also compulsory to take a Nature Guide with each vehicle. The Corbett Tiger Reserve also has a Visitor Centre and Museum at Dhangarhi Gate. It displays the exhibits and models relating to the history and biodiversity of Corbett. Elephant rides can be enjoyed at Dhikala, Khinanauli, Bijrani, Gairal and Jhirna during mornings and evening enabling the tourists to view the jungle, its wildlife, and landscape.

There are watchtowers at Dhikala, Phulai and Jhirna and several machans near Dhikala, Bijrani and Kothirau, excellent for viewing the wildlife. In the evening, the lodgers at Dhikala and Bijrani can also enjoy the wildlife films. Dhikala also has a well-stocked library with a fine collection of wildlife and general books. 

General Information :The tourists have to reach the gate half an hour in advance to complete the formalities for the entry into the park. Kindly gather all the necessary information for visiting the national park. Obtaining the gate pass and permit from the park administration centre at Ramnagar is mandatory for all the visitors in Corbett National Park. There are various gates to enter the Corbett National Park. The closest of the various gates into the Corbett national park is on the road to Bijrani camp. Dhangarhi Gate is 18-kms along the highway in the north of Ranikhet, which provides access to the northern and northwestern portion of the Jim Corbett Park. 

Kanha National Park

KANHA NATIONAL PARK Situated in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, the picturesque Kanha National Park was the inspiration behind Rudyard Kipling's unforgettable classic Jungle Book. The romance of the Kanha National Park has not reduced over time-it is still as beautiful. 

If one were to point to the middle of India, chances are he will pick out the forests of the Banjar and the Halon valley, the two forming the western and eastern halves of the Kanha Tiger Reserve, which have long been famous for their wide diversity of wildlife. 

The park was created in 1955 by a special law and, since then, it has dedicated itself in preserving a variety of animal species. Many endangered species have indeed been saved here. Today Kanha is among the few most scenic and beautiful wildlife reserves in Asia. This 'Tiger Country' is the ideal home for both predator and prey.

By far the most striking features of this region are the open grassy meadows, where sighting blackbuck, swamp deer, sambhar and chital is common. And, if one can transcend into time, a barefooted Mowgli would perhaps come padding along the dusty trail, for this is the land of Kipling's Jungle Book. 

There are numerous Tiger reserves in India, that are preserving this ferocious beast, but nowhere can you see them as often, and as regularly as in Kanha National Park.

Located in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh, Kanha national park cum Tiger reserve extends over an area of over 1,940-sq-kms. The major feature of this region's interesting topography is the horseshoe shape valley and the whole park area is surrounded by the spurs of the Mekal. The Surpan River meanders through Kanha's central Maidans, grasslands that cover the extensive plateau. Steep rocky escrapments along the edges offer breathtaking views of the valley.

Major Wildlife Attractions Of Kanha :

The main wildlife attractions in the park are tiger, bison, gaur, sambhar, chital, more pictures.... barasingha, barking deer, black deer, black buck, chousingha, nilgai, mouse deer, sloth bear, jackal fox, porcupine, hyena, jungle cat, python, pea fowl, hare, monkey, mongoose, tiger, and leopard.

The birds species in the park include storks, teals, pintails, pond herons, egrets, peacock, pea fowl, jungle fowl, spur fowl, partridges, quails, ring doves, spotted parakeets, green pigeons, rock pigeons, cuckoos, papihas, rollers, bee-eater, hoopoes, drongos, warblers, kingfishers, woodpeckers, finches, orioles, owls, and fly catchers. 

However, if one animal species were to represent Kanha, it would probably be the barasingha, or the swamp deer. The barasinghas at Kanha are unique, being the hard ground variety, which populate the large open tracts of grass amidst the forests of teak and bamboo. Twenty years ago, the barasingha was faced with extinction but some desperate measures including the fencing-off of some animals helped save them and again the air in Kanha bugle with their rutting calls. 

The open meadows during the cold winter months are usually teeming with barasinghas and there is plenty of tiger activity around the fringes. A female with two small cubs would circle around at least two or three times during the day and the swamp deer would go berserk, their husky alarm calls ringing through the jungle. Far from being the cunning, smart aleck, portrayed in Disney's adaptation of the Jungle Book, the real "Sher Khan" is true blue-blooded royalty. 

There is a museum at Kanha depicting attributes and activities of the park and tribal culture. It is closed every Wednesday. 

Seasons :

The winter months (November to early March) are cool and dry, with the day temperature rarely going above a comfortable 32°C, and the night temperature dipping as low as 2°C with occasional frost. By mid-January most deciduous trees begin to shed their leaves. By early February, the simal trees are covered in large scarlet flowers and the sal are soon covered in bright green, new growth. The rutting season of the barasingha - one of the rarest animals on earth - is in December and January. Their haunting, bugling calls echo across the Kanha meadows and spectacular fights between stags can be seen. 

The summer months (March to mid-June) are hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from 42°C in the day to 20°C at night. The grasses on the meadows are pale and parched. 

The Park is closed to visitors once the monsoon breaks in mid to late June. Kanha is transformed with lush new growth. The rivers fill to

bursting point. It is humid and wet with temperatures ranging from 20° to 30°C. Kanha has an annual rainfall of 1600 mm

(~64 inches) or more, 95% of which falls during the monsoon, from late June to September. The Park reopens again on

16th October.