Guide To Travel The Majestic Forestland Of Jim Corbett National Park

1. Downloaded from: justpaste.it/Guide-To-Travel-Jim-Corbett Guide To Travel The Majestic Forestland Of Jim Corbett National Park Corbett National Park has its landscape spread across three districts of Uttarakhand –Nainital, Almora and Pauri Garhwal. Corbett National Park is located in the foothills of the mighty Himalayas with a core area spreading over 520 sq km and a buffer area extending around 798 sq. km. It is a treasure trove of hills, grasslands and water bodies. There are also a number of resorts in Jim Corbett to accommodate the increasing tourist footfall. Prior to the British rule in India, the forest area of Corbett was maintained as a private property of the kings and local rulers. Later during the early 19th century, the Britishers got ownership of the forest land. In 1858, concentrated efforts were initiated to save the forest region by Major General Ramsay, a British Army Officer.The British Forest Department took control of the forest land and prohibited farming and domestic animal movements in the protected area. It was declared a reserve forest in 1879. Years later in 1936, with the efforts of Governor Sir Malcolm Hailey the reserve forest area became the first national park of India named Hailey National Park. The boundaries of the national park were demarcated in consultation with avid wildlife conservationist Jim Corbett. In 1955-56, Hailey National Park was renamed as Jim Corbett National Park in honour of Jim Corbett. This was the first national park to come under project tiger. The park is also famous for jungle safari in India. The wildlife of Jim Corbett national park is famous all over the world. A large number of tourists visit the place to witness the exclusive variety of wildlife of the place. There are a number of resorts in Corbett that cater to distinctive tourist requirements and needs. More than 400 species of plants can be found in the park. Some of the most prominent trees include Sal (Shorea robusta), Sissoo and Khair (Senegalia catechu). Corbett National Park is home to a wide variety of wild animals and migratory birds. Bengal tigers are the main attraction of the park but they are not easily sighted due to the dense nature of the forest.

2. Some of the commonly spotted animals in the park are sambar deer, wild boar, barking deer, jungle cat and chital (spotted deer). This forest also serves as an important habitat for elephants. Check this post to know, which are the best places for sighting elephants in the wild. Many types of reptiles such as crocodiles and gharials can be spotted basking in the sun on the river banks. The Park is divided by the Ramganga river and the Koshi river along with many of their tributaries. Ramganga river creates a large reservoir called Kalagarh Dam which is situated within the park. The core area of Corbett National Park has been divided into six different zones for tourists. 1. BIJRANI ZONE This is a very popular tourist hub because of its prolific natural beauty. Entry to the Bijrani zone is through Amdanda gate, located almost 1 km away from Ramnagar city. This area is preferred for day-visits and is known for its excellent wildlife tracking by jeep safari. 2. DHIKALA ZONE Dhikala is known to be the largest zone in Corbett National Park and is famous for its rich wildlife and excellent scenic beauty. Entry to this zone is through the Dhangari gate which is around 18 km away from Ramnagar city. Dhikala is open for tourists from 15th November to 15th June and remains closed during monsoon season. This is the perfect place to spot crocodiles and gharials relaxing on the banks of the Ramganga river. 3. JHIRNA ZONE Jhirna is another important tourist zone of Corbett National Park. It is open for tourists round the year. Entry to Jhirna zone is through the Dhela gate which is located at a distance of 16 km from Ramnagar city. 4. DHELA ZONE Dhela is a newly developed eco-tourism zone, created in November 2014. This zone attracts large numbers of tourists because of the abundant flora and presence of varied species of birds. It is open to tourists throughout the year. 5. DURGA DEVI ZONE

3. Highly recommended zone for those who are fond of bird watching. The entry gate is located almost 36 km away from Ramnagar. You can also spot the legendary freshwater fish Mahseer and Golden Mahseer in the water streams passing through the forest. 6. SONANADI ZONE Sonanadi range is located in the Sonanadi wildlife sanctuary and you can reach there through the Vatanvasa gate. This zone boasts of the presence of more than 500 distinct species of birds. 7. SITABANI ZONE Sitabani forest is a buffer zone which means it isn’t considered a part of the core area of the park. Legend has it that Sita, wife of Lord Rama spent some part of her exile in Sitabani. The splendid natural beauty of this zone draws many tourists and entry is not restricted like the core zones. There is no limit on the number of vehicles entering this area. Sitabani zone is considered a birdwatchers paradise. The best time to visit Corbett is between mid-November to mid-June. The park remains closed during monsoon from mid-June to mid-November. One can book a resort in Jim Corbett of their choice on the basis of their travel preference. There are many budgets and mid-range private hotels and resorts in Ramnagar as well as high budget luxury resorts in Jim Corbett to accommodate tourist requirements. If you want to wake up with the sounds of nature, book your stay in advance to experience the best of wildlife and nature. There are many resorts that offer serene and picturesque surroundings for a relaxing vacation and almost all of them efficiently provide the basic amenities. Booking their choice of stay in advance is a must for a hassle-free stay. One can also connect with their accommodation facility regarding the jungle safari as Jim Corbett offers one of the best jungle safaris in India.