Home >> National Parks India >> Corbett National Park
Corbett National Park
The National park : Corbett was the first National Park to be incorporated in the Project Tiger scheme, in 1973. Today Corbett National Park and Tiger Reserve sprawls over an area of 1318 square kilometers (51
0 square miles) of undulating Sal (Shorea robusta) forest between the districts of Nainital and Pauri Garhwal in Uttar Pradesh, in northern India. In October 1991, a buffer zone was added to the park's area, consisting of just over 300 square kilometers (117 square miles). The additional expanses of natural land used to form part of the Klagarh Forest Division, the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary (part of the Ramanagarh Forest Division). The newly created park with its adjoining verdant acres today make up the sole surviving jungles of the Garhwal HimalayaCorbett has aptly been described as the land of the Roar, Trumpet and Song. It represents a scene of remarkable beauty.
Corbett had the proud distinction of being the chosen venue for the inauguration of Project Tiger in India. The rich bio-diversity of the Reserve is partly attributed to the variety of habitat found here. Due to the location of the Reserve in the foothills of the Central Himalayas, both Himalayan and peninsular flora and fauna is found in the Reserve.
The grasslands, locally known as Chaurs, are limited. The largest grasslamnd is the Dhikala Chaur. Some of the best grasslands including the famous Buxor Chaur and the Beri Chaur were submerged in the Ramganga reservoir in 1974. The areas made available as a result of the relocation of the villages, Dhara, Jhirna and Kothirau in 1994 are being developed into grasslands through habitat management.
Location of Corbett National Park : Situated at an altitude of 120 and 400m (400 and 1250ft). Nearest railhead is at Ramnagar, approximately 19km (12 miles) southeast of the park. Nearest airport is at Pantnagar 50km (30 miles) away.
Climate of Corbett National Park : Summer temperatures soar to 43°C (108°F) at max and 19°C ( 42.5°F) at Min., while on winter day temperature rises to 25°C (46°F) and dips to 3°C (33°F) .
When to go (Corbett National Park): Best period is between November and May; visibility of wildlife is better in the drier summer. Park remains closed in wet monsoon season from July to October.
Getting to Corbett National Park : The Delhi-Moradabad National Highway connects the Kashipur-Ramnagar-Dhikala network of towns. Project Tiger headquarters are at Ramnagar, mandatory entry point for the park. Bus services operate regularly along the Nainital-Kathgodam-Ramganagar-Dhikala route.
Facilities at Corbett National Park: Basic facilities at Dhikala (forest rest houses and log huts), which has a canteen and shop selling provisions. Forest rest houses at Sarapdull, Gairal and Bijrani, all within the park. More up market hotels in nearby Ramnagar; Corbett Infinity Resort (Tiger Tops), Corbett River Side Resort are good to relax.
Reservation for Corbett National Park : Contact : The Field Director, Poject Tiger, Corbett Tiger Reserve, Post Office; Ramnagar, Nainital District, Uttranchal
Conservation History
The Reserve area was named as 'Hailey National Park' in 1936. This was renamed in 1954-55 as 'Ramganga National Park' and again in 1955-56 as 'Corbett National Park'. Its the oldest National Park of India. It was one of the nine Tiger Reserves created at the launch of the Project Tiger in 1973. The original area of the Park was 323.75 sq. km. to which 197.07 sq. km. was added later. An area of 797.72 sq. km. was added as buffer of the Corbett Tiger Reserve in 1991. This area includes the whole of Kalagarh Forest Division (including 301.18 sq. km. area of Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary), 96.70 sq. km. of Ramnagar Forest Division and 89 sq. km. The administrative control over the entire area is that of the Field Director of the Reserve.
Forest Types
Northern Moist Deciduous, Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous, Himalayan Subtropical Pine Forests
Main Species(Flora)
Sal, Khair, Sissoo, Ber, Kuthber, Bel, Chbilla, Dhak, Semal, Khingan, Kharpat, Rohini, Bakli, Pula and Bamboo
Main Species(Fauna)
Mammals: Tiger, Leopard, Elephant, Cheetal , Sambar , Hog Deer, Barking Deer , Wildboar Langoor And Rhesus Monkey.
Birds : Peacock, Jungle Fowl, Partridges, Kaleej, Crow, Vulture, Parakeets, Laughing Thrush, Orioles, King Fishers, Drongo, Doves, Woodpeckers, Ducks, Teals, Storks, Cormorants and Seagulls .
Reptile : Indian Marsh Crocodiles Or Mugger , Gharials , King Cobra, Common Krait , Cobra, Russel , Python and Monitor Lizard .
Pisces : Mahaseer , Kalimuchi , Kalabasu , Chilwa and Goonch.
Special ProjectsNew Initiatives: Several important initiatives have been taken by the Corbett Tiger Reserve management during the last five years.
Eco-development
The UP Forest Department has formulated guidelines on eco-development. Eco-development forms one of the important components under the World Bank aided UP Forestry Project. Eco-development Committees are being formed in villages situated in the peripheral areas of Corbett Tiger Reserve. So far, twelve eco-development committees have been formed.
A Spearhead Team for CTR was trained by WII during October, 1997. With the help of this team, staff, NGOs and Eco-development Committee members are being trained in participatory methods for microplanning and monitoring at Corbett Centre for Conservation by conducting workshops and study tours. During 1998, two cluster workshops were conducted forfield staff from protected areas (PAs) of Uttarakhand. Seven Spearhead Team from different PAs of UP were trained in Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methodology and technique of microplanning. EDC members from 22 villages were trained in three workshops so as to enable them to discharge their responsibilities effectively. Several workshops have also been conducted at village and range level as part of the microplanning process. Booklets in Hindi on different aspects of eco-development are being brought out as resource material for these workshops. Jaiv Vividhata Sanrakshan main Sahabhagita Kyon Aur Kaise and Microplanning Vidhi Aur Prarup have already been published and operational guidelines for eco-development are being prepared. The first microplan was prepared for Dhikolia village in December 1997 under the supervision of the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. Subsequently, three more microplans were prepared for Dhela, Dhikuli and Ringora villages. The programme is being implemented in these four villages. Microplanning is in advanced stages of completion in another eight villages.
Nature Guide Programme
In 1993, a training course of two and a half-month duration was organised for 25 educated unemployed youth. The participants were trained in natural history, visitor management and park interpretation and subsequently registered as nature guides in Corbett. Shortage of guides led to the organization of a second course in 1995 in which another batch of 25 youth received training.
The establishment of the guide service has convincingly demonstrated that Corbett has the potential to provide economic benefits to the local people through such linkages. An additional benefit has been that Reserve staff who used to be preoccupied with the duty of guiding the visitors is now free to carry management activities.
Eco-tourism
Workshops of various stakeholders connected with ecotourism in Corbett, Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary and Garhwal region have been organised to develop understanding and agreement between different stakeholders so as to ensure biodiversity conservation and maximize benefits to the local communities.
Voluntary Support
The Government of Uttar Pradesh has authorized the Directors of National Parks to accept voluntary gifts from visitors and NGOs. The Director maintains an account of the gifts received and send information to the Government.
Stone Masonry Wall The Central Government has sanctioned Rs.141.00 lakhs for the construction of a 12-km. long stone masonry wall on the southern boundary of Corbett where it comes in direct contact with agricultural fields.
NGO Support
NGOs have come forward to assist Corbett in strengthening protection measures.
Education and Awareness
Visitor Centre - A visitor centre has been constructed to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Corbett National Park at Dhangarhi, the main entrance to Corbett National Park. This centre is being used to organize activities for both children and the villagers and provide information to the visitors. Interpretive facilities will be developed in the visitor centre as part of the Indo-US collaborative project on interpretation.
Corbett Newsletter - Corbett National Park became the first NP of India to have its own in-house magazine when the Corbett newsletter was first launched in April 1994. It is a quarterly publication with alternate issue in Hindi and English. The newsletter contains reports on incidents and activities in Corbett, policy changes and management initiatives and in depth articles on wildlife conservation specially those related to tiger. The Hindi edition is distributed free of cost to the villagers, school children and staff.
