Corbett National Park
Corbett national park is the oldest wildlife reserve in India and the first
to be included in Project Tiger. It is one of the best wildlife reserves in
Asia, famous for its wide variety of wildlife and its beautiful location. The
highlight of any visit is an elephant safari into the jungles and grasslands
looking for tiger or a herd of wild elephants.
The
park covers a total area of 1,320 sq km in the foothills of the Himalayas, with
a core area of 340 sq km. It's main purpose is to protect the plants and animals
of the Ram Ganga river valley, especially the tiger and the gharial, a species
of fish-eating crocodile. About 92 tigers inhabit the park, a significant increase
from 1976 when tiger numbers were estimated at 44. With elevations in the park
ranging from 400m to 1,200m there is a rich variety of habitats. Dense stands
of sal and mixed deciduous forests are found throughout the park while the grasslands
in the valleys (about one tenth of the core area) offer visitors a better view
of the wildlife. The parks vegetation includes elephant grass and sal trees
on the valley floor. Silkcotton and kusum trees, orchids, tropical creepers
and bamboo grow on the hills. The best way to view wildlife is by elephant safari.
It is possible to travel deep into the park on elephant back and to get very
near to wildlife without frightening them away. The most commonly observed wildlife
are langur monkeys, rhesus macaques, wild boars, spotted deers, sambar, peacocks
and wild elephants. The park is also a birdwatcher's paradise containing over
580 different species of birds.
LOCATION
About 300 km north-east of Delhi, in northern Uttar Pradesh province. Ramnagar
is the nearest town and railway station. The main accommodation center inside
the park is at Dhikala, about 50 km from Ramnagar.
GETTING THERE
Trains
run between Delhi and Ramnagar (train timetable), there are also trains between
Varanasi/Lucknow and Ramnagar. Jeeps can be rented to complete the journey from
Ramnagar to Dhikala.
ACCESS
› This park is only open from 15th November to 15th June. For an
overnight stay inside the park a permit must be obtained at Ramnagar, this permit
allows for a maximum stay of three days. If the park is too busy no permits
will be issued.
› From Dhikala elephant safaris are organized twice a day, at dawn
and at late afternoon, usually demand exceeds supply. There is a watch tower
and observation posts at Dhikala for wildlife watching, binoculars are very
useful.
› Signboards at Dhikala proclaiming "Survivors will be prosecuted"
warn visitors against swimming in the Ram Ganga river or walking along it's
banks, because of the presence of crocodiles in the river.
› From Ramnagar, jeeps are available to explore the park. However,
if you choose to stay at Ramnagar you can't go on elephant safari, since day
trips to Dhikala are not allowed. You are not allowed to go walking into the
park by yourself.
Click
here for Reservation
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India Wildlife Tour 
