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Call of the Wild in Corbett

Wednesday, October 13, 2010 5:12 AM Posted by Andy Subandono


By Shikha Priyadarshini

A hidden wish of a nature lover, an adventure enthusiast, suddenly comes to the crust when one hears the deadly roar of a tiger in the Jim Corbett National Park. The attraction of a tiger pulls the wildlife enthusiasts close to the dark forests and the mere sight of the ruling creature makes the heart skip a beat. Humans are dominated by the wild in their territory and Jim Corbett National Park is the place to be if you prefer the thrill of this domination.

Corbett Tiger Reserve is situated in Uttaranchal, at a distance of around 290 km from Delhi. It is the oldest national park of India as it was opened in 1936, as Hailey National Park. The sole purpose was to preserve a variety of rare species of wildlife which were getting extinct due to reasons such as trade of animal skin. Today, the tigers count here has reached 150. Other animals that dwell here are Wild Boars, Barking Deer, Rhesus Macaques, Langurs, Wild Elephants, Indian Pangolin, Leopards, Muggars, Gharials and Spotted Deers.

The place is a bird watcher's paradise as there are around 580 species of birds that can be spotted including Green Heron, Pallas Fishing Eagle, Common Hawk, Indian Ring Dove, Turtle Dove, Black Partridge, Whitebreasted Kingfisher, Hoopoe, Pond Heron, Rosy Pastor, Common Grey Hornbill, etc. Many migratory birds visit the Ramganga river stretch to quench their thirst. During winter season, the rush of birds flocking in the area, seems to be a common sight. Most of these birds are high altitude birds. The best season for bird-watch is during the winter months of November to March.

The vegetation of the park mostly consists of Haldu, Pipal, Mango and Rohini trees. The forests are of moist deciduous type with dominance of Sal trees. The grasslands covering the valleys of the region offer an attractive sight, where animals can be spotted easily.

Fishing and angling in the rivers of the national park, at places like Binsar and Ramgarh, are a favorite among the visitors. Go around the dark forests to observe the wildlife, while you enjoy a good jeep or elephant safari. Many forest lodges are available where you can relax at night and wake up in the nature's lap with the twittering of birds. Even hotels and resorts, which are well-furnished and have comfy facilities are available in the national park. Other leisure activities that can be tried out here include cycling, jogging, swimming, rock climbing, rappling, trekking and river rafting.

The main places that you can visit in and around Jim Corbett include Dhikala, which is a popular tourist destination. River Ramganga flows through the Patli Dun valley near which Dhikala is situated. The Garija Devi Temple, near River Kosi, is the place where Kartik Purnima Fair takes place. It is located on the way to the hill station of Ranikhet. Also, you can visit the Corbett Museum in Kaladhungi, around 32 km from Jim Corbett, where you can have a look at the life history of Jim Corbett.

Jim Corbett National Park also organizes exciting camps for children, so that they get close to nature. They are accompanied by a team of naturalists and professionals. The park can be visited only from mid November to mid June. An overnight stay at the forest lodges would require permits from the headquarter office of the National Park,. It is advised to book the jeep and elephant rides in advance, so that they are available in time.

So, enjoy your stay in the thrilling habitat of the wild, and experience the fun of being their humble guests, not unwanted guests. The adventure begins right here...

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