Jim Corbett National Park
India's oldest national park, in the Himalayan foothills along the Ramganga river, and the place where Project Tiger began.
- Established
- 1936 (Hailey National Park)
- Renamed
- Corbett National Park, 1956
- Area
- About 520 km² (national park)
- District
- Nainital & Pauri Garhwal
- Safari zones
- Dhikala · Bijrani · Jhirna · Dhela · Durga Devi · Garjia
- Season
- Dhikala mid-Nov to mid-Jun; Jhirna open all year
- Nearest station
- Ramnagar
How the park came to be
Founded in 1936 as Hailey National Park, it was the first national park in mainland Asia. It was renamed Ramganga in 1954 and then Corbett in 1956, after Jim Corbett, the hunter-turned-conservationist and author who helped set it up.
Project Tiger, India's national tiger conservation programme, was launched here in 1973.
FloraForest & landscape
Sal forest covers much of the park, with mixed forest on the hills and large chaurs (grasslands) such as Dhikala along the Ramganga reservoir.
FaunaWildlife you can see
- Bengal tiger
- Asian elephant
- Leopard
- Sloth bear
- Himalayan black bear (higher areas)
- Hog deer
- Sambar
- Chital
- Barking deer
- Gharial
- Mugger crocodile
- Yellow-throated marten
Birds: Around 600 species, including great hornbill, Pallas's fish eagle, wallcreeper and ibisbill in winter.
Things to do
Stay overnight in the forest lodge; jeep and canter safaris.
Popular day-safari zones.
Jim Corbett's former home at Kaladhungi.
Temple on a rock in the Kosi river.
Birding and walks along the Kosi.
Travel tips
- Dhikala permits open well in advance and sell out fast
- Jhirna and Dhela stay open in monsoon
- Combine with Rajaji or Nainital