India's
first and finest park spread over 520 sq. kms. along the banks of the Ramganga
river, just 300 kms. northeast of Delhi in the foothills of the Himalayas is
the Corbett National Park. Established initially as Hailey National Park on
August 8, 1936, in honour of Sir Malcolm Hailey, then governor of the United
Provinces, the name was changed to Ramganga National Park in 1952. In 1957,
it was finally named as Corbett National Park in honour and memory of the latc
Jim Corbett, the legendary hunter, naturalist-turned-author and photographer
who had helped in setting up the park and demarcating its boundaries.
Inside Corbett Park, Blue Whistling Thrush and Red Jungle Fowl are immediate
possibilities. But with some efforts one can spot Oriental White-eye, Jungle
Owlet, Alexandrine Parakeet, Himalayan Swiftlet, Lesser Fish-Eagle or even Great
Thick-knee, Stork-billed Kingfisher and many more. Mammals include Tiger, Indian
Elephant, Chital, Sambhar, Muntjack (Barking Deer), Hog Deer and Common Langur.
A trip to these magnificent Sanctuaries will also take you through Jaipur (Pink
City) and Agra (City of Taj) which will add the experience of Indian culture,
heritage, history and hospitality to your memories.
With
elevations in the Park ranging from 400m to 1210m there is a rich diversity
in habitat. Animals of the Himalayas and those of peninsular India can both
be seen here and over 50 mammal and 25 reptile species have been recorded at
Corbett. Among the predators are the tiger, leopard, diverse species of lesser
cats and the dhole - the wild dog.
There are antelopes (nilgai and ghoral) varieties of deer (hog deer, sambhar,
chital or spotted deer and barking deer), the primates (rhesus and langur) and
other animals like jackals, foxes, civets, wild boar, sloth bear, black bear
and a range of reptiles including the cobra, python and two species of crocodile.
The rare fish eating, long snouted gharial and the more robust mugger can be
seen basking along the sand banks and pools of the Ramganga. The river which
is also noted for its sporting fish, the mighty mahaseer and the malee is popular
with anglers.
Corbett is the home of 580 species of birds including water fowl, 17 types of
woodpecker, raptors like the Pallas fishing eagle, harriers and kites, peafowl,
kalij pheasant, the rare chir pheasant, red jungle fowl, minivets, shrikes,
cuckoos, drongos and barbets. A fine reservoir on the river formed with the
building of a dam at Kalagarh now attracts diverse species of water birds -
both local and migratory. With its avian variety Corbett is a marvellous location
for bird watchers also.