Named after the man who founded it, the Jim Corbett National Park is nestled in the foothills of Himalayas and is an exquisite forested wildlife sanctuary in Uttarakhand. The sanctuary has a wide range of flora and fauna and it has immaculately preserved, which is why it is home to 50 species of mammals, 110 species of trees, 580 species of birds and 25 species of reptiles.
Image Source: Hardik Pala (Flickr)
About Jim Corbett
The Tiger reserve is spread across a vast area which measures to a total of 1318.54 sq km and covers the Corbett National Park, Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary and Kalagarh Reserve Forest under it.
The hilly terrains of Corbett are spread over a wide area that ranges from 600-1,100m and has a mixed vegetation of Sal and Sheesham trees. The lantana bush and grassy lands known as chaurs also form a part of Corbett’s native flora.
Not just a beautiful mix of flora, Jim Corbett National Park also has the perfect blend of mammal species, reptiles and birds which attracts wildlife enthusiasts from all over the world. Indian elephant, Tiger, jungle cat, leopard, wild boar, caracal sloth bear, langur, jackal, mountain goat, cheetal, sambhar, hog deer and barking deer have a fairly good chance of crossing your path during a jungle safari. The park is also home to reptiles such as mugger, gharial, cobra, king cobra, rock python and Russell’s viper. With a wide variety of rare birds population, Jim Corbett is a heaven for bird watchers.
Image Source: Arvinder Gandhi (Flickr)
A trip to the jungle with a pair of binoculars gives tourists a chance to spot some of the most exotic and rare birds on Indian soil. The wagtail, kingfisher, parakeet, flycatcher, cuckoo, white-tailed rubythroat, heron, egret, barbet, cinereous vulture and shrike are some of the many bird species who might give you a chirpy welcome to the park.
Location & How To Reach:
Jim Corbett National Park is located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand and has a good rail and road connectivity.
Nearest Railway Station: Ramnagar (19 km away)
Nearest Airport: Phoolbagh, Pantnagar (50 km away)
Distance From Nearby Cities
Jim Corbett to Delhi: 246 km (6 hrs)
Jim Corbett to Nainital: 151 km (4 hrs)
Jim Corbett to Haridwar: 117 km (3 hrs)
Jim Corbett to Rishikesh: 137 km (4 hrs)
Things to See & Do In Jim Corbett
For most visitors, Jim Corbett National Park is the place where they can find the largest mammal in the cat species—the Tiger—trotting the jungle and preying on some meek deer. However, it isn’t guaranteed that you will spot a tiger in its natural habitat. But, there are plenty of other things to do and see at Jim Corbett National Park that will satisfy and fascinate your inner nature-lover.
Elephant Safari
Although choosing an elephant ride over a jeep safari reduces your chances of getting near a tiger, getting a closer look of the jungle while riding on the back of a mighty elephant is an experience of a lifetime. Movements of an elephant are far less noticeable for the animals in the jungle as opposed to the roars made by a jeep. This makes it more probable for the tourists to spot herbivores in their natural habitat.
Image Source: Paul Paulette (Flickr)
Fishing
A special permit allows tourists to fish in Ramganga, Kosi, Mandal and Kothri rivers. The heavy population of Mahseer fish can be found here in the waters. Hiring equipment for fishing can cost up to Rs. 500 per day. If you are willing to shell out some extra bucks, you can get the permits and all other arrangements that are required for your fishing expedition done by some resorts.
Nature Walks
Almost all good resorts at Jim Corbett National Park arrange early-morning or late-evening nature walks for their guests. The tourists are escorted by an expert who gives them unaltered information about the forest, its habitants and even helps them in spotting some very rare mammals and birds, which otherwise can be easily missed on a jeep safari.
Image Source: Aniket Haldar (Flickr)
Corbett Waterfall
The picturesque waterfall is located around 25kms from Ramnagar and is the perfect location for a day picnic. Surrounded by dense teak wood forest the waterfall is also an ideal location for camping.
Image Source: Madhusudan Banik (Flickr)
River Rafting
Tourists can enjoy seasonal rafting in Kosi river which flows through Jim Corbett. The best time for rafting in Jim Corbett is between July and September. The tides in the river are of grade II and III which is an exhilarating experience for beginners and professionals.
Best Time to Visit
During the summer season it can get pretty hot at Jim Corbett National Park and the temperature can climb up to 40 degrees. This is the time when Tigers and many other animals leave the dense jungle and come near ponds to quench their thirst. To increase your chances of spotting a Tiger in the jungle, visit Jim Corbett between April and mid-June
The mercury dips to 5 degrees during the winter and mornings can be foggy. For tourists who are into bird-watching, mid-December to end-March is the time when migratory birds make the sanctuary their haven.
The area receives heavy rainfall during monsoons and some drizzling during the dry season.
Accommodation Options in Jim Corbett
There’s a wide range of luxurious resorts for tourists to choose from. Surrounded by the dense jungle of Jim Corbett, these resorts give their guests an opportunity to be one with nature. A stay at these luxurious resorts costs anywhere between Rs. 8,000 -10,000 a night. The tariff at the resorts can vary a little depending on the tourist season.
A lot of budget options are also available in Jim Corbett. A night stay at these budget hotels and resorts costs approximately Rs. 2-3,000 a night.
Homestay options are also available at reasonable prices. A Twin sharing room can cost up to Rs. 1,000 a night including breakfast.
Places around Jim Corbett – Where to head next?
Sattal
Located around 123 km and a 3-hour drive from Jim Corbett, the town of Sattal is best known for its migratory birds. Nature walks, boat ride and kayaking are few of the attractions of the town.
Image Source: Koshy Koshy (Flickr)
Rishikesh
Located 142 km from Jim Corbett is Rishikesh where you can head for a day tour and enjoy river rafting, bungee jumping and mountain biking. For the non-adrenaline junkies, Rishikesh offers a variety of temples and ashrams.
Image Source: Victoria (Flickr)
Bhimtal
Bhimtal is located at a 4-hour drive from Jim Corbett. Boat rides, fishing, rock climbing, rappelling and the serenity of the small hill town are the main attractions for tourists.
Image Source: Sarbadal Pal (Flickr)
Nainital
(151 km, 4 hours)
Home to one of the most beautiful Himalayan peaks and ranges, Nainital is amongst the most sought-after tourist destinations of Uttarakhand. Snow view and sunset points, Naini lake and the serenity of the small town are some of the main tourist attractions of Nainital.
Image Source: Siddhartha Das (Flickr)
Lansdowne
(132 km, 4 hours)
The scenic cantonment area is only a few hours drive away from Jim Corbett. Boating, nature walks and bird watching are the major attractions of Lansdowne.
Image Source: Jitendra Singh (Flickr)
Ranikhet
(180 km, 5 hours)
The serene hill station welcomes tourists with its green pastures and a wide range of activities. Ranikhet offers a good mix of bustling city life and the tranquility of a hill station.
Image Source: Akshay Madan (Flickr)