Friday, January 9, 2009

Jim Corbett National Park




Jim Corbett National Park - A Park with History
Jim Corbett National Park has a strong historical background, which can be traced from the early 1800 when its forest were private property of the rulers of the Terhi Garhwal.

Around the 1820's this part of the state was parted to the British Rulers in return of the assistance provided during the Gurkha invasion. The British exploited the timber potential of Corbett National Park forest and mercilessly felled the forests and plant 'TEAK' a precious hardwood, to fulfill the supply for Railway sleepers.

In 1858 the first step towards protection of Corbett National Park forest was initiated byMajor Ramseyin form of a comprehensive plan, wherein farming and cattle intrusion were banned in the lower Patlidun valley. The Forest Department took control of the area and declared it as Reserve forest in 1879 under the forest act. Soon after the condition of these forest showed improvement and possibilities of forming a game sanctuary were proposed in the early 1900 by Michael Keen an officer with the Forest Dept. The proposal was turned down by the then Governor of The United Province John Hewett. More futile attempts were made in the 1916&1917 by E.R. Stevens and Smythies, both DFO's of the area to declare the sanctuary but were turned down.

In 1934 Governor Malcolm Hailey supported the proposal and declared the reserve forest into a sanctuary. Soon after Governor Hailey and Sir Smythies proposed the up gradation of the sanctuary to a national park. During this period Major James E Corbett was getting famous for his Man eating Tiger shoots. Corbett, who was well versed with area was consulted and helped in marking the boundaries for the proposed national park. On August 6th 1936, the UP national park act was enacted and Hailey National Park - named after Governor Hailey, came into being as India's first National Park and the worlds third covering an area of about 325 sq. kms.

Post independence the park was renamed after the Ramganga River - the main perennial lifeline of the area and was called the Ramganga National Park. James E Corbett died on 19th April 1955 in Nyeri, Kenya. In 1957 the park was again renamed, in honor of the legendary hunter turned conversationalist, Jim Corbett who spent most his life in the area and helped in setting up the park.

The wildlife protection act was enacted in the year 1972 and Corbett National Park was one of the first national park to launch Project Tiger a government sponsored program for the conservation of the Tiger and its habitat on 1st April 1973.

In 1991 the area of the reserve was further increased with the inclusion of the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary. Today Corbett National Park stands as one of the prime examples of efforts to conserve and is one of the best protected forest and tiger reserve in the world.

Jim Corbett National Park India had the proud distinction of being chosen as the venue for the inauguration of Project Tiger in India; earlier part of Uttar Pradesh now comes under Uttaranchal, the newly found state. Jim Corbett National Park India is home to a variety of flora and fauna, Corbett park is famous for its wild population of Tigers, Leopards and Elephants. Corbett Tiger Reserve has a great variety of fauna on account of habitat diversity. In the Jim Corbett National Park are found 110 tree species, 50 mammals' species, 580 bird species and 25 reptile species.

Corbett National Park and Wildlife Conservation History
Jim Corbett National Park India has always been famous for their resident tigers. Initially Jim Corbett National Park reserve was named as 'Hailey National Park' in 1936. Jim Corbett National Park was renamed in 1954-55 as 'Ramganga National Park' and again in 1955-56 as 'Jim Corbett National Park' after Jim Corbett who hunted down tigers that had turned man-eaters, between 1907 to 1939. Jim Corbett National Park India is the 1st and oldest National Park of India. Jim Corbett National Park India was one of the nine Tiger Reserves created at the launch of the Project Tiger in 1973.

Major Wildlife Attractions - Jim Corbett National Park India
Jim Corbett National Park India is a haven for Tigers as well as its prey, which include four kinds of Deer, Wild Boar and some lesser-known animals. Leopards are mostly found in the hilly areas of the Corbett park. Some nocturnal cats found here are the Leopard Cat, Jungle Cat and Fishing Cat. Sloth Bear is found in the lower regions of the park while the Himalayan Black Bear is seen in the higher hills only. The Dole or Wild Dog, though they can be seen in the southern areas of the park along with the Jackal. Some of the smaller residents of the park are Himalayan Palm Civet, Indian Gray Mongoose, Common Otter, Blacknaped Hare and Porcupine. Elephants are among one of the main attractions of Jim Corbett Park. Along the Ramganga River shores, one can spot the long-snouted, fish-eating Gharial Crocodile and the 'Mugger' Crocodile. Also seen on the rocky hillsides is the Ghoral or Goat Antelopes. The Langur and Rhesus Monkeys are well distributed through out the jim corbett national park and warning the whole Jungle with alarm calls when they see either a Tiger or Leopard from tree-top perches.

Corbett Jungle Resorts, Corbett Tiger Camps, Lodges & Hotels in Jim Corbett National Park India

Hotels in Jim Corbett National Park can divided in four category: Resorts, Hotels and Forest Rest Houses, providing a higher standard of accommodation at a price as well as guides for expeditions in the forests, which can be as rich in wildlife as the Jim Corbett National Park, without the restrictions.

Accommodation in Corbett and facilities
There are many accommodation facilities at Ramnagar as well as at the Corbett National Park. Being one of the most frequently visited parks in the country, the forest department and other agencies have their hotels, lodges, rest houses, log huts for the visitors.
Forest rest houses, log huts etc at Dhikala, forest rest houses at Sarapduli, Bijrani, and Ghairal offer some of the best stay in the region. There are many resorts along the periphery of the park which take the load off the governments accommodation facilities. To stay at the government hotels, rest houses etc make sure that reservations are done well in advance as the pressure is really high during the tourist seasons.
In order to make the travel tour to Corbett even more joyful we at Corbett Park offer just the right kind of accommodation for you and your family or friends in Corbett. We at Corbett Park can customize the tour package and offer the corbett jungle resort and hotel accommodation. As Corbett is quite popular destination during the tourist season, it is better to get reservation before reaching there.

Source: www.corbettpark.com

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