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Corbett National Park

Corbett has aptly been described as the land of the Roar, Trumpet and Song. It represents a scene of remarkable beauty.

Corbett had the proud distinction of being the chosen venue for the inauguration of Project Tiger in India. The rich bio-diversity of the Reserve is partly attributed to the variety of habitat found here. Due to the location of the Reserve in the foothills of the Central Himalayas, both Himalayan and peninsular flora and fauna is found in the Reserve.

The grasslands, locally known as Chaurs, are limited. The largest grasslamnd is the Dhikala Chaur. Some of the best grasslands including the famous Buxor Chaur and the Beri Chaur were submerged in the Ramganga reservoir in 1974. The areas made available as a result of the relocation of the villages, Dhara, Jhirna and Kothirau in 1994 are being developed into grasslands through habitat management.

The Ramganga reservoir, which came into being in 1974, stretches over an area of around 82 sq.km. with one half each in Corbett National Park and Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary respectively. The Ramganga riger is the lifeline of Corbett Tiger Reserve. Its principal tributaries are the Mandal, Palain and Sonanadi. Numerous mountainous streams locally called Sots flow into these rivers. The nallas and ravines are thickly covered with evergreen glades along them, which provide undisturbed cover and water for tiger. Part of the catchment of the Kosi river falls within the Reserve though the river is outside the Reserve.

Corbett is very rich in avifauna. Zoological Survey of India has recorded over 585 species of resident and migratory birds here. Corbett falls in the newly constituted state of Uttaranchal, curved out of former Utter Pradesh State in 2000.

Forest Types
Northern Moist Deciduous
Moist Shiwalik Sal
Moist Bhabar Dun Sal
Western Gangetic Moist Mixed Deciduous
Alluvial Savannah Woodland
Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous
Dry Shiwalik Sal
Northern Dry Mixed Deciduous
Khair Sissoo
Himalayan Subtropical Pine Forests
Lower shiwalik Chir Pine

General Information :
Best Time to Visit : November- May.
Nearest Town : Ramnagar (51 Km)

How to Get Here :
Air : Pantnagar (110 Km)
Rail : Ramnagar (51 km).



Flora of Corbett
Sal
Khair
Sissoo
Ber
Kuthber
Bel
Chbilla
Dhak
Semal
Khingan
Kharpat
Rohini
Bakli
Pula



Fauna of Corbett
Mammals : Tiger, Leopard, Elephant, Spotted deer (Axis axis), Samber (Cervus unicolor), Hog deer (Axis percinus), Braking deer (Muntiacus muntjak), Wild boar (Sus scrofa), Langoor (Presbutis entellus) and Rhesus monkey (Macaque mulatto).

Birds : Peacock, Jungle fowl, Partidges, Kaleej, Crow, Vulture, Parakeets, Laughing thrush, Orioles, Kingfishers, Drongo, Doves, Woodpeckers, Ducks, Teals, Storks, Cormorants and Seagulls.

Reptiles : Indian Marsh crocodile or Mugger (Crocodilus palustris), Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), King Cobra (Naja bungarus), Common Krait (Bungarus caoruleus), Cobra (Naja naja), Russel Viper (Vipera ruselli) and Python (Python molorus) and Monitor Lizard.

Pisces : Mahaseer (Barbus tor), Kalimuchi (Barbus chilinoides), kalabasu (Labeo calabasu), Chilwa (Oxygastro bacaila) and Goonch (Bargarius bargarius).

Wildlife Conservation in Corbett
The Reserve area was named as 'Hailey National Park' in 1936. This was renamed in 1954-55 as 'Ramganga National Park' and again in 1955-56 as 'Corbett National Park'. It is the oldest National Park in India. It was one of the nine Tiger Reserves created at the launch of the Project Tiger in 1973. The original area of the Park was 323.75 sq. km. to which 197.07 sq. km. was added later. An area of 797.72 sq. km. was added as buffer in 1991. This area includes the whole of Kalagarh Forest Division (including 301.18 sq. km. area Sananadi Wildlife Sanctuary),96.70 sq. km. of Ramnager Forest Division and another 89 sq. km. The administrative control over the entire area is that of the Field Director of the Reserve.


Suggested Tours : Indian Wildlife Tour : Wildlife Tour of India and Nepal : Special Birding Tour with Bird Guide : Tiger Safari Packages in India India : Extensive Tiger Tour of North India : Tiger Safari Packages in India with Taj

Corbett National Park : Fact File : Flora of Corbett : Fauna of Corbett : Map of Corbett : Wildlife Conservation in Corbett