Along the foothills of the Himalayas, the Jim Corbett National Park is yet another travel destination in Uttarakhand that has something completely different to offer. No matter how many national parks you’ve been to, we can assure you that no other experience comes close to this one.
The best part about Jim Corbett is the varying terrain that you can witness here — it’s like all those Geography chapters you studied in school are coming to life. There are high hills, marshlands, forests, riverine belts, grasslands, lakes, waterfalls. Geography, yes, exactly. There are birds and animals of all habitats, and plants and trees of numerous species. Jim Corbett is a wonderfully balanced and maintained ecosystem. So yes, a bit of Biology revision too.
Originally Hailey Park, it was renamed after Jim Corbett, a well-known hunter, naturalist and photographer. This park is the oldest national park in India. It is the first of its kind to be a part of the Project Tiger Initiative. Evidently enough, tigers are the absolutely kings of this place (no offense, lion folk). To spot them, there is a jeep safari available, and if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can also tour on the back of an elephant.
It is important to decide what season you want to make your visit in. The summer (March to June) is when you can see animals and birds up close and go river rafting and trekking (but the temperatures can go up to 40°C). The monsoon is the best time for being amongst the greenest greenery. This being the mating season, you will be able to hear and see the infrequent mating calls and dances performed by the fauna. This is also a good time to trek because there is barely any crowd (but landslides are common). The winter (October to February) is the best time to visit for birdwatching. There are over 650 species of birds that come around. This is also the best time to spot those animals that rarely step out (especially the Royal Bengal Tiger) in the daytime. They do so to be under the warm sun because the nights are cold (5°C). Hence, there are high chances of spotting the superstar.
Jim Corbett is divided into five zones — Dhikala, Birjani, Jhirna, Domunda and Sonanandi. Most of these are open from mid-October to mid-June but not year-long, because of the climate (do check before you go). Of these zones, Dhikala is the most popular because it is the best spot for birdwatching and because it offers some remarkable views. The park opens at 6:30 am and its all well and good, but the gates close at sunset — strictly. Even the people inside aren’t allowed to leave then. But fear not, Jim Corbett is one of the few parks that allow overnight stays within the premises.
Jim Corbett is the perfect destination for nature lovers. It is the epitome of natural beauty with man-made maintenance. Anyone who reads about it falls in love with it even before visiting it. And when they do visit it? What can we say! Go see it for yourself!
It is truly astonishing what Uttarakhand has in store for us travellers.
Let’s thank nature together,
Team Tripffee.
