| Undoubtedly
the most beautiful Park in North and Central India, Corbett
National Park is India’s first National Park. The Park
was established in August 8, 1936, and named after the Governor
of the United Provinces, Sir Malcolm Hailey, as Hailey National
Park. In 1952, the Park’s name was changed to Ramganga
National Park. In 1957, the Park was renamed yet again, this
time after Jim Corbett, the famed hunter-author-photographer-naturalist.
Jim Corbett is famous for his exploits in the jungles of Nainital
and Kumaon, where he shot many man-eaters. The Man-eaters of
Kumaon, The Temple Tiger and The Man-eating Leopard of Rudraprayag
are a few of Jim Corbett’s famous books. On the road to
Nainital from the Park is Jim Corbett’s home, now a museum.
Situated in the north of Uttar Pradesh, in
Nainital and Garhwal districts, Corbett National Park was
the venue from where Project Tiger was launched on April 1,
1973. Project Tiger aimed at saving the tiger from extinction
because a census in 1970 revealed that the tiger population
had dwindled to 2,000, from 40,000 in 1913.
The Park is situated in the Himalayan foothills,
amidst forested mountains that range from 400m (1,312ft) to
1,210m (3,970ft) in height. Through most of the Park flows
the Ramganga River, on the banks of which lived a community
in ancient times. It is believed that these people cleared
away a tiny part of the forest, and made the area their home.
Evidence in the form of terracotta figurines and ruined temples
further corroborate the fact that the Ramganga valley was
the home of an ancient civilisation.
The best places to stay within the Park are
at Dhikala, Gairal and Bijrani. However, Dhikala is rather
crowded with tourists. It is advisable to stay in Gairal,
which is quiet and offers excellent sightings. A notice at
Gairal (“Survivors will be prosecuted”) warns
against swimming in the Ramganga because of gharials (a species
of crocodile) that can kill human beings. Ramnagar, the headquarters
of Project Tiger, is also a good place to stay. Jeeps can
be hired from here for safaris into the Park, and accommodation
is better than at Dhikala and Gairal.
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