Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest national park in India and was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the endangered Bengal tiger. It is located in Nainital district of Uttarakhand and was named after Jim Corbett who played a key role in its establishment. The park was the first to come under the Project Tiger initiative.
Spans over an extent of 520 square kilometers, its whole area comprises of hills, marshy depressions, riverine belts, grasslands, and a large lake. It is among the few tiger reserves in India that allow overnight stays in the lap of the National Park. Nature watch and wildlife viewing in the park is done in an open four-wheeler Jeep and on elephant back. Sheltering a healthy population of tigers and rare species like Otters and the endemic fish eating crocodile, the national park is one of the most sought after destinations for the wildlife buffs. Dhikala, situated at the border of the extensive Patil Dun valley, is the most popular destination in Corbett because of its superb location and sheer abundance of wildlife present.
The Tourist Zones
In order to promote tourism in the region, Corbett National Park has been divided into five different zones. These are the marked buffer or core area of the park where visitors can be part of wildlife safari and can enjoy the intriguing behavior of the animals with bare eyes at proximity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGWvu3g6Geg
Bijrani Safari Zone
Bijrani Zone is a very popular tourist hub because of its abundant natural beauty and open grasslands. The entry gate of the zone is located at only 01 Km from Ramnagar city.
Jhirna Safari Zone
Jhirna is another important tourist zone in the Jim Corbett National park that is open for tourists round the year. Jhirna Gate is located at 16 km from Ramnagar city.
Dhela Safari Zone
Dhela is a new eco-tourism zone in Corbett National Park included in the tiger reserve zone in November 2014. This is the only area in the reserve’s buffer zone open to tourists in CTR. The zone is retaining the attention of a large number of tourists because of its wealthy flora and fauna, open throughout the year, located at an approximate distance of 13 Km from Ramnagar City.
Dhikala Zone
Being the largest and most varied zone in Corbett, Dhikala is famous for its abundant natural beauty as well as offering the best sight for exotic fauna. The entry gate is 18 km away from Ramnagar city. Night stay inside the Dhikala Tourism Zone is highly recommended for the hardcore wildlife enthusiasts.
Durga Devi Zone
Located on the north-eastern boundary of the Jim Corbett National Park, the Durga Devi zone is heaven on planet earth for those who are fond of bird watching. The entry gate is located at an approximate distance of 36 km from Ramnagar city.
Sitabani Buffer Zone
Sitabani Zone doesn’t fall under the Corbett Tiger Reserve area. If you are fond of the serene ambiance of natural beauty, you must visit the Sitabani area.
How to Reach
Ramnagar is perhaps the best approach to the Corbett National Park which forms the headquarters of CTR. This small city is well connected by road and rail networks with major cities of India like Delhi, Moradabad, Nainital, and Bareilly. Once you reach Ramnagar, then it takes only half an hour to reach Corbett National Park. The park is around 15 kms from Ramnagar railway station.
By Road
Ramnagar has a very good network of roads that connects the different cities. The Corbett National Park is situated at an approximate surface distance of 260 Kilometer from India’s national capital Delhi. The state government of Uttarakhand plies buses at a short interval of time from Delhi, Moradabad, Haldwani, and Nainital that reaches Corbett directly.
By Rail
The railway station in Ramnagar receives trains from different major cities of India like Delhi, Moradabad, and Bareilly. A direct train to Ramnagar runs from Delhi. You can check out for Ranikhet Express, Corbett Link Express and Kathgodam Express that takes you directly to Ramnagar.