Named after a famous author and wildlife conversationalist, Jim Corbett, the Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest existing National Park in India. It is a secure reservation for the conservation of the endangered species of Bengal Tiger of India. Established in the year 1936, the Jim Corbett National Park is situated in Nainital district of Himachal Pradesh. The moist and dense deciduous forests of the National Park are intriguing at first sight; they help you imagine the wildlife flourishing in full swing and the undisturbed balance of nature. It is like an animated jungle book which is designed to impress. Over 7, 00,000 people set foot in this National Park every year just to catch a glimpse of a mighty yellow beast with the black stripes. And not always does a visit seem lucky because it is not easy to catch a tiger in the lens of your camera or in the threads of your memory. Anyways, the Jim Corbett National Park is a haven for nature lovers.

Initially, the park was called as Hailey National Park as it was established under British rule. The main objective of establishing the National Park was not conservation. It was merely a game reserve and occupied an area of 323.75 square kilometres. The British prohibited even crop cultivation and cattle grazing in the area. The reserve was well maintained under an elected administrative body until 1930 but suffered a setback during the Second World War. During the Second World War, poaching and timber cutting was done extensively damaging the balance created. As the time passed, the state of the park concerned the authorities and to get the park back into shape, a buffer area of 474 square kilometres was added to the reserve. Over the years, the area kept on integrating with larger pieces of land and today it occupies a whopping area of 521 square kilometres. It was due to the earnest efforts of Jim Corbett that the British Government took conservation seriously. He was a conservationist and used his influence to convince the authorities to retain the reserve. And that is why the Park was renamed as the Jim Corbett National Park.

The main objective of the Jim Corbett National Park today is to preserve the nearly extinct Bengal Tigers. The Indian Government has undertaken a special program, Project Tiger to help achieve the aim. This was the first reserve to come under the Project Tiger. This National Park is one of the thirteen wildlife reserves that are covered by the World Wildlife Fund.

 Apart from the Bengal Tigers, the National Park has more than 100 species of trees, 50 species of mammals, some 25 species of reptiles and more than 500 species of birds. The area of the reserve is mostly occupied by deciduous trees like Sal, Mango and Pipal. Bird migration occurs undisturbed in this area. Reptiles, amphibians and fishes coexist here. Animals like leopards, fishing cats, jungle cats and leopard cats move about the low lying jungles. Different kinds of deer such as the barking deer, spotted deer, Sambhar and Chital deer are also found here.  Himalayan, Sloth and Black bears, Indian Mongoose, Antilopes and monkeys reside in this park.

Though the National Park encourages ecotourism from June to November, the peak season, the pressure of tourists flocking the park has caused some problems. The constant influx of tourist vehicles in the Park has trampled the soil, eventually leading to the extinction of some plant species. Timber cutting for domestic purposes has also disturbed the balance of the natural ambience. The Government of India conducts special programmes for tourists and locals for a better approach to ecotourism that can profit both the Park and nature lovers. 

The best season to spot a tiger is during April and mid June. It is always smart to hire a guide and go along with lots of people to explore the Park; it makes the trip more entertaining. Guided elephant rides are also a lot of fun. Dhikala is a spot in the Park which has a rest house built a century ago. An amazing view of the National Park can be seen from this place, which is situated in a valley. It is from Dhikala that the elephant safaris begin. It is royalty to sit on an elephant and roam around the jungle and absorb the beauty of nature. Trekking around the sanctuary is permitted but only when you hire a certified tour guide. It can be quite an experience to tread the paths that wild animals have walked. The best time to visit Jim Corbett National Park is from mid of November to mid of June. To make the most of the opportunity of visiting this Park, you must have prior reservations at hotels in vicinity to the Park. You may never know how long you might want to stay!!!

Quick Reference

The Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest National Park in India. The main aim of this park is to conserve the endangered species of tigers, the Bengal Tigers. It is situated in Nainital in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh. People from all over the world make it a point to come to this park just hoping to catch a glimpse of the yellow beast trailing in the wild. The best season to visit this park is from the mid of November to mid of June. The park also encourages eco tourism and has taken efforts to enlighten tourists and locals about it through different programs.