A natural habitat of many endangered fauna and flora, Corbett National Park is located close to the enchanting hill station Nainital in Uttarakhand. Regarded as India’s first and finest national park, it also has a fine collection of rare birds with some 600 species and subspecies. Spread over 520 sq km on the banks of River Ramganga, Corbett National Park attracts birdwatchers from all over the world.
Corbett National Park is located at the junction of two distinct hill regions of Uttaranchal, Garhwal and Kumaon. Established in the year 1936, the Park is named after the legendary naturalist Jim Corbett for his efforts to preserve the ecology and wildlife of India.
Home to the Bengal tiger, leopards, elephants, chital, sambhar, barking deer, wild boar, etc., the avian diversity here includes brown fish owl, Himalayan kingfisher, brown dipper, Alexandrine parakeet, Himalayan swiftlet, stork-billed kingfisher and many others. During winter, birds like osprey migrate to the Corbett National Park from East Africa, Europe and Central Asia.
In addition to such a great diversity of fauna and avifauna, the Corbett National Park features some marvelous natural spots with more than 600 species of trees, shrubs, herbs, bamboos, grasses, climbers and ferns.
The adjacent River Ramganaga is a natural habitat of crocodilian species such as Gharial and Mugger. Muggers live in the Ramganga River as well as in the Nakatal, which is Corbett’s only lake, also home to amphibians like Golden Masheer, Goonch, Indian Trout and Rohu.
The ideal time to visit Shimla is summers (March-June). The climate is moderately warm and pleasant with average temperature between 14°C and 20°C and with a maximum touching about 25°C. Also Shimla’s famous ‘Summer festival’ during May features many art and cultural performances and the town is brightly lit up with colourful lights. Corbett National Park remains open throughout the year for the visitors from Jhrina zone but during November 15 and June 15 all the tourism zones of Corbett are open for visitors and one can visit the entire national park area. Activities for tourists include birding, fishing and angling, elephant safari, jeep safari tour and adventure tours. One can also visit the Garjia Temple and Corbett Wildlife Museum.
