Discover India’s First National Park -Jim Corbett National Park [MAP]

Establishment of Jim Corbett National Park

Jim Corbett National Park was established in 1936 as India’s first national park. Originally named Hailey National Park after Sir Malcolm Hailey, it was renamed in 1955-56 to honor Jim Corbett, a renowned conservationist and author who played a key role in its creation.

The park is located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand state in northern India. The nearest city is Ramnagar, located about 12 km away. The coordinates of the park are 29°32′55′′N 78°56′7′′E.

Area of Jim Corbett National Park

The total area of the Jim Corbett National Park is 1,318 km2 (509 sq mi). This includes 520 km2 (200 sq mi) of core area that forms Jim Corbett National Park, plus 797 km2 (307 sq mi) of buffer area consisting of the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary and reserve forests. Jim Corbett National Park is part of the larger Corbett Tiger Reserve which was first to come under the Project Tiger initiative launched in 1973.

The elevation of the park ranges from 1,300 ft to 4,000 ft (396 m to 1,220 m) above sea level. It has a variety of landscapes including ravines, ridges, streams, marshes and plateaus. The Ramganga River flows through the Patli Dun valley in the center of the reserve.

Geography of Jim Corbett National Park

Rivers

The major rivers flowing through Jim Corbett National Park are the Ramganga River, Kosi River, Sonanadi River, and Mandal River.

The Ramganga River is considered the “lifeline” of the park, originating from the Gairsain region of the Lesser Himalayas. It flows roughly 40 km east to west through the park before entering the Gangetic plains near Kalagarh. The river is supplemented by tributaries like the Sonanadi, Mandal and Palain Rivers within the park.

The Kosi River forms the eastern boundary of the park, flowing from Mohan to Ramnagar via Dhikuli. Though it does not enter the park, wildlife depends on it for water especially during dry seasons.

The Sonanadi River is a tributary of the Ramganga, named after the adjoining Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary. It joins the park from the northwest before merging into the Ramganga reservoir.

The Mandal River also supplements the Ramganga, entering the park from the northeast and joining it near Domunda.

Mountains

Jim Corbett National Park is situated in the sub-Himalayan belt, nestled between the Mountain ranges of Lesser Himalayas to the north and the Shiwalik ranges to the south. The average elevation ranges from 1,300 feet to 4,000 feet (385 to 1,220 meters).

Geographical Features

The diverse terrain of the park includes hills, riverine belts, marshy depressions, grasslands, and a large lake. The Patli Dun valley, formed by the Ramganga River, also runs through the middle of the park.

Fauna/Animals of the Jim Corbett National Park

Jim Corbett National Park is home to a wide variety of animal species across mammals, birds, and reptiles. Some key examples are provided in the table below:

Detailed Table of Animal Species in Jim Corbett

The park has one of the highest densities of tigers in India with 20 tigers per 100 square kilometers. It was in Jim Corbett National Park that India’s tiger conservation program Project Tiger was launched in 1973.

Some key mammals found here include the endangered Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Elephant, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Barking Deer, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Hog Deer, Wild Boar, Otters, Yellow-throated Marten and more.

The bird species include raptors like the Crested Serpent Eagle and Crested Hawk Eagle. Other birds found here are the Great Pied Hornbill, White-backed Vulture, Hodgson’s Bushchat, Orange-breasted Green Pigeon and more.

Notable reptiles of Jim Corbett National Park are the Gharial, Mugger Crocodile, King Cobra, Common Krait, Cobra, Russell’s Viper and Python.

Flora of the Jim Corbett National Park

The vegetation in Jim Corbett National Park comprises of moist deciduous forests and Himalayan subtropical pine forests. with five broad vegetation communities: Sal Forest, Riverine forest, Mixed forest, grassland and open scrub.

• Jim Corbett National Park Major Forest Type: Moist Deciduous Forest, Himalayan Subtropical Pine Forests.
• Over 75% of the park area is covered by Sal forests. Other tree species include Sheesham, Sissoo, Khair, over 110 varieties.
• There are 51 species of shrubs including Ber, Karaunda and 33 species of bamboos and grasses.

A more detailed table of flora species in Jim Corbett is given below:

Detailed Table of Plant Species in Jim Corbett

Overall, there are over 600 species of trees, shrubs, herbs, bamboos, grasses, climbers and ferns identified in the Jim Corbett NP. The distinct habitat types including sal forests, chaurs, rivers and streams contribute to this rich floral diversity.

Flowering trees like Kachnar, Semal, Dhak and Amaltas add color to the landscape of Jim Corbett NP. There are also several artificially planted trees like Teak, Silver Oak and Jacaranda around the park’s facilities.

History of Jim Corbett National Park

Initially established as Hailey National Park in 1936, renamed as Ramganga National Park in 1952, and finally named Jim Corbett National Park in 1957 in honor of Jim Corbett. Jim Corbett National Park was the first national park in India to come under the Project Tiger initiative in 1973.

The park was established in 1936 during the British Raj and named Hailey National Park after William Malcolm Hailey, a governor of the United Provinces in which it was then located. In 1956, nearly a decade after India’s independence, it was renamed Corbett National Park after the hunter and naturalist Jim Corbett, who had played a leading role in its establishment and had died the year before.

Jim Corbett played a key role in establishing this protected area in the 1930s. The area of the reserve kept expanding, and was increased to 797.72 square kilometers (308.00 square miles) when a buffer zone was added in 1991.

Corbett National Park is one of the thirteen protected areas covered by the World Wide Fund For Nature under their Terai Arc Landscape Program, which aims to protect tigers, Asian elephants and Indian rhinoceros by restoring forest corridors linking parks and sanctuaries.

What is the climate and weather like in Jim Corbett National Park?

Jim Corbett National Park has a humid subtropical and highland climate. Winters are cold with night temperatures around 5°C (41°F) but days are sunny and pleasant. Summers are hot, with temperatures reaching 46°C (115°F). The rainy season is from July to September, receiving heavy rainfall around 12.5 inches per month.

The best time to visit is between November to June when the park is open and weather is more comfortable for game drives and safaris. Winters offer clear skies to observe wildlife while summers can be uncomfortably hot and park remains closed.