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Corbett National Park
 Every
time I visit Corbett National Park, I am reminded of episodes from
the Indian epics -- the Ramayana and Mahabarata,'' I told my friend
who, however, refused to believe me. ``Today, there are few places that
can be related to the thick jungles vividly illustrated in the epics...''
When my friend -- a thoroughly city-bred person -- remained unconvinced,
I took her on a visit to the park to see for herself.
Established in 1936 as Hailey National Park, the reserve was renamed
in 1974 in memory of the famous hunter-turned-conservationist cum author,
Jim Corbett. Nestling in the foothills of the mighty Himalayas in Uttar
Pradesh, Corbett National Park is one of the country's finest wildlife sanctuaries.
The park has unique attractions that beckon not only tourists but also ornithologists,
cat specialists, botanists and other wildlife experts from all over the
world. Here you can see the majestic tiger in pristine, natural surroundings,
as also other exciting wildlife.
Spread over 1,320 sq km in the Shiwalik ranges, the park is known
for its scenic charm, riverine vistas and lush vegetation. The park's dense
growth of trees and mixed deciduous forests are interspersed with grasslands
in the valley; a multitude of insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals
thrive here. We saw large monitor lizards on three occasions, scampering
among the dry leaves on the forest floor.
 The
magnificent Ramganga river meanders through the entire length of the park;
many streams and rivulets join the river, carving the landscape into numerous
ridges and ravines. The river finally enters the Kalagarh reservoir created
by a multipurpose hydro-electric dam. The varied topography of the sanctuary
harbours several rare and endangered wildlife forms. Visually stunning,
Corbett National Park happens to be one of the last stretches of
untouched sub-Himalayan wilderness.
Animals indigenous to the Himalayas and even peninsular India can be seen
here. Over 50 mammals and nearly 25 reptile species have been recorded.
The royal Indian tiger, the elusive leopard, lesser cats of different types
and the wild dog are prominent. Other animals such as the civets, foxes,
wild bears and a range of snakes, including the python and cobra, are occasionally
sighted. A 10-ft long snake slithered right in front of our vehicle and
was quickly lost in the thick vegetation. On another occasion, we were startled
to see a roundish stone moving all of a sudden -- it turned out to be a
turtle lurking in the cool waters of the river.
The sanctuary is equally popular for diverse species of deer -- the
hog deer, sambhar, spotted dear and antelopes such as the neelgai. The Ramganga
river is home to mugger crocodile and the fish-eating gharial that are often
seen basking in the sun. Bird-life in Corbett is also vivid and spectacular.
With nearly 600 species of birds, the park is an ornithologist's delight.
We witnessed an action-packed hunt by a pair of crested-hawk eagles which
jointly prised a partridge from the thick undergrowth. The prize-catch was
taken to a leafless tree and eaten at leisure.
 The
charming Dhikala tourist complex is situated in the heart of the park. The
complex is perched high above the Ramganga reservoir, at the edge of a grassy
plateau. From the top of a four-storied watchtower built close to the tourist
complex, you can have a magnificent view of the shimmering-blue Ramganga.
Elephant rides both during sunrise and sunset are popular among tourists;
four people share a ride and you can watch the animals from close quarters
and take good close-up photographs. Jeep rides are another favourite means
of venturing deep into the park to watch the wildlife unhindered.
The wealth of bio-diversity makes the park a favourite among zoologists,
botanists, bird-watchers, wildlife photographers and nature-lovers.
The park received more than 70,000 visitors during 1999-2000. Although the
number is only slightly higher than the figure recorded the previous season,
the revenue nearly doubled to Rs 80 lakh. The substantial income from eco-tourism
has benefitted not only the wild denizens of the park but also the human
population inhabiting the fringe areas.
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