Corbett National Park
Corbett
National Park has captured the imagination of many with its diverse wildlife
and breathtaking landscapes. The natural uniqueness of the area was recognised
long ago and so in 1936 Corbett attained the distinction as the first national
park to be established in mainland Asia.
Corbett National Park lies in two districts - Nainital and Pauri - in the hill
state of Uttaranchal in northern India. It covers an area of 521 sq. km and
together with the neighbouring Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary and Reserve Forest
areas, forms the Corbett Tiger Reserve over 1288 sq. km.
Its geographical location between the Himalayas and the terai, and the streams,
rivers and ridges crisscrossing the terrain, present Corbett with a remarkable
variety of landscapes. This vivid mosaic of habitats - wet and dry, plain and
mountainous, gentle and rugged, forests and grasslands - supports numerous plant
and animal species, representing Himalayan as well as plains kinds. The most
famous of Corbett's wild residents are the Bengal Tiger and the Asiatic Elephant,
but with about 600 species of avifauna Corbett is one of the richest bird regions
of India.
Corbett isn't just about Nature. It is also a rich treasure of history and cultural
heritage. The park has a long tradition of conservation. The fact that it is
the oldest National Park of the Asia and India's first Tiger Reserve itself
symbolises that Corbett is a pioneer in efforts at preserving our natural heritage.
The great naturalist-writer Jim Corbett needs little introduction. His writings
have fascinated generations of wildlife enthusiasts and he still commands no
less appeal nowadays. The areas in and around the present day Corbett National
Park were the stage for his exciting adventures in wilderness. Most of his man-eater
hunting expeditions also took place in the same areas. Jim Corbett lived in
Kaladhungi, where his house has been made into a Museum dedicated to his life
and times.
Besides being located at a bio geographic confluence, Corbett National Park
is situated at the junction of two distinct hill regions of Uttaranchal - Garhwal
and Kumaon. Hence, the Park represents a synthesis of cultures of both these
mountain areas.
Corbett
National Park with a total area of 1288 square kilometers and is not only the
oldest sanctuary in Asia, but one of the biggest. It has been allowed to go
wild literally so it has a huge variety of rare animals. Animals in a zoo are
good to see but out in the open they can be seen in all their grace and beauty.
Most of the animals can be seen in the winters and the coveted sighting of the
tiger becomes relatively easier then.
Elephants can be seen in abundance. Deer is the most easily sighted animal and
there is a wide variety of them in the park. Conservationist can also take heart
in fact that although vultures are being wiped out all over the country, they
can still be seen in the park and are in apparent good health. Even without
the migratory birds, Corbett has a very rich variety of birds. For those who
love the adventures, the Corbett area offers many of opportunities. There is
rock climbing, trekking, angling and camping.
It is just six hours journey from Delhi and provides ample scope for game spotting.
The road is smooth and the latest improvement of highways coupled with toll
road culture has certainly added to the pleasure of driving. Roadside Dhabas
and small fast - food restaurants offer you best of Indian Cuisine at a very
nominal price. Flat six hours and you are in Ramnagar.
Corbett National Park is well known the world over as the "Land of the
Trumpet, roar and song" In Corbett National Park, apart from tigers; some
of the other cats which can be seen are leopards, jungle cats and leopard cats.
The Park has spectacular bird diversity. More than 50 species of resident and
migratory birds have been recorded here. Peacock,Kaleej pheasant, black partridge,pallas's
fishing,eagle,white collared falconet, stork billed kingfisher, wall creeper,
brown fish owl, brown eared and black bulbul and several species of woodpeckers
and parakeets are some of the attractive birds found in the Corbett National
Park.
In 1966, an additional area was added tom Corbett National Park bringing it
to its present area of 520.82 sq.kms. Corbett Tiger Reserve is spread over 1318.54
sq.kms and includes, apart from Corbett National Park, additional area of Sonanadi
Wildlife Sanctuary and Reserve Forest buffer zone.
This sanctuary has 140 tigers and other cat family residents. One can see Kingfishers,
peacocks, deer, cheetal, sambhar, wild boar, and some monkeys and langurs.
Corbett National Park Reservation Form
Note » Corbett National Park Close Between 15 May to 15 October
Bandhavgarh National Park
Bandhavgarh
is a strange land. Flowing through a vibrant and luxuriant Sal Jungle, the wind
murmurs the songs of nature in the voice of silence. It seems to be quiet. Life
appears to be dead. Leaves don't rustle! Water doesn't trickle! Grasses stop
to move! Even the wind pauses to hold its breath and watch the drama unfold!
Then all of a sudden the Jungle springs to life! Langurs groan. Branches of
trees begin to swing under their springing jumps. Fleeting hooves rustle the
grass. Heavy bodies splash the water. Spotted Deers let out the alarm call.
Let it be known - the King is here - "Hail, the King!" Lesser creatures
flee. The King sweeps a gaze over his Kingdom. Period. Utter silence. The show
begins.
The biggest attraction of this land is the Tiger and its sightings.
Bandhavgarh
has a very high density of Tigers within the folds of its marvelous Jungles.
Probably the highest in the world! The 105 sq kms of park area, open for tourists
is reported to have 22 Tigers, a density of 1 Tiger for every 4.7 sq kms. There
is a saying about this park that goes - " In any other Park, you are lucky
if you see a Tiger. In
Bandhavgarh, you are unlucky if you don't see
(at least) one."
Bandhavgarh is a National Park with a very long history. Set among the
Vindhya hills of Madhya Pradesh with an area of 168sq miles (437sq kms) it contains
a wide variety of habitats and a high density of game, including a large number
of Tigers. This is also the White tiger country. These have been found in the
old state of Rewa for many years. Maharaja Martand Singh captured the last known
in 1951. This white Tiger, Mohun is now stuffed and on display in the Palace
of Maharaja of Rewa.
Prior to becoming a National Park, the forests around
Bandhavgarh had
long been maintained as a Shikargarh, or game preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa.
The Maharaja and his guests carried out hunting - otherwise the wildlife was
well protected. It was considered a good omen for Maharaja of Rewa to shoot
109 tigers. His Highness Maharaja Venkat Raman Singh shot 111 Tigers by 1914.
With over 35 kinds of mammals, 250 species of birds, 111 species of butterflies,
16 kinds of snakes, 500 kinds of plants and many more trees and shrubs it undoubtedly
has a very rich flora and fauna. Judge for yourself and take a drive through
the park and be convinced! Forget the Tiger! Forget the Chital herds and forget
the Sambar! Just let the sky above and the earth below enchant you! It will.
It does! The vibrant and luxuriant Jungles of
Bandhavgarh has its own
poetry to recite as you "Let Go" and allow your senses to let the
language of nature sink in. No doubt the famous Saint of 16th century Kabir
spent years atop
Bandhavgarh Fort meditating.
Yes
Bandhavgarh is a strange land, a new park with a very old history ---
Bandhavgarh has been a center of human activity and settlement for over
2000 years, and there are references to it in the ancient books, the Narad-Panch
Ratra and the Shiva Purana. Legend has it that Lord Rama, hero of the Hindu
epic, the Ramayana, stopped at
Bandhavgarh on his way back to his homeland
after defeating the demon King Ravana of Lanka. Two monkey architects, who had
engineered a bridge between the isle of Lanka and the mainland, are said to
have built Bandhavgarh's fort. Later Rama handed it over to his brother Lakshmana
who became known as Bandhavdhish -The Lord of the Fort. Lakshmana is the particular
God of the fort and is regularly worshipped in a temple there.
Welcome to
Bandhavgarh! The second coming and the tigers are a sideshow.
The experience of being in
Bandhavgarh takes the centre stage. As your
conversion to the "religion of nature" advances beyond the ritualistic
glitches of Tiger sightings and as your belief in the new religion crosses the
threshold of dogma into the realm of unflinching faith you undergo a metamorphosis!
You grow. You mature. You transform. You are a new person. You are You....
Copyright
© India Bird Watching.
All Rights Reserved
Paradise
