Witnessing wildlife in the midst of
natural surroundings is an experience that many nature lovers would
like to have. A visit to any of the wildlife national parks of North India can be a great opportunity to explore a wide range of
flora and fauna, while enjoying a pleasant environment that such
places offer. A huge variety of endangered species have found their
comfortable habitat in these heavily forested surroundings. Some of
the North Indian national parks are set against the backdrop of
Himalayan peaks, which offers beautiful views for tourists. Fertile
soil of such places support the growth of a large variety of plants
and trees. This is the reason behind a dense cover of greenery in
most of these North Indian national parks.
Major Ramsay, a British officer, who
was in charge of the forest areas of Tehri Garhwal during the
nineteenth century, began the efforts to protect this region by
prohibiting cultivation and large-scale felling of trees. Process for
demarcation to set up a national park started in early twentieth
century with the assistance of Jim Corbett, a legendary British
hunter-turned-conservationist. In its earlier days, this wildlife
reserve was known as Hailey National Park; named after Sir Malcolm
Hailey, who was the Governor of United Provinces. It was eventually
renamed as Corbett National Park during 1955-56, honouring the
contribution of Jim Corbett towards conservation of wildlife in this
region. He played an important role in its creation, as he had
persuaded the provincial government to establish it as a national
park. In the year 1974, Corbett National Park was selected as the
location for launching an ambitious and immensely popular project for
wildlife conservation known as 'Project Tiger'.
Primary objective of this national park
is to protect its wildlife, but there has been a lot of focus on
ecotourism in recent times. The attractions in Corbett National Park include Dhikuli, a popular destination located at the outer
part of Patli Dun valley. Tourists can enjoy beautiful views of the
valley from this location, set against the backdrop of Kanda ridge.
Corbet Falls is yet another beautiful attraction, which is surrounded
by a serene atmosphere and dense forests. Visitors are not allowed to
walk inside Corbett National Park, and this is the reason why Jeep
Safaris are used for touring the park's interiors. Bird-watchers
would find Kalagarh Dam very exciting, especially during the winter
season, when plenty of Waterfowls arrive at this place.
