Monsoon break over: Corbett and Rajaji parks set to reopen from November 15
Dehradun/Nainital: After the five-month monsoon break, the tiger famous Jim Corbett National Park and the Rajaji National Park will reopen for tourists from November 15.
The Uttarakhand wildlife authorities have already completed repair of forest tracks and culverts at both parks, which usually get damaged during the monsoon. Preparations are also afoot to spruce up rest houses and forest dak bunglows, which are most sought after accommodations by tourists. The Jim Corbett park comprises the Dikala, Thirni and Bijrani zones. It is the Dikala zone that tourists mainly want to visit.
Set up in 1936, Jim Corbett park is India’s first national park. It is spread across about 900 sq km in Ramnagar in the Kumaon region. Besides tigers, leopards and lesser cats such as the leopard cat, jungle cat, and the fishing cat are also found here. The sloth bear, Himalayan black bear, jackal, yellow-throated marten, Himalayan palm civet, Indian grey mongoose, common otter and porcupine are the other attractions of this area.
The Rajaji Tiger Reserve is spread over 820.42 sq km in Dehradun, Haridwar and Pauri Garhwal districts. The park was created in 1983 by amalgamating the Rajaji, Motichur and Chilla sanctuaries. The park is home to tiger, leopard, Himalayan bear, cheetal, hog deer, barking deer, sambar deer, wild boar, antelopes such as the Nilgai, and jackal.
Most of the rest houses in the Jim Corbett park have already been booked this year. It attracts a large number of tourists, particularly in December when people throng these places to celebrate New Year. Forest Minister Dinesh Agarwal is slated to open a new nature trail in the Fanduwala area of the Ramgarh range of the Rajaji National Park on November 15.
