7 things most travellers don't know about Jim Corbett, India's oldest national park
Jim Corbett National Park is often seen as the go-to weekend destination for wildlife safaris, especially if you're hoping to catch a glimpse of the elusive Bengal tiger. But this iconic park, India's oldest, is far more than just tiger territory.
From little-known facts to surprising features, here are seven things most travellers don't know about this legendary forest.
It wasn't always called Jim Corbett
When the park was established in 1936, it was named
Hailey National Park
after a British official. It was only in 1957, well after Jim Corbett's death, that the park was renamed to honour the man who played a key role in protecting the region's wildlife. He was known not only for hunting man-eating tigers but also for advocating their conservation.
Birthplace of Project Tiger
Jim Corbett National Park was the starting point for
Project Tiger
—India's flagship tiger conservation programme launched in 1973. The success of this project helped shape India's broader wildlife protection policies, and Corbett remains a key sanctuary in tiger conservation today.
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Multiple safari zones
Most people think of the park as one single destination, but it's actually divided into several zones like Dhikala, Bijrani, Jhirna, Dhela, and Durga Devi.
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Each zone offers a slightly different landscape and wildlife experience. Dhikala, the largest and most popular, offers the best chance to spot large animals and is only accessible to those staying in forest lodges managed by the government.
Tigers aren't the only highlights here
Sure, everyone's obsessed with spotting stripes, but Jim Corbett is also home to leopards, elephants, otters, gharials, and even over 600 species of birds.
Paradise for birdwatchers
While tigers get all the attention, Corbett is also home to over 600 species of birds.
From crested serpent eagles to hornbills and kingfishers, the park is one of the best birding destinations in India—especially during winter, when migratory species arrive.
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Corbett's landscape is incredibly diverse
The park covers over 1,300 sq km and features everything from dense Sal forests and riverbanks to grasslands and hill slopes. This varied terrain supports a wide range of flora and fauna—making it a much richer ecosystem than many travellers realise.
There are forest rest houses with real history
Scattered across the park are old British-era forest guesthouses. Places like the Dhikala and Sultan rest houses offer a rustic, no-frills stay inside the jungle itself. Staying here gives visitors a real sense of what the forest feels like once the safari jeeps leave for the day.
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