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Corbett National Park
Corbett National Park is Indias first National Park. The Park was established in
August 8, 1936, and named after the Governor of the United Provinces, Sir Malcolm
Hailey, as Hailey National Park. In 1952, the Parks name was changed to Ramganga
National Park. In 1957, the Park was renamed yet again, this time after Jim Corbett,
the famed hunter-author-photographer-naturalist. Jim Corbett is famous for his exploits
in the jungles of Nainital and Kumaon, where he shot many man-eaters. The Man-eaters
of Kumaon, The Temple Tiger and The Man-eating Leopard of Rudraprayag are a few
of Jim Corbetts famous books. On the road to Nainital from the Park is Jim Corbetts
home, now a museum.
Corbett National Park is rich in vegetation, with different kinds of trees and shrubs.
The lower reaches of the Park, where the land is flat compared to the upper reaches,
consists of tall and slender sal (Shorea robusta) trees. Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo)
and khair (Acacia katechu) trees are found in the middle reaches, while the upper
reaches of the mountains are full of bakli (Anogeissus latifolia), chir (Pinus roxburghii),
gurail (Bauhinia racemosa) and bamboo trees. The Park is dotted with lantana shrubs,
a species that is a great cause for concern. Imported years ago from America, the
lantana shrub ensures that nothing else grows near it. In the Park are 110 species
of trees, 51 species of shrubs, and over 33 species of bamboo and grass that are
mostly found in chowds, or meadows.
Ranthambhore National Park
The Ranthambore National Park encompasses nearly 400 sq. kms. of dry deciduous
forest in south western Rajasthan. The Park derives its name form the fortress of
Ranthambore which sits on a rocky outcrop in the forest. Vast in size , it encompasses
an area of nearly 7 kms. in circumference. Its history dates back to the 11th century
when Rana Hamir ruled from its ramparts. Its massive battlements enclose one of
India's most ancient forts. The was a vital citadel for the control of central India
and over the centuries many wars were fought for its possession.
The Ranthambore park is open only during the day time and accommodations are available
only outside the park. There are many site seeing spots adjoining the park. The
Mansarover lake lies just on the outskirts of the National Park approx. 20 kms from
from the park and is known for its scenic beauty and various kinds of migratory
bird. Surwal lake which is just 8 kms is another heaven for bird lovers, since it
attracts many kinds of migratory birds also a beautiful site for camping. Devpura
which is 15 kms is a unique place where black bucks and antelopes are found. Pali
ghat on the banks of river chambal is an excellent spot for boating and camping.
Indergarh a 15th century fort which is located in the middle of a forested valley
infested with wildlife is again a place to camp.
The forests are very colorful, with the passage of each season the forest changes
color. During the monsoons everything turns a vibrant and lush green and the prevailing
sound is that of gurgling streams and waterfalls. AT the onset of the summer the
contrast is sharp and the forest seems to shrivel under the scorching sun. The wide
grasslands burn with the heat, the rocks reflect back t you and you feel the forest
is melting. Two river systems, the Chambal and the Banas, cut around the forest
on the border of Madhya Pradesh, nature has showered its treasures on this tiny
paradise. In the dry and semi dry areas wildlife is invariably concentrated near
water which is why sighting animals is so easy in Ranthambore.
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
Bharatpur - The Eastern Gateway to Rajasthan, was founded by Maharaja Suraj Mal
in 1733 AD, it was once an impregnable well fortified city, carved out of the region
formerly known as Mewat. The trio of Bharatpur, Deeg and Dholpur has played an important
part in the history of Rajasthan.
The legends say that the place was named as Bharatpur after the name of Bharat,
the brother of Lord Rama, whose other brother Laxman was worshipped as the family
deity of the Bharatpur rulers, Laxman's name is engraved onthe state arms and the
seals. The city and the fort have been believed to be founded by Rustam, a Jat of
Sogariya clan. Maharaja Surajmal took over from Khemkaran, the son of Rustam and
established the empire. He fortified the city by building a massive wall around
the city.
The interesting aspect of the Bharatpur history is the domination of Jats in the
region since 17th century, leader like Churaman and Badan Singh brought the Jats
together to mould them into a force to reckon with. Suraj Mal has been the greatest
ruler who made them a formidable force and played a very important role in the Indian
history during 19th century.
Sariska National Park
Sariska National Park is situated in the state of Rajasthan in northwestern India.
Spread over a huge area of 800 sq. km, Sariska acted as a hunting reserve for the
royal family of Alwar. The park which was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1958,
came under the project tiger in 1979. Today it has the distinction of being one
of the most visited parks in India owing to its close proximity to cities like Delhi
and Jaipur. The park remains open throughout the year while the best time to visit
are the months from November to June. Some ancient temples and historical monuments
are situated inside the Sariska park. The wide variety of animals, birds and plants
found and the picturesque surroundings of the Aravali hills make this place a naturalist's
paradise.
Kanha National Park
Kanha National Park, home to a wide ange of wildlife is one of India's largest national
parks. It is a mesmerizing area covered with Sal forest and lightly wooded grassland.
The Park also has a web of numerous rivers and streams. The tiger and the highland
barasingha are the highlights of this park. Realising the danger on the Tiger population
in the country, the Government started the "Project Tiger" at Kanha and
in 1974 the area was declared a Tiger reserve.
The park was created in 1955 by a special law, with a soul aim of preserving wildlife
and saving many endangered species in the process. The Kanha National Park is famous
for its natural beauty and as dwelling ground to both predator and prey.
Other animals that are found here are the panther, gaur, chital, sambar, sloth bear,
nilgai and blackbuck. Apart from these, there are some 200 species of birds, making
Kanha a bird watcher's paradise. Water birds like cattle egret, racket-tailed drongo,
woodpecker, parakeet, etc can also be seen here. One can spot herds of spotted deer
with smaller herds of beautiful Antelope, the Black Buck. If you are lucky enough,
you could also spot the timorous Barking Deer. It's snapping warns other denizens
of the forest that a predator is around. One can also come across the Rare Barasingha
and the Swamp Deer. There are 175 varieties of birds in Kanha. So if you are a bird
watcher, look forward to a full bird show. Most people are interested to see Kanha's
major attraction, the Tiger but one has to be patient to spot one. Also catch glimpses
of all the grazers, a Porcupine, many Gray Langurs, Mongoose, Hyena, Jungle Cat
and even a Leopard. Other wild attractions in this Tiger dominated country include
varieties of Deer - the Barasingha, Chital or Spotted Deer, Chousingha, Nilgai,
as well as the majestic Gaur or Indian Bison and wild Pig
Bandhavgarh National Park
The Bandhavgarh National Park is located within the district of Sahdol in the central
Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The Bandhavgarh National Park is encircled by cliffs
and wooded Vindhyan mountains, having dense forests. Its plains own a number of
grass and reed covered wetlands where one can see Kingfishers dive and Egrets sit
poised, hunch-backed, in the shallows. Vultures have their nests in the holes of
the sheer cliffs.
The Bandhavgarh jungle has its own climate, atmosphere, water and nutrition, a living
self-sustaining organism recharged through its recycling systems. It even has a
sleep wake cycle. As more light fills the sky, Bandhavgarh begins to awaken. The
Park consists primarily of Sal forests, which is one of the main tree-cover found
in the entire park along with Bamboo. It was finally declared a tiger reserve under
Project Tiger in 1993.
Bandhavgarh National Park in its early days was just 105.40-sq-kms in area, but
it extended to an area of 437 sq. kms. The park had just 25 resident tigers in the
past, but now it has high-density tiger population. Bandhavgarh was once a hunting
reserve of the royal family of Rewa, but recently Bandhavgarh was declared a reserve
park in 1968. This is also the site where the famous White Tigers of Rewa were discovered.
Periyar National Park
The most renowned destination is the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary at Thekkady, one
of India's major sanctuary areas. The drive to Thekkady itself is enchanting as
the road winds through tranquil countryside, rich plantations and thick jungles.
The sanctuary offers a lovely and comfortable way to see the animals via boat rides
on the man-made lake, which the wildlife areas encircle. In addition to the wild
life, there are water and land birds galore here, and one can sometimes find dedicated
bird watchers setting in for one or two weeks of serious observations.
Covering an area of 777 sq. km. of lush green tropical forests, it is the natural
habitat of elephant, bison, spotted deer, sambar, bear etc. Colourful variety of
birds like the Malabar Grey Hornbill, Grey jungle fowl and the Jungle Myna are seen.
Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga National Park is a birding paradise; the grasslands are a raptor country
that can be seen on safari makes a remarkable experience. These include the Oriental
Honey Buzzard, Black-Shouldered Kite, Black Kite, Brahminy Kite, Pallas's Fishing
Eagle, White Tailed Eagle, Grey-Headed Fishing Eagle, Himalayan Griffon, etc. Huge
numbers of migratory birds descend on the parks lakes and marshy areas during winters,
including Greylag Geese, Bar-Headed Geese, Ruddy Shelduck, Gadwall, Falcated Duck,
Red-Crested Pochard and Northern Shoveller.
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