Which is the First National Park in India?

India is a place of amazing diversity be it the country’s culture and food, its landscapes or its fauna. Millions of hectares of forests are found in the country, and some of the most beautiful creatures on the Earth live in these forests. But have you ever thought about how India started to preserve its wildlife? For wildlife conservation in India, there is a name for this starting point in the form of a national park. Let’s find out which is the first national park in India.

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Which is the First National Park in India?

The first national park in India is Jim Corbett National Park that is situated in Uttarakhand. This was established in the year 1936 under British rule and was then known as Hailey national park named after Sir Malcolm Hailey who was the then Governor of the United Provinces.

The Corbett Gov website mentions: “Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR), originally established as Hailey National Park in 1936, is a jewel in the crown of India's wildlife conservation efforts. Located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand, CTR is not only the first national park in India, but also the first to come under the Project Tiger initiative.”

How Did this Park Get the Name "Corbett"?

With the independence of India, the park changed its name twice. It was subsequently proclaimed to be Ramganga National Park and in 1955-56, it was renamed as Jim Corbett National Park, in remembrance of the renowned British-Indian hunter turned conservationist, Jim Corbett.

The Jim Corbett National Park website states: “In 1947, the park was renamed Ramganga National Park. In 1955, the park was renamed Corbett National Park, after Jim Corbett, a famous hunter and conservationist who played a key role in the establishment of the park.”

Jim Corbett was a famous naturalist and author and a great Indian wildlife lover. He was instrumental in persuading the British government to conserve this forested area.

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Key Facts About Jim Corbett National Park

• It was the first park in Asia to launch Project Tiger in 1973. The Corbett Gov mentions: “Corbett National Park becomes the launch site for "Project Tiger," a significant conservation project aimed at protecting tigers in India.”

• It covers an area of 520 square kilometers. 

• As per the Jim Corbett National Park website, the park is a home to over 600 species of birds. 

• It is quite famous for its Bengal Tigers, elephants, leopards, and deer

• The Ramganga River flows through it, adding to its natural beauty

Today, Jim Corbett national park is not only a historical landmark but also one of the most visited and renowned wildlife parks in India. Its biodiversity is seen by millions of tourists and nature enthusiasts who come to see it annually.

From saving tigers, to raising a new generation of conservationists, Corbett still continues to lead the way, as it was doing in 1936.

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