One of the most renowned national parks, the Corbett National Park is located in the foothills of the Himalayas and is home to a wild population of tigers, leopards, sloth bear, elephants and other wildlife. The park is named in honor of the late Jim Corbett, the legendary hunter-naturalist who spent most of his childhood in this area. Covering over 520 acres of grassland the reserve is spread across forests and hills, Ramganga River, and a bio-diversity of rich, flora and fauna, this is the perfect setting for a wildlife safari. There are around 50 tigers in Corbett with nightfall seeing nocturnal cats. A number of lodges are available around the park which provides good accommodation facilities at reasonable prices.

• Wildlife: The Corbett Tiger Reserve is the best place to catch some of the best views of the magnificent predator. Summer is the best time to watch them when they flock to the water edges. Other than tigers, different species of deer can be seen in the reserve. The Sloth Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, Jackal, Indian Grey Mongoose, Common Otter, Porcupine, are the other wildlife species found in the park. An interesting way to explore the grasslands would be on the elephant, with the mahout (elephant rider) helping you explore the park to the fullest. Other than animals, there are over 580 species of birds and various reptiles, including the long-nosed crocodile, and a few species of turtles and tortoises. The Indian python and viper, along with the king cobra can also be spotted in the park. If you are looking to explore the park more conveniently, hire a jeep from Ramnagar. Get the services of a tour guide, who is adept at recognizing warning notes from other animals and knowing the habits of animals. You must merge as much as you can with the natural surroundings. This would include wearing earthy tones, avoiding strong perfumes, keeping noise to the minimum and disposing trash properly. Remember to carry your binoculars for that closer look!

• Ramnagar: Located on the outskirts of the park, this little market town is used as the base for exploring the reserve. It also forms an excellent base camp for fishing in the Kosi, Ramganga, Madal and Kothri rivers. You can hire a fishing rod from the locals or get it arranged from the resorts.

It’s best to restrict yourself to the restaurants of the hotels and resorts for food. You can try the restaurants at the luxury hotels. Corbett Claridges Hideaway has some exquisite cuisines available. Gurney House, named after the place where Jim Corbett spent many years serves a variety of Indian, Mughlai, Chinese and Continental cuisines. A must try here is the chicken kakori kabab. Jim's Grill is another favorite restaurant at the Corbett hideaway if you want to gorge on some specialty grill. Located close to the swimming pool, there is a round open like structure with stools set around it. The restaurant at the Infinity Resorts overlooks the river and serves a wide variety of multi cuisine dishes. You can also stop at the Corbett Inn which has a decent restaurant serving some delicious food. Govind Restaurant is also a great place for some vegetarian cuisine and do try out their eggplant specialties.