A Forest Like No Other

A new book on Corbett details its history and evinces the many reasons why India’s oldest national park still reigns supreme.

- Ananda Banerjee

The Corbett National Park is a special place for wildlife enthusiasts. Its old growth forests, nestled in the Himalayan foothills, and its denizens have charmed generations of nature lovers. Visiting the park is almost like an annual pilgrimage. Since its inception in 1936, when it was known as Hailey National Park, it has remained under the spotlight – India’s first national park, which ushered a new era in wildlife conservation and a crown jewel in the country’s nature conservation history.Corbett is where everyone wants to go and see a tiger. But visiting the park is much more – a nature reserve usually celebrated as the land of “trumpet, roar and song.” As more people arrive at the park’s doorstep – almost three lakh visitors each year –Ashima Kumar and Dushyant Parasher’s new book is an excellent and educative guidebook in a compact coffee-table book format.