Starry nights at Corbett National Park
“Twinkle, twinkle little star”, is that not a nursery rhyme that everyone instantly relates to? Stars and the heavenly bodies have always held a powerful fascination for all. Gazing up at the night skies and counting and trying to identify the stars must indeed count as one of the most beautiful experiences of life.
The beauty of the universe can be best appreciated on a dark night when the sky is resplendent with the celestial beauties. The world over there are lovely places which provide a ringside view of this natural spectacle. The places that are free from pollution and artificial lights are the best places to revel in the beauty of the stars on a cloudless night.
The Corbett National Park
The Corbett National Park is well known and synonymous with tigers and Project Tiger. It is one of the oldest and most popular national parks in India. It was initially known as Hailey National Park when it was formed in 1936. The Corbett National Park lies about 260 kilometres from Delhi in the state of Uttarakhand.
The Corbett National Park is spread over a massive area of 520 square kilometres and is rich in biodiversity. The Park has a varied and large collection of flora and fauna that enthral visitors. Over 650 species of birds frolic in the Corbett National Park while the diverse wildlife includes the Royal Bengal Tiger, elephants, Otters, Crocodiles and different species of deer stay within the Corbett National Park.
The Corbett National Park has been divided into five zones:
Bijrani Safari Zone: An area that is full of grasslands and oozing with natural beauty.
Jhirna Safari Zone: This region of the park that is open throughout the year.
Dhela Safari Zone: This is part of the buffer zone of the park and the only part of the buffer zone that is accessible to tourists.
Dhikala Safari Zone: This is the largest area of the park and a must visit for wildlife enthusiasts.
Durga Devi Safari Zone: This region is a special haven for birding enthusiasts who are sure to have some unforgettable sightings here.
The Corbett National Park is one of the very few Tiger reserves where one can stay overnight within the National Park. This paves the way for an incomparable experience of nocturnal adventure.
Why Star Gazing at Corbett National Park is Special
Lush forests, rivulets and streams, the strange noises of the jungle sounding eerie in the dark. The cool jungle air blowing on your face and a pitch black sky above ornamented with silver stars twinkling like a billion resplendent crystals.
This is how a night stay at the Corbett National Park is likely to be. An overnight stay at a tiger reserve of course is a rare experience. It comes with its own thrills and experiences. But discovering the wonders of the night sky at the Corbett National Park is on a different level altogether. It is said that the best way to learn to explore the sky is with the naked eye and not with the use of telescopes. As you take baby steps in learning about the constellations in the pristine environment of the Corbett National Park, a nocturnal roar of the royal Bengal Tiger is sure to interrupt your astronomical venture and add another dimension to your experience.
The night in the pristine surroundings of the Corbett National Park will come alive in all its splendour as you gaze at the sky. Hearts will skip beats and spirits will soar as the milky way high up in the sky casts its dazzling spell. The starry nights that you spend at the Corbett National Park will surely be the icing on the cake of your Corbett experience and a unique facet which will remain evergreen in memory for a long, long time.
So the next time the clouds clear and the night sky emerges clothed in a pitch-dark cloak and the stars shine with extraordinary brilliance, the place to be is at the Corbett National Park. Sterling Corbett would be happy to serve you as you adventure beneath the stars.