Ramnagar

On the foothills of the Himalayas, by the cascading waters of the Kosi, is the town of Ramnagar. But this is no ordinary hill town. For close to almost a hundred years, it has also served as the base camp for travellers who seek to explore the Jim Corbett National Park. Like Jim Corbett, who the park has been named after, Ramnagar has a mystique of its own, peppered with legends of the British Raj, the exploits of the great hunter turned conservationist Jim Corbett and the days when the tiger roamed freely under the shadow of the mighty Himalayas.

The town was set up by British Commissioner H. Ramsay in 1856 and still bears his name. Later, the British administrators brought tea gardens to Ramnagar and other nearby towns. But these tea gardens have since been shut down, and Ramnagar is now best known for the adjacent Jim Corbett National Park.

Corbett National Park, India’s oldest national park, was set up in 1936 and continues to draw travellers from India and the world. It is a part of the Nainital District of the state of Uttarakhand in North India.

WHAT TO SEE

Corbett National Park: India’s first national park is also the reserve where you are most likely to spot a tiger. But even those who do not spot a tiger here, cannot but be enthralled by the magnificent beauty of the Kumaon region in the Himalayas.

Ancient temples and traditions: While it is better known as a wildlife haven today, Ramnagar is also the site of the revered Sitabani Temple and the Garjiya Devi Temple. The Sitabani Temple is believed to be the place where Sita embraced and entered the lap of Mother Earth. The Garjiya Devi Temple is a Shakti shrine, which draws thousands of devotees during Karthik Purnima in November.

Tumaria Dam: The great natural beauty of these parts is also reflected in the Tumaria Dam. The dam, which is just 17 km outside Ramnagar, has been a defining part of the landscape of this town since 1970. When you visit Ramnagar, you must also visit the Tumaria Dam.

WHAT TO DO

Most visitors to Ramnagar are here for a wildlife safari at the Corbett National Park. But you could also use the opportunity to visit the area’s sacred sites or perhaps head out on a day trip to the charming hill town of Nainital, which is just less than two hours away.

What to eat: Given its proximity to the Corbett national park, expect to find many modern restaurants here, which serve everything from continental to Chinese cuisine. But any visit to this part of India is incomplete without sampling its traditional bhatt ki churkani a preparation of dark beans, which replaces dal, jholi bhat curd mixed with besan and had with rice, and gaahat ke dubke broth served with rice. Also, there’s nothing like a cup of tea, made in the pahadi style.

What to buy: The best takeaway is a curio from the Corbett National Park. Corbett T-shirts are especially popular and can be picked up at most shops around the park.

Getting around: You will need to hire a cab to travel through Ramnagar or even faraway locations like Nainital and the Tumaria Dam. But you will have to hire a Gypsy with a permit to enter the Corbett National Park.

Where to stay: Ramnagar has over 100 resorts. But the place to stay is at a location close to the Dikhala gate. It is Corbett’s largest zone. Wildlife enthusiasts start out early from here to spot a tiger.

The best time to visit: A great time to visit Ramnagar coincides with the best time to visit the Corbett National Park as well. The winter months, between November and February, are the most preferred since this is when all zones of the park are open. The next best time is during the summer months, between March and June. During the monsoon months, you are least likely to spot a tiger. Not just because of the rain, but because many of the zones within the national park are closed during this time. However, even in this season, you can still experience Corbett in all its spectacular natural beauty, away from the frantic pace of the maddening crowds out on a safari.

How to get there: Ramnagar is connected to the rest of India by road and rail. But the nearest airport is the Pantnagar Airport, which is over 80 kilometres away from Ramnagar.

Our tip: It’s best to drive down to Ramnagar, but a journey by train is also an adventure.