After Closing with a Highest Tourist Footfall, Corbett to Reopen on 15th November

Uttarakhand is retaining up its tourism quotient nicely keeping aside the sad memories of the natural disaster that took place in 2013. Jim Corbett National Park, an integral part of Uttarakhand has witnessed a 16% hike in footfall as compared to previous year. Due to emerging monsoon season, the park will remain closed till 15, November 2015. However, the Bijrani Zone of Corbett situated in Nainital district will remain accessible for day safari until the end of the month.

In 2014-15, the park was visited by 2.145 lakh visitors which is 16 percent more as compared to the previous year statistic. In 2013-14, the number of visitors was 2.07 lakh. The increased footfalls also translated into increased revenue for the park; the revenue generated this year stands at Rs 8.28 crore, up from Rs 7.48 crore in 2013-14.

Flood in 2013 badly affected Uttarakhand. Nevertheless, the increase in a number of visitors visiting the wildlife destinations has to an extent managed to offset some of the losses the state has incurred due to decrease in the number of religious pilgrims visiting the state. Floods of 2013 badly hampered the spiritual tourist destination of Uttranchal- Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, commonly known as Chardham. However Badrinath and Kedarnath were open were for tourists last year but they have witnessed extremely low footfall. Yamunotri and Gangotri are still trying to struggle through the after effects of the flood.

Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest wildlife reserve in India. The national park is famous for its tiger population and unique variety of flora and fauna. In Corbett, one can see a flurry of visitors hitting the radar despite the damage the area suffered. Rajaji is another tiger reserve coming up in Uttrakhand. The state can expect even more footfalls in the coming months and years.