The vast grasslands of Jim Corbett Dhikala Zone aren’t just a piece of scenery to admire but a testament to the unique biodiversity that exists in India. The entire grassland area is so vast that it gives you a sense of freedom, happiness, and positivity to simply enjoy and embrace the beauty of nature. It makes you admire natural ecosystems to the extent that you realize how important it is to preserve these gems for future generations. They hold the secrets of many wild animals to whom these lush green grasslands are their home. A home where they stay in peace, and in harmony with other animals.
A Memorable Safari to the Rich Grasslands of Jim Corbett Dhikala Zone
I along with my wife – Neha, recently went to the Dhikala Zone of the Jim Corbett National Park on a Jeep Safari, and to my surprise, it was an experience that I will cherish for a very long time. The vast horizons, the openness, the blue skies, the mountains far away, and the perfect summer weather made it a truly memorable experience. We started from our Gairal Dhikala Forest Rest House around 6 AM and our guide continued driving the jeep towards the entry point of the Grasslands of Jim Corbett Dhikala Zone. Once we reached there, I took out my binoculars to see if there were any elephants present at a distance since this area is famous for elephant spotting.
Spotting Majestic Elephants in Jim Corbett Dhikala Zone Grasslands
I saw through my binoculars to find any elephants in our vicinity, but the sight was clear. So, we decided to move ahead, and to our surprise after 10 minutes of navigating, we did our first elephant sighting. It was a very large group of elephants where we could see lots of male and female elephants. We could also see numerous baby elephants too. The male elephants were majestic and represented strength and wisdom. The female elephants were the nurturers who were taking care of the baby elephants. The male ones were protecting the group and taking care of everyone. We were at a significant distance from them, and the view was amazing to look at. There were mountains behind them which made the entire scenery really amazing that we rarely get to see in city life.
Do you know these interesting facts about Elephants?
While we were continuing with our safari trip, our official Jim Corbett Safari Guide told us quite a few interesting facts about these elephants. The Elephants of the Jim Corbett Dhikala Zone spend most of their daily hours grazing in these grasslands on roots, branches, and the usual grass from the grassland terrain. They also prefer to stay near the water bodies because they need to drink a lot of water every day to stay hydrated and be in good health and condition. The grasslands intersect with the Ram Ganga River in Dhikala Zone and you can find many elephants near that area.
The Grasslands of Jim Corbett Dhikala Zone is a World in Itself
My trip to the Dhikala Zone of the Corbett National Park was one of the most memorable ones I had to date. This zone and its grasslands spread over huge hectares of land hold immense significance from an ecological standpoint. Let me explain to you.
These beautiful and large grasslands are key to maintaining the biodiversity of the Dhikala zone area. They are the primary grazing areas for the elephants in the Jim Corbett National Park, along with many others. Elephants spend the majority of their time grazing and these grasslands provide the perfect spot for them to get their food and fulfill their nutrition requirements. Apart from that, it’s also a perfect place for the tigers in the Corbett National Park to hunt. Not only that, but these grasslands support various bird species residing in them including local and migratory ones.
Changing Seasons of India Transforming the Beauty of Dhikala Grasslands
The seasons of India also affect the scenery of these grasslands significantly. During the monsoon season, the grasslands rise to their full height. This ends up attracting a variety of wild animals into this region of the national park.
On the other hand, once the monsoon season completes and winter takes over, the grasslands begin to dry. This maximizes the visibility in the region for tiger and elephant spotting. Many wildlife enthusiasts visit the Corbett National Park during this season for the best experience.
Summers are extremely difficult for the wildlife in this region. That’s because the grasslands almost dry up further and the area becomes wide open offering no shade or shelter at all for anyone. It’s one of the prime times of the year when people visit Jim Corbett National Park. This time of the year also sees a lot of fires in this region. That’s because of the heat due to extreme weather.
The biggest zone of the Jim Corbett National Park – Dhikala Zone, which houses these grasslands has attracted significant attention from wildlife conservationists which has amplified the efforts to conserve and maintain their natural biodiversity while supporting local tourism also.
Spotting a Woolly-necked Stork in Dhikala Zone Corbett National Park
As we continued our trip further into the grasslands of Jim Corbett Dhikala Zone, we saw a Woolly-necked stork bird flying in front of us. It’s from the species of large wading birds in the stork family Ciconiidae. The Woolly-necked stork is one of the most beautiful and exotic birds. It’s mainly found in the freshwater wetlands or grasslands areas of forests and national parks across Asia. Hence, it’s termed as an Asian bird.
They usually feed on the insects that can be found in the grasslands of national parks like Jim Corbett. Around 2014, this category of bird was considered near-threatened because of their low population. Moreover, the lack of protected forest reserves also ends up posing a significant threat to their survival. This is due to external factors like poaching, hunting, etc.
Keeping these facts aside, it was a wonderful experience for me to spot this bird. Its black and white body structure perfectly blends with the blue clear skies creating a spectacular view. The bird looked majestic as it was quite huge. It flew with grace and elegance stretching its wide black wings in the perfect wavy manner. I felt very privileged spotting this bird as they are rarely seen by spotters. I was joyful and continued with the rest of my safari trip.
Ending the Jim Corbett Safari with Scenic Views at the Ram Ganga River
As we continued with our last stretch of the jeep safari, we reached the Ram Ganga River. This river is an integral part of the Jim Corbett National Park as it’s a source of water for many wildlife animals, it helps fuel the biodiversity in the region supporting the sustenance of many wildlife species, and helps maintain the weather in check.
As we reached the river, we stopped our jeep and stood there for a good 45 minutes. We enjoyed the scenic beauty and natural landscapes. It was so peaceful and calm. We could hear the birds chirping and the firm sound of the river flowing. It was such a serene sight that we didn’t want to go away.
Since it was the summer season, the water was not that high in the Ram Ganga River, but usually during monsoons, the river fills up with water, and a significant chunk of the grassland region is filled with water across all directions.
My Takeaway from this Jim Corbett Dhikala Zone Safari Trip
As the Jeep safari was coming to an end, I realized that not just Jim Corbett, but the entire natural ecosystem of India is so beautiful and amazing that we should do everything in our capacity to preserve them. Not just for our future generations but for the wild animals and birds that reside in them. The grasslands of Jim Corbett Dhikala Zone are home to numerous flora and fauna and are already in danger due to various human-related factors.
That’s why I have started Jungle Revives to build a community of Wildlife enthusiasts to spread awareness regarding the amazing wildlife landscapes of India. Join me in this journey to leave an impact on the Indian Wildlife space.
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