CORBETT

What began as a wild chase to hunt down man-eating tigers eventually turned into a grand effort to save the big cats. The legendary hunter Jim Corbett decided that conservation was the best way to resolve human-wildlife conflict, and began educating the villagers to protect the tiger's habitat. The result - the establishment of India's first national reserve for tigers in 1936. Initially called Hailey National Park, the 1,288 sq. km. reserve was renamed Jim Corbett National Park in 1956.

While the tiger is the lord of this jungle, the Corbett Tiger Reserve, with a core area of about 822 sq. km., is also home to elephant herds and other endemic wildlife species. The sprawling tiger reserve with the meandering Ramganga river, undoubtedly tops the itinerary of anyone who loves to experience India's wildlife. It is possibly your best chance to look at the tiger in the eye, or capture him through your camera lens.