Kalagarh is a national reserve, located at a distance of 48 km from Kotdwar and around 65 km from Nainital. A popular nearby attraction is the Jim Corbett Park, which is the oldest national park and tiger reserve in India. Due to the presence of this renowned national park here, Kalagarh is considered as a major tourist destination of India. The forest division of Kalagarh is spread in over an area of 301.18 sq km which includes also Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary, along with Jim Corbett Park.
The place was chosen as a national park and tiger reserve in the year of 1974, when Project Tiger was launched in India. The reserve is administered from its headquarters located in the Nanital District. The park is located at an average elevation of 600-1100 m above sea level and has a hilly area, which is covered with forests of Sal and Sheesham with patches of grassland known as Chaurs.
The park is home to more than 580 species of birds and about 50 species of mammals along with 25 species of reptiles, as well as hundreds of species of insects and plants. Some of the animals here are tigers, sloth bears, elephants, chital, leopards, barking deer, goral, sambar, porcupines, hog deer, yellow-throated martens and langurs. The population of birds and reptiles includes kingfishers, eagles, vultures, wagtails, forktails, pheasants, hornbills, crocodiles, king cobras and rock pythons.
The other national park near Kalagarh, the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary, named after River Sonanadi, is situated in the neighbourhood of the Jim Corbett National Park. The place is home to several species of trees such as sal, sheesham, semal, bakli, haladu, tun, sain, fig, bamboo, etc along with medicinal plants. The total area of this park is approximately 301 sq km and is home to around 600 species of resident and migratory birds.
Apart from national forests, the place is also visited by people for offering prayers in the Garjiya Devi and Seeta Bani temples, located in Ramnagar. Kalagarh Dam, which is located on the south western side of the Jim Corbett National Park, on the Ramganga River, is a good picnic spot.
The closest railway station to Kalagarh is Kathgodam (KGM), which is at a distance of 35 km and the nearest airport is at Pant Nagar, which is at a distance of 50 km from it.
The best time to visit this place comes in between the months of October and March, as the national parks stay closed in summers.
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