Close to the Foothill City of Ramnagar Jim Corbett National Park has a colourful historical background and a long tradition of conservation. With its diverse wildlife and breathtaking landscapes it has captured the imagination of many. Around the 1820's this region was parted by the princly state of Tehri to the British in return of the assistance provided during the Gurkha invasion.

In 1858 the first steps towards protection of this forest were initiated by Major Ramsey in the form of a comprehensive plan. The Forest Department took control of the area and declared it as Reserve forest in 1879 under the forest act. From early 1900 to 1917 futile attempts were made by forest officers like Michael Keen, E.R. Stevens and Smythies to get it declared as a sanctuary. On August 6th 1936, the UP national park act was enacted and the region was christened as Hailey National Park after the name of the Sir Malcolm Hailey, the Governor of United Province who was instrumental in materializing the concept of a wild life sanctuary in the region. It was the first national park in Asian mainland and the third of its kind in the world. Following the independence it was given the name Ramganga National Park in 1955-56.