Ramnagar

Ramnagar, a town in Nainital district of Uttarakhand, is today known as the main gateway to Jim Corbett National Park, but its history is rooted in the British period and older Kumaoni traditions. The modern town was formally established in the mid-19th century by British Commissioner Sir Henry (H.) Ramsay, who created a planned settlement between about 1856–1884; the town’s name derives from him rather than directly from Lord Ram.

During British rule, Ramnagar developed as an administrative and commercial centre for the Bhabar belt, with experiments in tea gardens and forestry, and later a railway link from Moradabad (1907) that improved trade and connectivity with the Kumaon hills. Nearby villages like Dhikuli preserve traces of much older settlements, suggesting habitation in ancient times even though the present town is relatively young.

A turning point came with the creation of Hailey National Park in 1936 (later Jim Corbett National Park), which gradually made Ramnagar a base for wildlife tourism. After Independence, the town remained in Uttar Pradesh until Uttarakhand state was formed in 2000, and today it also hosts the headquarters of the Uttarakhand Board of School Education, balancing its roles as an educational hub, service town and famous “Corbett City.”