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About Jim Corbett National Park

 

Jim Corbett National Park is one of the most celebreated wildlife reserve in India. This park is spread in Nanital, Pauri and Almora district. Corbett National Park is an amazing blend of high hills, swamp, River side belts and green meadows covering an area of 522 lilometers at the foot hills of the greate himalayas and this makes the park a heaven for wildlife adventures lovers. This park is famous for variety of rare flora, wild animals, reptiles and birds species. A pathway adorn with mango orchards leads one into a complete different world housing a record number of 488 different species of plants and 580 birds type. Moreover a plethora of 25 reptile species and 50 species of mammals are reasons enough to go personal with this wonderland. Visitors are allowed May to June to visit Corbett National Park.
The park was then named as the 'Hailey National Park' and was later renamed as 'Corbett National Park' after James Edward Corbett the noted hunter turned conservationist of the area. The area came under 'Project Tiger' in 1971 when Gov. of India launched this ambitious conservation project. Jim Corbett National Park, which is a part of the larger Corbett Tiger Reserve, a Project Tiger Reserve lies in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. The magical landscape of Corbett is well known and fabled for its tiger richness. Established in the year 1936 as Hailey National Park, Corbett has the glory of being India's oldest and most prestigious National Park. It is also being honored as the place where Project Tiger was first launched in 1973. This unique tiger territory is best known as the father who gave birth of the Project Tiger in India to protect the most endangered species and the Royal of India called Tigers.

Spans over an extent of 520 square kilometers, its whole area comprises of hills, marshy depressions, riverine belts, grasslands and large lake. It is among the few tiger reserves in India that allows overnight stays in the lap of the National Park. Nature watch and wildlife viewing in the park is done in an open four wheeler Jeep and on elephant back. Sheltering a healthy population of tigers and rare species like Otters and the endemic fish eating crocodile, the national park is one of the most sought after destinations for the wildlife buffs. Dhikala, situated at the border of the extensive Patil Dun valley, is the most popular destination in Corbett because of its superb location and sheer abundance of wildlife present.

Today after addition of areas into the originally declared National Park, the total area of Tiger Reserve extends 1288.31 sq. kms spreading over three districts of Uttarakhand viz., Pauri, Nainital and Almora. Corbett National Park covers an area of 521 sq. km and together with the neighboring Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary and Reserve Forest areas, forms the Corbett Tiger Reserve. Geographically it is located between the Shiwalik Himalayas and the terai. The streams, rivers and ridges crisscrossing the terrain, present Corbett with a remarkable variety of landscapes. This vivid mosaic of habitats wet and dry, plain and mountainous, gentle and rugged, forests and grasslands supports numerous plant and animal species, representing Himalayan as well as plains ecosystem. The most famous of Corbett's wild residents are the Royal Bengal Tiger and the Asiatic Elephant. In addition to that with over 550 species of avifauna Corbett is one of the richest bird regions of the Country and has been declared as an 'Important Bird Area' (IBA) by Birdlife International.

If you love bird watching then Corbett is virtual haven for such tourists. Corbett and its adjoining area is a home to more than 650 species of residents and migratory birds. Particularly Dhikala is fine place to look for birds of prey, more than over 50 species of raptors alone shows the healthy biodiversity of the area. Their multiplex behavior is intriguing and their varied songs are very much pleasing to the ear. In a nutshell, this finest national park of India is well known for rich and varied wildlife including royal Bengal tiger, elephant, four to five species of deer and rich birdlife.

The Tourist Zones: In order to promote tourism in the region Corbett National Park has been divided into five different zones. These are the marked buffer or core area of the park where visitors can be part of wildlife safari and can enjoy the intriguing behavior of the animals with bare eyes at proximity.

Bijrani Safari Zone : Bijrani Zone is very popular tourist's hub because of its abundant natural beauty and open grasslands. The entry gate of the zone is located at only 01 Km from Ramnagar city.

Jhirna Safari Zone : Jhirna is another important tourist zone in the Jim Corbett National park that is open for tourist round the year. Jhirna Gate is located at 16 km from Ramnagar city.

Dhela Safari Zone : Dhela is a new eco tourism zone in Corbett National Park included in tiger reserve zone in November 2014. This is the only area in the reserve's buffer zone open to tourists in CTR. The zone is retaining the attention of large number of tourist because of its wealthy flora and fauna, open throughout the year, located at an approximate distance of 13 Km from Ramnagar City.

Dhikala Zone : Being the largest and most varied zone in Corbett, Dhikala is famous for its abundant natural beauty as well as offering the best sight for exotic fauna. The entry gate is 18 km away from Ramnagar city. Night stay inside the Dhikala Tourism Zone is highly recommended for the hard core wildlife enthusiasts.

Durga Devi Zone : Located on the north-eastern boundary of the Jim Corbett National Park, Durga Devi zone is the heaven on planet earth for those who are fond of bird watching. Entry gate is located at an approximate distance of 36 km from Ramnagar city.

Corbett Landscape (Sitabani) Zone : Corbett Landscape (Sitabani) Zone doesn't fall under the Corbett Tiger Reserve area. If you are fond of serene ambiance of the natural beauty, must visit Sitabani area.

How to Reach Corbett
Ramnagar is perhaps the best approach to the Corbett National Park which forms the headquarters of CTR. This small city is well connected by road and rail network with major cities of India like Delhi, Moradabad, Nainital and Bareilly. Once you reach Ramnagar, then it takes only half an hour to reach Corbett National Park. The park is around 15 Kms from Ramnagar railway station.

By Road: Ramnagar has a very good network of road that connects the different cities. The Corbett National Park is situated at an approximate surface distance of 260 Kilometer from India's national capital Delhi. The state government of Uttarakhand plies buses at a short interval of time from Delhi, Moradabad, Haldawani, and Nainital that reaches Corbett directly.

By Rail: The railway station in Ramnagar receives trains from different major cities of India like Delhi, Moradabad and Bareilly. A direct train to Ramnagar runs from Delhi. You can check out for Ranikhet Express, Corbett Link Express and Kathgodam Express that takes you directly to Ramnagar.

Distance from Major Cities:

  • Delhi: Delhi - Moradabad - Kashipur - Ramnagar (260 Kms)
  • Nainital: Via Kaladhungi to Ramnagar (62 Kms)
  • Lucknow: Lucknow - Bareilly - Kicha - Rudrapur - Kashipur - Ramnagar (436 km)
  • Dehradun : Dehradun - Ramnagar (232 km)

Inside Corbett Tiger Reserve zone wise Night Stay Accommodation facilities are available as follows:

Accommodation facilities are available in Dhikala, Sarpdhuli, Gairal, Sultan, Bijrani, Malani, Jhirna, Dhela, Halduparao, Kanda and Lohachaur in the Sonanadi Tourism Zone. All rooms are provided with double beds and with basic amenities. A twelve bed dormitory at Dhikala and an eight bed dormitory at Gairal are also available for the visitors intending to stay inside the forest.

Night Stay Accommodation Booking

Inside Corbett Tiger Reserve zone wise Jeep Safari facilities are available as follows:

Apart from Night Stay Accommodation facilities in the forest rest houses, Corbett Tiger Reserve also offers Day Visit/Jungle Safari facilities for the visiting tourist. This is a preferred way by many tourists to visit the park who cannot come for longer stays or wish to stay outside the park. The Day Visit/Jungle Safari is done 'only' with vehicles registered with the park administration as private vehicles are not allowed inside the park. Bookings for Day Visit/Jungle Safari can be done using this website.

Jeep Safari Day Visit Booking

The other mode to visit the picturesque park is via the 'Ramganga conducted tour' which takes the tourists to the Dhikala Zone for Day Visit in Canters (capacity of up to 16 adults). Every day two Canter rides are conducted in morning and two in the evening shifts.

Every tourist season, Dhikala Ecotourism zone open after monsoon on 15th of November for day visit (via Ramganga Conducted Tours), while Durga Devi and Bijrani Zone opens for day visits from 15th of October onwards. Jhirna and Dhela remain open throughout the year for day visits. The Bijrani ecotourism zone is famous among the tourists for its beautiful Sal forest and expansive grasslands. Elephant safari is conducted here for the willing visitors. The safaris are a great source of learning for the visitors about Indian Wildlife and conservation efforts.
Along with Bijrani, for the convenience of visitors and streamlining tourism management in Corbett Tiger Reserve, the reserve has been divided into six mutually exclusive tourism zones, each having separate gate for entry.


Zone Entry Gate
Dhikala Dhangarhi
Bijrani Amdanda
Jhirna Dhela
Sonanadi Vatanvasa
Durgadevi Durgadevi
Dhela Dhela

Terms and Conditions: 

  • Day visit to all zones are strictly regulated as per the scientifically calculated carrying capacity and only a limited number of vehicles are permitted entry during each morning and afternoon.
  • Permits for day visits to the Sonanadi Ecotourism zone can be obtained from the visitor reception center located at Kotdwar.
  • Permits for day visits to other zones are available online on our website.
  • Visitors are advised to acquaint themselves with gate timings and arrive well before the designated time to avoid any inconvenience.
  • Private vehicles are 'not' allowed entry for tourism purposes into the park and visitors use specially designed vehicles, registered with CTR for this purpose. Day visits to the Dhikala Ecotourism Zone are permitted only through the specially designed Canter buses via Ramganga Conducted Tours.
  • Visitors can also enjoy elephant rides at Bijrani and Dhikala ecotourism Zone, which is available on 'First come, first get' basis.
  • Canteen facilities are available at Dhikala, Bijrani and Gairal. At other locations, kitchen facilities have been provided.

 

Jungle Safari

As a tourist, if you wish to appreciate the wildlife closely, Corbett Tiger Reserve offers you the facility of Jungle Safari. One can undertake the safari, to spot various wild animals like Elephants, Deers, Gharials, Crocodiles and Tigers, they can also indulge in bird watching and simply enjoying the beauties of precious nature.

Elephant Ride

Elephant rides are offered at Dhikala and Bijrani during mornings and evening shifts and any visitorswith a desire to have a different view of the jungle, its wildlife, and landscape can venture for this. Elephant rides offer a unique experience in itself and there is no equal of spotting a wild carnivore from an Elephant back. The elephants are mainly used for patrolling of the forest by the forest staffbut when not on patrolling duties they are used for taking the wildlife enthusiasts into the forest. Booking for the elephant rides is done strictly on 'First Come, First Get' basis.

Watchtowers and Machans:

There are watchtowers at Dhikala, Bijrani and Jhirna zones, and several machans near Dhikala, Bijrani and Kothirau to facilitate the viewing of wildlife. Depending on availability visitor can use them for wildlife viewing after getting permission from the authorities.

Wildlife Movie Show:

During evenings the lodgers at Dhikala and Bijrani can enjoy films on Wildlife that are screened to provide an informative entertainment to visitors.

Library Facilities:

Dhikala also has a well-stocked library, which has a fine collection of books concerning wildlife and general topics. Visitors can use this facility during leisure hours. Informative literature and few standard books have also been kept in all the other rest houses as well so as to make good of available time.

Interpretation Centre:

At the entry of Dhikala Zone a Interpretation/Visitor Centre has been setup and is a must visit place before entering the park. Here via beautifully designed dioramas, stuffed specimens, maps etc. important information about the park and wildlife management in the country is displayed.

Corbett Museum:

Corbett Museum is located at Kaladhungi, some 30 kms from Ramnagar on the way to Nainital. Corbett Museum has been setup in the heritage bungalow of Jim Corbett. This magnificent museum brings back the memories of old days and teaches a lot about the life and activities of Jim Corbett who lived here and is till date loved and revered by the inhabitants of the village.

Bird watching:

Corbett Tiger Reserve is one of the richest bird regions of India and world. More than550 species of birds make Corbett a very special place for enthusiastic Bird Watchers. Sightings of bird's species like Collared falconet, Great Hornbill, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Pallas's Fishing Eagle, Lineated Barbet, Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Red-headed Vulture, Racket-tailed Drongo and Broadbill are avid birdwatcher's delight.

 

By Road:

Ramnagar is connected by road to Delhi, Moradabad, Bareilly and Naintial. State transport buses ply regularly from Delhi, Moradabad, Haldwani to Ramnagar. The approach routes are:-

Delhi-Hapur-Moradabad-Kashipur-Ramnagar: 250 Kms
Dehradun-Haridwar-Dhampur-kashipur-Ramnagar: 230 Kms
Nainital-Kaladhungi-Ramnagar: 66 Kms

By Train:

A direct train to Ramnagar runs from New Delhi. Delhi-Moradabad-Kashipur-Ramnagar Alternatively, one can come upto Haldwani/Kashipur/Kathgodam and come to Ramnagar by road.

By Air:

Dehradun and Delhi are the nearest airports. Regular flights have also started from the nearby Pantnagar Airport in Udham Singh Nagar District.

 

Corbett remains open to tourists from 15th November to 15th June The main reason for closure of the Park during the rest of the year is that during the monsoons most of the roads get washed away. Repair work starts after the rains end and it is only by November that roads are back in motorable condition.

 

Corbett Tiger Reserve remains closed during the monsoons. All ecotourism zones of Corbett Tiger Reserve are closed to visitors for night halts from 15th June to 14th November. The Bijrani Zone remains closed for day visits from 30th June to 14th October. The Dhikala, Lohachaur and Sonanadi Tourism Zones are closed for day visits also from 16th June to 14th November. From 1st to 15th June, these ecotourism zones remains on standby mode and advance reservations are not done as during this time these zones can be shut down by Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve at short notice on considerations of visitor safety due to bad weather conditions.

 

Corbett Tiger Reserve Map


The Park attracts a large number of wildlife tourists and is divided into six ecotourism zones:

Dhikala - Bijrani - Jhirna - Sonanadi - Durgadevi - Dhela - Corbett Landscape


Zone Entry Gate
Dhikala Dhangarhi
Bijrani Amdanda
Jhirna Dhela
Sonanadi Vatanvasa
Durgadevi Durgadevi
Dhela Dhela

 

Each zone have separate gate for entry.


Bijrani Zone Map


Dhikala Zone Map


Jhirna Zone Map


North Zone (Domunda & Sonanadi) Map