Mon - Sat 9.00 - 18.00

Jim Corbett National Park

Interested in getting information about Jim Corbett National Park? Well, this park is a wild place and a famous destination for people to visit with family and friends. This wild park is located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand state. This is India’s first National Park and also the first to come under the Project Tiger initiative. It has a huge tourism base because of the sightings of wild animals along with beautiful birds. This Corbett Tiger Reserve was originally established as Hailey National Park in 1936 but then it was renamed in honor of Jim Corbett in 1956. It was named after him because he was a famous hunter-turned-naturalist who played a crucial role in the establishment of this reserve.

0

 +

bird species

0

 +

species mammals

0

 +

Tiger population

This place has attractions for everyone, it has thrilling Jeep safari rides that are liked by youngsters and adults. The safari rides let you enjoy the sightings of wild animals in their natural habitat. For kids, it has elephant rides that are a fun ride and it will also take them deep inside the Jungle. Furthermore, it offers Canter Safaris that are best for a large group of people as Canter is like a small bus that can accommodate 16 people. All kinds of safaris are available for everyone, people can choose the one that they like. The park has several zones for safari rides that offer different animal sightings. It is a huge park and the area of this park is divided into 8 different zones. They are Jhirna, Dhela, Bijrani, Dhikala, Durgadevi, Sonanadi, Pakhro and Garjia. People can choose the one that they prefer.

That’s not all, this park is not just a jungle with wild animals. Here, people can enjoy sightings of birds and also they can enjoy Rafting. The attractions of this park also include a museum that has information about the conservation, or the history of Corbett Tiger Reserve. The museum has belongings of Jim Corbett like his final hunt, letters, photographs, manuscripts, etc. It also has handcrafted rural items and souvenirs adorned with captivating depictions of tigers and other wildlife, of course, people can purchase them. Visitors can also visit the Corbett Interpretation Center and Butterfly Park to gain more information.

Read more +

History of Jim Corbett National Park

This wild Jim Corbett National Park has a rich history that dates back to the 19th century and will interest most history buffs. Late in the 1860s, a tribe called the Buksas who came from the Terai region settled here and began farming. But they were evicted following the arrival of British colonial rule in India. At that time, a British officer Major Ramsay was responsible for this area and he established control over the land to protect it. In order to conserve the natural habitat of the area, he banned agricultural practices, and also establishment of cattle stations in this area was not allowed. Then in 1879, the forests of this area were constituted into a reserve forest. However, restricted felling of trees is allowed at that time. This was one of the major and earliest conservation efforts in the area.

Then from the 1900s to the 1930s, Proposals and Boundaries of the park took place. In the early 1900s, several British conservationists such as E. R. Stevens and E. A. Smythies proposed the creation of a national park here. Then in 1907, the British colonial administration considered this idea of conservationists about creating a game reserve in the area. Then finally in the 1930s the mapping and setting of boundaries for the park took place.

Back in 1936, this park was established with an area of 323.75 sq. km. through a special Act which made it mainland Asia's first National Park. This area was first named as Hailey's National Park. It was given this name to honor Sir Malcolm Hailey who was the Governor General of United Provinces at the time. When the park was established, hunting became strictly prohibited. However, timber cutting for domestic purposes is allowed. But, then during the Second World War, this park suffered from excessive poaching and illegal timber cutting because of the chaos and resource needs of World War II.

Then in 1954-1955, this park was renamed Ramganga National Park. Then in 1956, after the death of hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett, to honor him, it was again renamed Jim Corbett National Park with an area of 520.82 sq. km. After that, the Indian Wildlife Protection Act was enacted and in 1973 it became a launch site for "Project Tiger," Then in 1974, it was chosen as the location for launching the Project Tiger wildlife conservation initiative. An additional 797.72 sq. km was added as a buffer zone to Corbett Tiger Reserve in 1991 and the whole area of the park and surroundings were called Corbett Tiger Reserve.

Popular Tourist Attractions

Suspension Bridge

As the name says, it’s a bridge near the park which is around 150 years old and the locals call it Jhula Pul. Mostly, couples can be seen here as they come here to shoot their pre-wedding. They like to shoot it here because this hanging bridge is built over the Kosi River and people can get amazing shots. It is located close to the park and is situated near the Dhikuli village of Ramnagar.

Details

Corbett Waterfalls

These waterfalls come under the Corbett Reserve area but not in the National Park area. People can easily reach here by any means of transport. This waterfall is located in the Nainital and Pauri Districts of Uttarakhand and is around 30 km from the park. After coming to the entry gate, you need to take tickets and if you’re coming by vehicle then you have to pay fees for that also.

Details

Devbhoomi Outdoor Adventure

It’s an adventurous spot near the park. This is around 9 km from the park and people can enjoy fun activities here. It is located in the Dhikuli area on the highway to Ranikhet. The activities that people can enjoy here include Wall Climbing, Wall Rappelling, Zip Line, Commando & Tyre Net

Details

Garjiya Devi Temple

This temple is around 15 km from the park and is one of the very old Devi temples in India. This temple is situated over a giant rock in Kosi River and it attracts a lot of tourists. Around 1000s of devotees come here every year because of the divinity of this temple. A maximum number of devotees can be seen here throughout the time of Kartik Poornima.

Details

Forest Rest House

For nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts, Jim Corbett National Park provides a chance to stay inside the Jungle in a Forest Rest House. The FRH of this park is more than a century old, but people can still stay inside it with basic amenities. Staying in an FRH will let you stay close to nature and experience the true thrill of staying inside the Jungle with wild animals roaming around. Don’t get scared if you see sparkling eyes outside your rooms at night. The FRH are not fully equipped with amenities, instead, they are made to give a feel of a jungle so you can only get basic amenities here like a room with a bed, attached bathroom, and Kitchen area for cooking. In some FRH, you can have something from the canteen. Other than that, electricity comes in FRH using solar panels so you can only use electricity after evening.

Dhikala FRH

This FRH is in the Dhikala zone of the park and it offers 6 lodges with one dormitory. All the lodges of this FRH have separate bathrooms and the dormitory has a single bathroom. This FRH also has a canteen where meals are served in buffet styles. This is the only FRH in which you can spend time in a library, watch movie shows in the amphitheater in the evening, and see the views of the Ramganga Riverbed. A watchtower is also there from which you can get amazing views of the surroundings.

Gairal FRH

This is in the Dhikala zone and it was built back in 1903. This FRH offers 4 New Forest Rest House rooms and a Dormitory with 8 beds. This FRH also offers meals in a buffet style in the canteen area and for spending free time, people can visit the nearby crocodile pool which is around 2 km.

Sarpduli FRH

It is situated on the banks of the Ramganga River and you can see amazing views from this one. This was built back in 1908 and it offers 2 rooms and 1 dormitory. This one has a kitchen so you can bring your Raw food along with oil and spices and make the food according to your taste or the chef can make it. This one has good sightings as cute otters can be seen here near the Champinon pool. It’s a nice FRH with various bird sightings.

Sultan FRH

This one is also located in the Dhikala zone and it is best for small groups. This FRH offers 2 rooms with attached bathrooms and 4 people can stay in those rooms. You just have to bring raw food with oil and spices and then you can make meals in the kitchen area or the chef can make them. It offers a peaceful stay and you can spot animals like deer and beautiful birds.

Bijrani FRH

As the name says, this one is in the Bijrani zone of the park. This Forest Rest House was built back in 1930 and it is on the edge of the park. While staying here, you can see animals like deer, sloth bears, and elephants. This FRH offers 4 double bedrooms, 2 single bedrooms, and 1 dormitory in which 4 guests can rest. This FRH has a canteen in which you can have delicious food. All the rooms and dormitory of this FRH have attached bathrooms.

Malani FRH

This is also in the Bijrani zone of Jim Corbett National Park. It was built in the 1930s and is located beside the Bijrani FRH. This one is best for small groups because it has 2 rooms and both rooms have an attached bathroom. Both rooms have a double bed and it has a kitchen area. While coming for a night stay in this FRH, do bring raw food along with oil and spices so that the chef can prepare food for you.

Jhirna FRH

This one is in the Jhirna zone of Jim Corbett National Park and one offers 2 rooms with attached bathrooms. Double beds are there in the rooms and a single bed can also be arranged. It allows a night stay from 15th Nov to the 14th June. A kitchen is there in this FRH where meals can be prepared if you bring raw food along with oil and spices.

Dhela FRH

As the name says, it’s in the Dhela zone and this FRH offers 4 rooms with attached bathrooms. When coming for a stay in this FRH, bring raw food along with oil and spices so that the chef can prepare delicious meals. This FRH allows a stay from Nov 15 to June 14.

Flora & Fauna Flora & Fauna

Scenic Flora

A variety of plants and animals call Jim Corbett National Park a home. Over 600 species of plants - trees, shrubs, ferns, grass, climbers, herbs, and bamboo can be found in Jim Corbett. Even 75% of the area of this park is covered with sal trees. In this huge park, trees like Sal, Khair, and Sissoo can be found very easily. The trees of the area are tall and provide the perfect habitat for a variety of animals to live in this forest. Mixed deciduous forests with trees like Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo), Dhak (Butea monosperma), Semal (Bombax ceiba), Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana), and Haldu (Adina cordifolia) make this place a great habitat. Other than them some part of Jim Corbett is filled with bamboo which provides food for the Asian elephants.

Along with them, flowering trees with white-pink flowers, giant red blooms, bright red flowers, red flowers, yellow flowers, and purple flowers add to the beauty of this area. Some species like Teak, Silver Oak, Eucalyptus, Jacaranda, and Bottlebrush have also been planted artificially around the park. Furthermore, in this park, many shrubs can also be found such as Lantana, Berbeeris, Ber, Maror Phali, and Jhau. Herbs species include Aloe Vera, Lemongrass, Indian Basil (Tulsi), Indian Mallow (Atibala), Indian Pennywort (Brahmi), Indian Aloe (Ghritkumari), Indian Borage (Patharchur), Indian Marsh Fleabane (Bhringraj), Indian Kudzu (Vidari) and Indian Nightshade (Kantakari).

The above-mentioned plants and trees are crucial for maintaining the ecosystem of this area. They are essential for providing food, shelter, and habitat for numerous bird and animal species in this park.

Wild Fauna

First, let me tell you that fauna means animals. Now, this park is home to a variety of wild animals and you can see them by coming on safaris. This park is home to big cats like tigers and leopards, as well as elephants, deer, wild boars, and sloth bears. Along with wild animals, birds, reptiles, and insects also call this park a home.

Birds
This is a huge park and it has a lot of plants and trees which attract a lot of birds to this area. Over 600 species of birds can be found here including majestic birds like Crested Serpent eagles, vultures, and 18 kinds of owls. Furthermore, colorful birds like kingfishers, parakeets, and peacocks add to the beauty of this area, and rare birds such as the great hornbill and the Pallas’s fish eagle attract bird enthusiasts from all over the World. Other birds that you can spot inside this wild jungle during your thrilling rides are Cormorants, Grey Herons, Egrets, Cattle Egret, Cuckoos, Doves, White or Rosy Pelicans, Greylag Geese, Crested Swifts, the Dusky Crag Martin, White Storks, Hawk-Eagles, Darters, Peregrine Falcon, Jungle Nightjar, Stone Curlew, Green Pigeons, Parakeets, Bea-eaters, Rollers, the Hoopoe, and Wire-tailed Swallow with many more.

Mammals
Tieefrs are the star species of this park and people specially come here for their sightings. Along with them, travelers can see mammals like leopards, elephants, chitals, sambhar deers, jackals, spotted deer, barking deer, wild boar, sloth bears, Himalayan black bears, and monkeys. Other animals that can be spotted during safari include Indian Pangolins, Indian Gray Mongoose, Common Otters, Jungle Cats, Fishing Cats, Himalayan Goral, Himalayan Tahr, Rhesus Macaques, Langurs, Himalayan Yellow-throated Martens, Indian Porcupines, Hog Badgers, Indian Foxes, Civets, Bats (various species), Himalayan Palm Civets, Red Giant Flying Squirrels, and Indian Hares.

Reptiles
This wild park is home to a number of reptile species including snakes like pythons, Turtles, cobras, and vipers. You can also find crocodiles, gharials, and Muggers in the rivers and lakes of this huge park. Monitor lizards and geckos are also found in the area.

Insects
Countless small insets can be found in Jim Corbett. While riding on a safari, you can see many colorful butterflies which adds to the experience. Along with them, ants, beetles, grasshoppers, and dragonflies are also there inside this area. Some other insects such as Moths, bees, wasps, termites, and flies that play important roles in the ecosystem, like pollinating flowers and breaking down dead plants and animals, also call this park home.

Best Time To Visit

The best time to visit this wild park is from November to February. During that time, safaris remain available for all zones and you can choose the zoe according to your preferred sightings of animals. Furthermore, during these months, a lot of migratory birds also visit this wild park which makes it more interesting to go around this time. If you’re coming with family and you have small kids then also this is the best time because the weather remains nice and pleasant and your kids will enjoy this ride. During other months, kids can become a little bit irritable because of the weather conditions.

Also, during these months, animals remain active during the morning and evening time and you can even catch a tiger chasing a deer while enjoying your safaris. Many birds can be spotted near the small lakes and rivers of this park during the months from November to February. Also, you can stay in nice accommodations and enjoy delicious food in the great comfort of your resorts without worrying about heat. The months from November to February will be best for coming to Jim Corbett to spend a good time with family and friends.

Types of Safari

Jim Corbett National Park can be explored through Jeep, Canter, and Elephant Safaris.

Jeep Safari
This one is the most popular ride and many people choose this one because these rides are quieter and lower to the ground so you can get a super close view of the animals. These safaris happen in gypsies and 6 people can enjoy it. This safari will allow you to spot wild animals in the area. They are offered by the forest department in seven zones of Jim Corbett - Bijrani, Garjia, Jhirna, Dhela, Durga Devi, Phato, and Sitabani. However, if you want to book them online, then they can only be booked for 5 zones. For the Sitabani and Phato zones, tourists have to go to the entry gates of these zones and make on-the-spot bookings.

Canter Safari
These safaris are budget-friendly and best for people who are coming in groups of 15 to 16 people. They are open buses and these safaris happen in the Dhikala Zone of the wild Jim Corbett National Park. These are taller than jeeps so you can see nice views of the surroundings and spot animals from a distance.

Elephant Safari
These are fun rides that are liked by most of the kids who come to this park. Adults, as well as kids, can enjoy these rides that happen in the landscape area of the forest. A maximum of 4 people can go on a ride and by choosing this one you can get the opportunity to spot animals from nine to ten feet above the ground. You can explore the park’s area while sitting on the back of an elephant.

Zones Inside Jim Corbett National Park

Jhirna Zone

The nearest city to this zone is Ramnagar and this is one of those zones that remains open throughout the year. The reason for the popularity of this zone is that the tourists don’t need to worry about closing or opening of the park when visiting here. They can enjoy a jeep ride in this zone at any time of the year. In this zone, animals like sloth bears and majestic wild elephants can be spotted easily. Other which can be seen include wild bears, jackals, tuskers, sambar, species of deer, and birds like hornbill, woodpecker, owl, eagle, etc. are common here. The entry gate of this zone is the Dhela gate which is located around 20 km from Ramnagar.

Dhela Zone

The nearest city to Dhela zone is Ramnagar and this zone also remains open throughout the year. It means that you can come to the zone for safari rides at any time of the year. This zone was opened in December 2014 and trees like Sal, Haldu, Bahera, Rohini, and Kusum can be spotted here. These trees add to the beauty of this zone and also they are home to many species of birds. If you’re coming to Corbett for birding then you should definitely visit this zone. Apart from them, animals like tigers, leopards, Asiatic elephants, sloth bears, and even the majestic king cobras can also be found here.

Bijrani Zone

The nearest city to the Bijrani zone is Ramnagar and this zone does not remain open all around the year. This zone only remains open from 15 Oct to 30 June and the entry gate of this zone is Aamdanda. This zone has good scenic views that attract tourists from everywhere. A large grassland area is there in this zone with thick sal forests that provide perfect living space for Tigers. They can be spotted here easily and along with them, other animals such as elephants, and sloth bears can be seen here. It would be an ideal choice to choose this zone if you’re coming to take nice pictures of the birds as they can spotted easily near water streams.

Dhikala Zone

The nearest city to Dhikala zone is Ramnagar and this zone remains open for tourism from 15 Nov to 15 June every year. This zone is the biggest zone and the entry gate of this zone is Dhangari. This zone has a huge grassland area. Because of the grass, it is home to animals such as Barking deer, Spotted deer, wild boars, etc. Even the rare Hog deer also can be seen here. These are prey animals and because of them Tigers like to visit this zone to satisfy their stomach. Other animals that can be spotted in this zone are Elephants, Leopards, Crocodiles, and a variety of birds. Furthermore, there is a watchtower in this zome from which you can see nice views of the Ramganga riverbed.

Durgadevi Zone

The nearest city to Durgadevi zone is Ramnagar and this zone remains open for tourism from 15 Nov to 15 June every year. Most area of this zone comprises hills and doing a safari here will be adventurous. This zone has a particular area known as Domunda Bridge where animals like wild elephants, and otters can be seen. This zone is best for birdwatchers because species like the Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, Maroon Oriole, Black-chinned Yuhina, Long-Tailed Broadbill, Slaty Blue Flycatcher, Bar-Tailed Tree Creeper, and others call this zone home. The famous Mahseer Fish can also be easily spotted in the river waters of this zone.

Sitabani Zone

The nearest city to the Sitabani zone is Ramnagar and this zone remains open for tourism all around the year. People can enjoy sightings of herbivores like elephants, deer, sambars, Nilgai, and many more. This is the safest zone if you’re coming with kids. Here, people can enjoy elephant safaris and jeep safaris and they are best for experiencing the flora and fauna of this area. It has various river streams where birds can be found easily. It’s nice zone for nature lovers to see the beauty of this park.

Sonanadi Zone

The nearest city to the Sonanadi zone is Kothdwar and this zone remains open from 01 Nov - 15 June each year. If you want to enjoy a ride in this zone then you need to come to Vatanvasa gate or the Pakhro gate of this wild park. The name of this zone means “river of gold” and it was named like this because it was a gold panning site many years ago. Streams like Palain and Mandal flow through this zone which makes it a meeting point for many animals like Asiatic Elephants, tigers, cheetahs, sambhars, leopards, and various reptile species.

Garjia Zone

Garjia is one of those zones which remains open throughout the year. The nearest city is Ramnagar and the entry gate is named Garjia. This zone is famous among locals as Ringora Zone and it has dense forest and natural beauty. This zone is located in the most picturesque part of the Jungle and it’s a calm place, best for nature lovers. Many sots are there in this zone and animals can be spotted drinking water from them.

Phato Zone

This is the tenth zone of this park and the nearest city to this zone is Ramnagar. This zone has flowering trees which adds to the scenic beauty during safaris. People can take some nice pictures of rare birds in this zone. The entry gate of this zone has the same name, Phato Gate and it is around 26 km from Ramnagar. It has treehouses and site scenes, and elephants are the star of this zone.