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Jim Corbett national park safari

MARCHULA, JIM CORBETT NATIONAL PARK

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.

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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.

Safari Zones in Jim Corbett National Park
 

The Jim Corbett National Park is a dream destination for wildlife lover and thus, in every year it is flooded with tourists from different nooks and crannies of the world. Considering the inflow of tourists, Corbett has been divided into four safari zones, namely:

 

  • Dhikala Zone

  • Jhirna Zone

  • Brijrani Zone

  • Garjiya Devi Zone

  • Durga Devi Zone

  • Dhela Zone

  • Sitabani

Dhangadi Gate Dhikala Zone

DHIKALA ZONE - 

 

Dhikala is the most Well known of the destinations in Corbett. It is located at the edge of the broad Patli Dun valley through which the Ramganga flows in numerous channels. Dhikala offers an awesome uninterrupted panoramic view of the valley, with the Kanda ridge in the backdrop. This site appears all the more imposing from the watchtower near Dhikala. The Tourist Complex overlooks Dhikalachaur (one of the largest remaining grasslands of the Park) and Phulaichaur. A drive through the numerous trails through chaurs is rewarded with sightings of wild elephants, chital, hog deer, and numerous grassland bird species and raptors. The old rest house at Dhikala is a historic structure, having been built over a hundred years ago.

 

Entry Gate: Dhangadi Gate

Best time to visit: Mid of November to Mid of June

JHIRNA ZONE -

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Jhirna was a farming village until 1994 when it was successfully relocated under Project Tiger. The abandoned farmland is gradually reverting to a wild state and is being managed to develop grassland habitat. The nearby terrain consists of numerous sots and narrow gorges running through typically Shiwalik landscape. The hills to the north of Jhirna are covered with dense patches of bamboo. Apart from being a good habitat for tiger, leopard, and deer, the place hosts other interesting mammals like sloth bear and wild boar. A variety of birds can also be enjoyed here.

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Entry Gate: Jhirna Gate

Best time to visit: October to June End

Jhirana Safari Zone Corbett
Brijrani Safari Zone

BRIJRANI SAFARI ZONE -

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After Dhikala, its Bijrani Zone that offers the best jeep safari possibility in Corbett National Park. This picturesque section of the Corbett National Park is mainly noticeable for its large grass fields such as Chaurs and dense Sal forest, and river streams. It might be the second best zone of Corbett but the chances of spotting tigers are quite similar to the Dhikala zone. Not only tigers, here one can see different types of animals like Sambar, Hog, Chital, Elephant and Black Beer. Morover, this zone is home to the 600 species of resident and migratory birds, which makes it just right to for birdwatching tour too. Bijrani Zone is approximately five kilometers from the Ramnagar City, and tourists can enter here by Amanda gate. After traveling for a kilometer inside the park, tourists will enter the buffer zone.

 

Entry Gate: Amdanda Gate

Best time to visit: Mid of October to June End

DURGA DEVI SAFARI ZONE -​

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Durga Devi Zone is located about 28 kilometres from Ramnagar. It lies on the north-eastern boundary of the Corbett National Park. This zone has an undulating terrain which provides an excellent opportunity to see tigers. Besides, you can find wild elephants in this zone of the park all round the year. Durga Devi is a picturesque zone and it is an untouched territory, you can explore it via jeep. Besides, the natural beauty of the wildlife, Durga Devi Zone also provides an easy access to the banks of Ramganga River.

Durga Devi Gate is the main entry gate to enter the zone which is 28 kilometres away from Ramnagar; and as soon as you enter, you can easily see some unique birds like grey headed fishing eagle, black chinned yuhina, crested laughing thrush, slaty blue flycatcher and maroon orile. 

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Entry Gate: Durga Devi Gate

Best time to visit: Mid of November to Mid of June

Durga Devi Safari Zone
Sitabani Safari Zone Corbett

SITABANI SAFARI ZONE -

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Sitabani now called Corbett Landscape is a beautiful tourist zone for nature walks and visiting popular attractions around. Since, Sitabani zone is not under the Corbett Tiger Reserve, the rule regulation of CTR is not applied in this zone. You can visit the ancient Shiva temple dedicated to lord Shiva and enjoy the sight of various avifauna species. The wildlife safaris of this zone is very famous, often the visitors choose Sitabani when permits for Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) is not given. During the safari in this zone, you can get a chance to spot tigers, elephants, leopards, deer, wild boar, jackal and many other animals.

 

Entry Gate: Landscape (Sitabani Zone)

Best time to visit: October to June End

GARJIYA DEVI SAFARI ZONE - 

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Tourist visiting Corbett National Park will not have to be disappointed due to the safari seat not available or booking being full. In view of the increasing trend of tourists, the new Ringora Zone or Garjia safari zone in Corbett now started for safari from November. Girija is new safari zone being added which is now available for tourists for enjoying safari. So far tourism safari zone in Corbett National Park include Bijrani, Jhirna, Dhela, Durgadevi, Sitabani and Pakhro. Being a limited safari seats, the Corbett administration has opened the Girija tourism zone for tourists. During peak tourism season many wildlife lovers get disappointed as they do not get chance to enjoy safari. However, the practice of opening new zone was pending for a long time.

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Entry Gate: Garjia Devi Zone

Best time to visit: October to June End

Garjiya Devi Safari Zone Corbett
Dhela Safari Zone Corbett

DHELA SAFARI ZONE - 

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The Dhela Safari Zone sprawl over 1173 hectares is the sixth ecotourism zone of Corbett Tiger reserve that was kept on CTR tourism map in the year 2014. It was crafted out of the southern buffer forests part of the Corbett. ... Dhela is particularly known for bird watching. Dhela remains open throughout the year.

 

Entry Gate: (Dhela Zone)

Best time to visit: October to June End

Safari Timing in Corbett

Be it jeep, elephant or canter safari, you can enjoy all of these in Corbett. Here is a table to brief you about which type of safari visitors can enjoy in different zones.

Safari zone timing corbett national park

Jeep Safari

For enjoying jeep safari in Corbett, one needs to get prior reservations from the park authorities depending on availability status & for long holiday weekends it is advisable to book your Jeep safaris in well advance (at least 01 month prior) to avoid any chance of unavailability. Jeep Safari is the safest mode of enjoying wildlife tour inside the national park.

 

Elephant Safari

Elephant safari in Corbett provides a closer view of wildlife to the tourists. It covers all those corners that canʼt be accessed via jeep safari. For elephant safari you donʼt need to make any prior bookings, it can be done on first come first serve basis.

 

Canter Safari

Canter Safari in Corbett is the best option for those who reside outside the Dhikala Zone and wish to sight the wildlife of the area. Canter is a 16 seater open air bus that drives from Ramnagar to Dhikala and then back to Ramnagar. For canter safari also one needs to make prior booking.

When visiting the Corbett National Park:

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  • Follow the rules, for e.g., do not walk around if you are not permitted to do so

  • Wear clothes in shades of brown and green as they are less disturbing to the environment

  • Avoid wearing perfumes and do not smoke in restricted areas.

  • Animals are extremely weary of the human voice. Don’t make noise, don’t play music and please don’t honk car horn.

  • Carry Personal medication and insect repellent

  • Carry Binoculars, Cameras, film rolls along with books and other reading material

  • Don’t leave behind any litter and plastic bags are big hazards for animals

  • Comfortable walking shoes are appropriate than the fashionable ones

  • For winter travel heavy woolens are a must, especially for open jeep safaris. Cotton are apt for summer months

  • Rain Gear is essential for the monsoons and

  • Find about the habits of the animal you want to see beforehand, to avoid disappointment.

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