Corbett Tiger Reserve has captured the imagination of many with its diverse wildlife and breathtaking landscapes. The natural uniqueness of the area was recognized long ago as a result of which in 1936 Corbett attained the distinction of becoming the first National Park to be established in mainland Asia. 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.
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.
The Park attracts a large number of wildlife tourists and is divided into six ecotourism zones:
Bijrani | Dhikala |
Jhirna | Sonanadi |
Durgadevi | Dhela |
Corbett Tiger Reserve provides Accommodation and Day Visit facility to visitors. Online booking for Accommodation and
Day Visit can be booked in advance through our website:
www.corbettnationalparkbooking.com
Accommodation Booking
Inside Corbett Tiger Reserve zone wise accommodation facilities are available as follows:
Bijrani |
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Dhikala |
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Jhirna |
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Sonanadi |
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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.
Day Visit Booking
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.
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 |
- 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:
Bijrani Dhikala Jhirna Sonanadi Durgadevi Dhela
Zone | Entry Gate |
---|---|
Dhikala | Dhangarhi |
Bijrani | Amdanda |
Jhirna | Dhela |
Sonanadi | Vatanvasa |
Durgadevi | Durgadevi |
Dhela | Dhela |
Each zone have separate gate for entry.