About Jim Corbett

Home to Royal Bengal Tiger, Jim Corbett National Park is located in the beautiful Nainital district of Uttrakhand. This famous national park was established in the year 1936 to protect the endangered Bengal tiger and was named Hailey National park. In the year 1954-55, it was renamed Ramganga National Park and then after this, it was again renamed Corbett national park in 1955. This national park is spread over 1318.54 sq km of which 520sq km is the main area and the remaining is buffer. The park is spread over the enchanting landscapes of Pauri Garhwal, Almora, and Nainital.

Jim Corbett national park is a fantastic habitat for wild animals and beautifully flaunts the lush green hills, reverie belts, waterholes and grasslands. This national park is not only limited to safaris but holds some outstanding places which are truly worthy of praise. Have a look at some of the top-notch in and around places for an exciting and gratifying experience in Jim Corbett tours -

1. Corbett Waterfall

The gorgeous Corbett waterfall is located around 25kms away from Ramnagar. This is a 66 ft high waterfall and is surrounded by deep forests. This place is a paradise for nature enthusiasts who visit this place for camping and a picnic.

2. Garjiya Temple

The revered Garjiya temple is devoted to goddess Parvati and is nestled atop a huge rock amid the pristine Kosi river. This temple holds the deities of Baba Bhairon, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha and goddess Saraswati. The perfect time to visit this temple is during the Karthik Poornima, the 15th day of the Karthik month, November to December when a fair is conducted in the temple.

3. Corbett Museum

The famous Corbett Museum is located at Kaladhungi. Corbett Museum is a beautiful bungalow which belonged to Jim Corbett, a well-known tiger Conservationist. This museum displays his personal belongings, letters written by him as well as his friends and well-wishers, antiques and rare photographs.

Timings- Monday to Sunday, 7 am to 6 pm. The museum remains closed on Holi.

Entry Fee- for Indians INR 10 and for foreigners INR 50 and for Students with valid ID INR 3.

4. Kosi River

The pristine Kosi river is a picturesque location and offers jaw-dropping views of the massive hills in the backdrop. this river is inhabited by mahseer fish and migratory birds. Kosi river originates from Darpani Dhar and flows through the valleys before touching the eastern periphery of the Corbett National park. This river is famous for rafting which can be done after obtaining permission from the authorities.

Activities to enjoy in your Jim Corbett tour

Apart from Jungle safari add some interesting activities to make your trip much-much interesting. So have a look at below mentioned exciting activities for a ravishing experience in Jim Corbett Packages-

1. River Rafting

Have a thrilling session of River rafting in the pristine Kosi river at Corbett national park. Enjoy the Class II and III rapids here. This activity can be enjoyed by both beginners and professionals both. The perfect time for this activity is from July to September.

2. Rock Climbing

To add more thrill to your Corbett tour package indulge in rock climbing here. What can be as exciting and thrilling as climbing up the uneven rock formation? The mountainous terrain here is a superb destination for this activity. Those who do not want to start with real rocks can opt for an artificial climbing wall.

3. Rappelling

Go for Rappelling which is quite famous among adventurers. One climbs and then descends a mountainside in a controlled manner with a fixed rope.

4. Bird Watching

Bird watching is one of the famous activities to enjoy at Jim Corbett national park. You can find different kinds of birds here. You can find 600 species of birds and thus is a paradise for nature enthusiasts. Black-Crowned Night Heron, Cinnamon Bittern, and Kingfisher are some bird species here. There are six major trails for tourists to explore and where bird watching can be enjoyed. Haati Dangar, Kyari to Powalgarh, Kosi Barrage and Sitabani, Mohaan to Kumariya, Garjiya temple with Kosi river and Bhakrakot to Marchula are some trials to enjoy bird watching. 

Have a thrilling  wildlife safari experience at Jim Corbett National Park

Embark on an adrenaline rush tour in Jim Corbett National Park and spot the wild animals in their natural habitat. The national park offers jeep safaris, elephant safaris and canter safaris. Just keep in mind tickets for the safaris needs to be booked 45 days in advance by Indian and SAARC visitors and foreigners have to book 90 days in advance. For foreign tourists, passport details are required for booking. For entering any part of Jim Corbett national park one needs to obtain a permit from the forest department of the Uttarakhand government. One can get the permit for the day safari directly at the entry gate of the zone one wants to visit.

Rich in flora and fauna, Jim Corbett national park features rich forests dominated by beautiful flowering trees which are in great number. Some of them are  Kachnar which is white tom pink flowers, Semal which is huge red blossoms, the flame of the forest, and Dhak which is bright orange. One can find a large number of Sal, Khair and Sisso species of trees.

On your visit to Jim Corbett National park witness severs endangered species of animals including the Asiatic elephant and Ghriyal. The Royal Bengal tiger is the key highlight of this national park. There are other wild animals like the Asiatic Balck bear, Hog deer, Walking Deer, Sambhar, and Sloth. This national park is indeed one the perfect places for bird lovers. There are pretty 600 species of birds in this national park. Some include- Great pied hornbill, orange-breasted green pigeon, golden oriole, fish owl, Indian Pitta, and Hodgson’s bush chat. Apart from the animals and birds, this national park is home to endangered reptiles, Mugger crocodiles and king cobra.

1. Jeep Safari

Is quite famous for spotting wild animals and is an open four-wheeler vehicle. This safari is allowed in all five zones which are Bijrani, Jhirna, Durgadevi, Dhela, and Sitabani. Jeep safari can carry six adults and two children with the driver and a guide.

Price- For Indians INR 4500 per jeep, for foreigners INR 9000 per jeep.

Timings- 6 am to 9:30 am and 3 pm to 6 pm.

2. Canter Safari

Canter safari in Jim Corbett National Park is the only option for exploring the Dhikala zone. This zone is inhabited by several Bengal tigers. The safari is conducted in two shifts. Canter safari is the perfect option for a group of 11-12 people. This vehicle is an open-air vehicle but is much larger than the jeep.

Price- for Indians- INR 1500 per person, for foreigners INR 3000 per person

Timings- 6 am to 11:50 am and 12 pm to 6 pm.

3. Elephant Safari

Elephant Safari is one of the famous safaris to enjoy in Jim Corbett. One can enjoy this safari under the supervision of an elephant handler in the daytime or the afternoon. Spot wild animals like tigers, elephants, birds and other animals during your elephant safari. The permit is required for a  day visit to enter any safari or tourism zone.

Timings- 6 am to 8 am and 4 pm to 6 pm

Maximum capacity per elephant- 4

Zones covered- Dhikala zone, Corbett landscape zone, and Bijrani Zone.

Cost for Safari- for Indians INR 3500 per elephant, for foreigners INR 4500 per elephant.

Staying Options

Forest rest houses are located inside Jim Corbett national park. If one wants to stay one can get the permit available at the Corbett reserve park office reception in Ramnagar. The permits can also be booked online in advance but are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Tourism Zones in Jim Corbett National Park

Jim Corbett National park holds five tourism zone which is the buffer/core zones where wildlife safari is allowed. Have a look at the five zones mentioned below-

1. Bijrani Zone

Bijrani zone is situated around 1kms from Ramnagar. This zone is quite famous among tourists and is known for its lush greenery. This is the best zone after Dhikala to spot the royal Bengal tiger. This zone is characterized by Sal trees. Spot here the wild animals like sambhar and rare Hog deer. This zone is quite famous among birdwatchers and houses 600 species of rare and migratory birds. A permit is needed from the Forest office in Ramnagar. The permit can also be booked online 45 days in advance. There are 2 forest rest houses in this zone which are available for a stay to tourists. An entry permit for safari is needed to enter the Bijrani zone. A safari jeep and a guide are mandatory to enter the zone.

Entry Gate- Aamdanda gate

Bijrani Zone Safari Timings:

Winter Safari- 7 am to 10 am and 2 pm to 5:30 pm

Summer Safari- 6 am to 9:30 am and 3 pm to 6:30 pm

2. Jhirna Safari Zone

Jhirna Safari zone is open throughout the year. This zone is famous for spotting tigers and sloth bears. This zone is characterised by dry deciduous forests, and wild animals like deer, nilgai, chital and elephants. Jhirna safari zone is quite famous among the bird waters as one can spot migratory and rare birds. An entry permit for the safari is compulsory to enter the Jhirna zone. A safari jeep and a guide are mandatory to enter this zone.

Entry Gate- Dhela Gate

Winter safari timings- 7 am to 10 am and 2 pm to 5:30 pm

Summer safari timings- 6 am to 9:30 am and 3 pm to 6:30 pm

3. Dhela Safari Zone

Dhela safari is right beside the Jhirna safari zone of Jim Corbett National Park. This zone has mixed forests like Saal, Rohini, Haldu, and Bahera which makes it ideal for birdwatchers. Spot wild animals like tigers, bears, elephants and leopards. One can stay here at the Dhela forest lodge located here. The key highlight of this zone is the Laldhang, a grassland where one can spot wild pigs, Neelgai and birds.

Timings- 5:45 am to 9:14 am, 3 pm to 6:15 pm

4. Dhikala Zone

Dhikala zone is the only tourism zone where canter safari is available. This zone is one of the most famous zones in Jim Corbett national park. This zone is operational and open for rides from mid-November till mid-July. Spot the wild animals like chitals, deers, royal Bengal tigers and elephants.

Entry gate- Dhangadi gate

Winter safari Timings- 7 am to 10 am and 2 pm to 5:30 pm

Summer safari timings- 6 am to 9:30 am and 3 pm to 6:30 pm

5. Durga Devi Zone

Durga Devi zone is famous for its safari through dense forestation and hilly terrain. This zone holds rich flora and fauna and also houses several exotic birds and is quite famous among bird watchers. Spot wild elephants, spotted and barking deer, sambhar, Jackals, and the Black Faced monkey.

Entry Gate- Durgadevi gate

Opening Time- 15 October to 15th June.

Winter safari timings- 7 am to 10 am and 2 pm to 5:30 pm

Summer safari timings- 6 am to 9:30 am and 3 pm to 6:30 pm

Food outlets in Jim Corbett National Park

Have a scrumptious meal at the hotels and resorts located in Corbett national park. Treat your taste buds with the lip-smacking North Indian, Chinese, Mughlai, Continental, Kumaoni and local cuisines like Sisunak saag, Aloo Ke Gutke, Bhaang ki Khatai, Rus, and Kappa.

Best Time To Visit Jim Corbett

The perfect time to visit Jim Corbett National Park is between November and February which is the winter season and is considered the best time to spot animals. From the middle of November, all the zones are open to tourists. This is the time when one can spot a great number of royal Bengal tigers. This is indeed one of the best times for wildlife photographers. The Winter season is the time when you can enjoy thrilling rafting sessions, safari rides, serene nature walks, and trekking.

The summer season which starts in March and ends in May is also considered the best time for wildlife tours. All the zones remain open during this particular time. This season is best to spot mammals near water bodies. Enjoy rafting sessions, jeep safaris, tranquil nature walks, and angling.

Monsoon season starts in June and ends in August. This season is the mating season for mammals and birds. This national park is indeed the best place to explore during the monsoon. Jeep safaris are allowed in this particular season.  One can indulge in a trek through the hillocks, but keep in mind there is a risk of landslides due to heavy rainfall. The Jhirna and Sitabani zones are the only zones open during this season.