Jim Corbett National Park

Jim Corbett National Park is situated in the state of Uttarakhand and is the oldest wildlife sanctuaries in India and is particularly famous of its wild Bengal Tigers.

Back in the past, areas of the park were part of the princely state of Tehri Garhwal. The Raja of Tehri ceded part of his princely state to the East India Company in return for their assistance in ousting the Gurkhas and the English got control of this region.
Efforts to save the forests of the region began in the 19th century under Major Ramsay, the British Officer who was in-charge of the area during those times. The Buksas—a tribe from the Terai—settled on the land and began growing crops, but in the early 1860s they were evicted once the British forest department established control over the land and prohibited cultivation and the operation of cattle stations. By 1879 these forests had already been constituted into a reserve forest.

Female Tiger (“Paar wali, Paro ki beti” —female tigress and daughter of the famous tigress Paro)

Sal Forest on the road to Dhikala

Leopard at Sambhar Road, Dhikala

Wild Boar in the grasslands

Female Tiger (“Samba ki beti” —One of the three children in the Dhikala chaur grasslands- two male and one female, of Samba the notorious male tiger who killed 2 people in the area and now in the Kalagarh centre in captivity)

Asiatic Elephant

It was only in the 1930s that the process of formal demarcation for a national park began. In 1936, a reserve area known as Hailey National Park covering 323km2 was created when Sir Malcolm Hailey was the Governor of United and rules prohibiting killing and capturing of mammals, reptiles and birds within its boundaries were passed.
The reserve was renamed in 1954–55 as Ramganga National Park and was again renamed in 1955–56 as Corbett National Park after author, naturalist and the legendary hunter of the man-eaters of Kumaon, Sir Jim Corbett.

Over time, the area in the reserve was increased and currently comprises of a core area of 521km2 with hills, riverine belts, marshy depressions, grasslands and a large lake. In 1991, an area of 798km2 was added as a buffer zone to the Corbett Tiger Reserve. This includes the Kalagarh forest and Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary.

Grassland within Garjiya zone

Jackal

Map of the Jim Corbett National Park

The Corbett National Park located partly along a valley between the Lesser Himalaya in the north and the Shivaliks in the south, has sub-Himalayan belt geographical and ecological characteristics with dense moist deciduous forest mainly consists of sal, haldu, peepal, rohini and mango trees; and has a humid subtropical and highland climate.
The park encompasses the Patli Dun valley formed by the Ramganga river. Forest covers almost 73% of the park, while 10% of the area consists of grasslands. It houses around 110 tree species, 50 species of mammals, 580 resident and migratory bird species (including the crested serpent eagle, blossom-headed parakeet and red jungle fowl — ancestor of all domestic fowl) and 33 reptile species , 07 species of amphibians, 07 species of fish and atleast 36 species of dragonflies.

Bengal tigers, although plentiful (252 as per the 2020 survey), are not easily spotted due to the abundance of foliage – camouflage – in the reserve.
Leopards are found in hilly areas but may also venture into the low land jungles. Small cats in the park include the jungle cat, fishing cat and leopard cat. Other mammals include barking deer, sambar deer, hog deer and chital, sloth and Himalayan black bears, Indian grey mongoose, otters, yellow-throated martens, Himalayan goral, Indian pangolins, and langur and rhesus macaques.

Spotted Deer with faun

Hog Deer, Grasslands behind Dhikala FRH

Sambhar Deer
Sambhar Deer fawn

Barking Deer

In the summer, Indian elephants can be seen in herds of several hundred. The Indian python found in the reserve is a dangerous species, capable of killing a chital deer. Local crocodiles and gharials were saved from extinction by captive breeding programs that subsequently released crocodiles into the Ramganga river.

Owl

Paradise Flycatcher

Serpent Eagle

There are eight tourism zones in Corbett National Park

– All zones of Corbett Tiger Reserve are closed for night halts by visitors from 15th June to 14th November
– Between 1st to 15th June, the Dhikala, Lohachaur and Sonanadi Zones are on standby mode. During this period, advance reservations are not done and these Zones can be shut down by the Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve at short notice depending on weather conditions and in consideration of visitor safety
– Night stay entry charges at ₹200/- per person for first three days/ two nights; ₹500/- vehicle entry charges; ₹200/- driver charges; ₹150/- house-keeping charges; ₹50/- online booking charges; plus GST
– Day entry charges for safari at ₹100/- per person; ₹250/- vehicle charges; ₹100/- driver charges; ₹50/- online booking charges plus gypsy and driver hire charges. Minimum around ₹4000/- per safari

Forest Rest Houses (FRH) in Dhikala Zone
Dhikala FRH is the most famous overlooking the Dhikala Chaur (one of the largest remaining grasslands of the Park) and Phulai Chaur. There are various trails through chaurs one can drive through and mostly are rewarded with sightings of wild Asiatic elephants, Bengal Tigers, Spotted Deers (Chitals), Sambars Deers, Hog deer (rare) and various exotic grassland bird species and raptors. The Old Rest House at Dhikala complex is a historic old structure which was built over a hundred years ago. Legendary Jim Corbett himself has stayed here on a couple of occasions.

Dhangari Gate

Old FRH, Dhikala

Stairs down to the river from the Old FRH

View of the river in February 2022

View of the river in April 2023

Sarapduli FRH is located on the main road to Dhikala. It lies downstream of Gairal FRH on the flat southern bank of the Ramganga river while the opposite northern bank rises steeply to a ridge. Movement of large mammals (tiger, elephant included) is frequent around Sarapduli. It is a good place to see crocodiles and various exotic species of birds.

Gairal FRH is situated on a short detour from the main Dhangarhi – Dhikala road. One can get the first view of river Ramganga upon entering the park around Gairal FRH. Since this rest house is a bit secluded in comparison to other rest houses located in Dhikala Zone one gets a real feel of tranquility and solitude. One the way to Gairal FRH one can have a pit stop at ‘Crocodile Point’ overlooking the river Ramganga flowing through the valley below and observe picturesque view & of course Crocodiles & Gharials basking on the banks of river Ramganga.

Gharial at the banks of the river
Monitor Lizard

Sultan FRH is the first rest house located on the main road after your enter Dhangarhi Gate for Dhikala Zone. It is named after the Sultan Sot, which is a seasonal stream and runs through that area. The rest house is located on the flat surface which is covered by dense vegetation from three sides.

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Khinnanauli FRH is a VVIP forest rest house located in the middle of Khinnanauli chaur. This rest house is considered to be an excellent tiger territory. It was built recently. Being located strategically one gets to have an easy access of the various parts of the reserve. This rest house is not easily available and primarily reserved for important dignitaries. Khinnanauli also acts as a bridge between the Dhikala main road and the other side of the park.

Kanda FRH lies at an elevation of about 1100m in the hilly terrain and is considered to be the highest located rest house in the park. One can get a bird’s eye view of the park and the Ramganga valley below because of its elevation. Kanda FRH mostly possess Himalayan vegetation around its forests while most of the other regions of the park has Shiwalik type of vegetation and topography. The fauna is also different from the other parts of the park, with frequent sightings of mammals like Ghoral, Himalayan Black Bear and Leopards. Despite being located at an elevation, surprisingly, we have seen Asiatic elephants around Kanda region on a number of occasions. Although the road to Kanda is bumpy & narrow but the surroundings are extremely serene.

Located at Kaladhungi, Corbett Museum is a bungalow that earlier belonged to Jim Corbett and contains his memoirs, his personal belongings, letters written by him as well as his friends and well wishers, antiques and rare photographs
The bungalow was built in 1922. Built tastefully in stone and lime mortar, this house served as a winter home for Jim and his sister Maggie for a long time. The compound of the house in spread over 1.65 hectares and has a similar architecture as Jim’s summer home in Nainital. During Corbett’s time a small canal supplied water for household use and watering the garden and orchid surrounding the building.
When Corbett left for Kenya in 1947 he sold the property to Chiranjee Lal. Later in 1965 it was bought by the forest department which made it into a museum.

Route Map: Delhi— Ghaziabad— Hapur— Gajraula— Moradabad (Take left from Dalpatpur for Kashipur)— Kashipur— Ramnagar

Accommodation can be booked in advance through the website: https://www.corbettonline.uk.gov.in/
Reservations can only be made up to 45 days in advance.

Visit Log:

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The tiger is listed as endangered list of species and as of 2015, the global wild tiger population was estimated to be between 4,500-5,500 which 2,500-3,500 within India, mostly living in small pockets isolated from each other.