Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest national park set amidst the foothills of the Himalayas in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. Known for housing the endangered Bengal tiger, Corbett National Park is part of the larger Corbett Tiger Reserve.
Famous for its wildlife safaris, Jim Corbett National Park has multiple resorts set on the riverside. Home to more than 650 species of rare and migratory birds, it is a haven for bird watchers. The most popular attraction at Corbett National Park is Dhikala, a forest lodge located on the border of Patil Dun Valley, which is known for the stunning location and rich wildlife.
Only 180 vehicles are allowed to enter the national park in a day. Jim Corbett National Park remains closed from July to October during the monsoons. However, Jhirna, Dhela and Sitabani tourism zones remain open for tourists throughout the year. Safaris are organised in all the zones by two shifts by the forest officials in all the zones.
The Jim Corbett National Park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park and is named after Jim Corbett who is a famous hunter and naturalist. It was the first place where Project Tiger was launched in 1973. The park is spread over an area of more than 500 sq km and is divided into 5 zones: Bijrani, Dhikala, Jhirna, Domunda and Sonanandi to promote tourism.
Jungle Safari
The jungle safaris at Jim Corbett are organised once in the morning and in the evening. Divided into five tourism zones, each zone has a restriction on the number of vehicles allowed within at a given point in time. There are two types of safaris at Jim Corbett National Park – Jeep Safari and Canter Safari.
The Canter Safari is only available for the Dhikala zone, the core area of the park. The likelihood of spotting the famed Bengal tiger is highest in this region. Apart from the canter safari, only those visitors staying at the forest lodge in the Dhikala zone are permitted to explore the area through a jeep safari. The Jeep Safari is the most popular safari choice at the park and is an available option to explore four out of the five zones at the reserve, with the exception being the Dhikala zone. There is a maximum of 6 people allowed per jeep, and the number of jeeps in each zone cannot cross a certain limit at any given point in time. This limit varies from region to region.
River Rafting
River rafting in the Kosi River at Corbett National Park is one of the most beautiful ways to enjoy its speedy waters, taking you through Class II & III rapids. This activity is meant for all – beginners or professionals. River rafting in Jim Corbett can be done only during the monsoons.
The best time for river rafting in Kosi river is from July to September. Other adventure water sports like fishing, angling and rappelling are also organized on the river.
Dhikala
The Dhikala Forest Lodge is the most popular tourist attraction at Jim Corbett National Park. It is famous for spotting the Bengal tiger, spotted deers, Dhikala Chaur and the rare Hog deer. Dhikala is located 30 km inside the Dhangari gate and is open to tourists from 15 November to 15 June. Dhikala is the only tourism zone where canter safari is available.
The rooms at Dhikala Forest Lodge is divided into six different wings offering 32 rooms and 12 bunk beds in two dormitories. There is also a restaurant at Dhikala which serves buffet meals and a canteen run by KMVN. Alcohol and non-vegetarian food is prohibited inside Jim Corbett.
Bijrani Zone
Bijrani is one of the important zones of the Jim Corbett National Park. It is the best zone after Dhikala to spot the royal Bengal Tiger. Characterised by Sal trees, animals like Chital, Sambar and rare Hog deer can also be spotted here. Bijrani zone is also popular among birdwatchers as it houses almost 600 species of rare and migratory birds.
There are two forest rest houses in this zone which are available for stay to tourists. An entry permit for the safari needs to be obtained to entry the Bijrani zone. A safari jeep and a guide are also mandatory to enter the zone.
Jhirna
Jhirna safari zone in Corbett National Park is one of the five tourism zones open to the public. It is popular for tiger and sloth bear sightings. Characterised by dry deciduous forest, animals like deer, nilgai, chital and elephants can also be spotted here. It is popular amongst bird watchers for housing some migratory and rare birds.
An entry permit for the safari needs to be obtained to entry the Jhirna zone. A safari jeep and a guide are also mandatory to enter the zone. During the monsoon, from July to September, advance booking of safari cannot be done because safari can get cancelled if there is heavy rain or bad weather on any day.