Jim Corbett Safari Guide

India's oldest national park

Founded in 1936 as Hailey National Park and later renamed for the hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett, this was the birthplace of Project Tiger in 1973.

It spans Terai grassland, sal forest and the Ramganga river across Nainital and Pauri Garhwal districts. Beyond tigers: elephants, leopards, sloth bears, gharial, otters and over 600 bird species.

The zones — this is what matters

• Dhikala — the classic core zone, best wildlife density, requires an overnight stay in forest lodges (booked far ahead). Day visits not permitted for jeeps.
• Bijrani — excellent tiger sightings, day safaris, close to Ramnagar
• Jhirna — open year-round including monsoon
• Dhela — year-round, newer, quieter
• Durga Devi — remote, birding and mahseer
• Garjiya / Sitabani — buffer zones, no core permit needed

Choosing the right zone matters more than luck.

Booking, season & sightings

Safaris are booked through the official Uttarakhand forest department portal, and core zones open 45 days in advance — they sell out fast. Permits require ID for every visitor.

Season: core zones roughly mid-October to mid-June; Jhirna and Dhela stay open year-round. Best tiger sightings: March-June, when heat drives animals to water. Best weather: November-February.

Jeep safari (6 people) beats canter (16+) for sightings and flexibility.

How to reach & plan

Ramnagar is the base town — ~260 km from Delhi (6 hours) with direct trains; ~65 km from Nainital. Plan: 2 nights, 3-4 safaris (dawn and afternoon slots give the best odds). Budget ₹14,000-30,000 per person. Pair with Nainital. We handle permits, zone selection, naturalist and stay.