If sighting the Royal Bengal Tigers in the wild has been your long dream then a visit to the oldest National Park in India viz. the Jim Corbett National Park in the Indian state of Uttarakhand is a must on your next itinerary plan. The Royal Bengal tigers are found across several of the National Parks across India like Buxa Tiger Reserve, Ranthambore National Park, Bandipur National Park, Kaziranga National Park, Nameri National Park, Manas National Park, Kanha Tiger Reserve, etc. but when it comes to sighting them in the wild there three of the major places in India are at Jim Corbett National Park, Ranthambore National Park and the Kanha Tiger Reserve that are very popular among the tourists both from the country as well as abroad. Jim Corbett National Park was named after the renowned hunter and naturalist Jim Corbett and it was at first established as the Hailey National Park in 1936 and it was the first place to cover under the Project Tiger initiative. In addition to the population of the Royal Bengal Tigers, Jim Corbett National Park also has a fauna population of around 50 different species of mammals, 580 species of birds and 25 reptile species as well. The National Park is located in the Nainital and Pauri Garhwal district of the state of Uttarakhand and it falls under the sub-Himalayan belt.
Jim Corbett National Park comprises of a core area of 520 sq. km. that is comprised of hills, riverine belts, lakes and grasslands with an average elevation ranging from 1300 to 4000 feet and has grand attractions as an ecotourism destination that contains around 480 different species of plants that are mostly of dense moist deciduous forests that comprise of Sal, Peepal, Rohini and mango trees. The Jim Corbett National Park generally sees cold winter nights with warm and sunny days and annual monsoon season starts from July extending to September. The Jim Corbett National Park is among the few National Parks in India that allow visitors to stay in the premises of the National Park that provides a unique jungle stay experience. Visitors to Jim Corbett National Park can explore the forest reserves of the oldest National Park in India by travelling in open jeeps, canters or elephant safari that take you deeper into the forest reserves with the opportunity of sighting the Royal Bengal Tigers of Jim Corbett National Park. Tiger sighting is a common experience for tourists at Jim Corbett National Park while at Kaziranga National Park in Assam that has the highest population density of the Tigers in a protected area in a wild in the World, sighting of these tigers are not guaranteed as there are presence of tall expanse of grasslands and sighting the tigers is based solely on luck of a visitor.
For tourists to explore and enjoy the forest reserves of the Jim Corbett National Park, the entire forest is divided across five zones with the provision of core are of the park and the buffer zone and visitors can get the experience of their safari inside the forests of Jim Corbett National Park and sight animals within proximity of their eyes. These safari zones at Jim Corbett National Park are Jhirna Safari zone, Dhela safari zone, Bijrani safari zone, Dhikala safari zone, Durga devi zone and the Sitabari buffer zone. The Jhirna and Dhela safari zones at Jim Corbett National Park are open to tourists across the year and these two are important zones at Jim Corbett National Park. The Dhela Safari zone is one of the ecotourism zone here and this is the only buffer zone that is opened to tourists and the place has some of the wealth flora and fauna of Jim Corbett National Park. The Dhikala safari zone is the largest and the most varied safari zone at Jim Corbett National Park and the place is also abundant is vast natural beauty as well and night stay at the Dhikala safari zone is very much recommend for tourists who are very much interest in wildlife sighting.
How to reach Jim Corbett National Park
Jim Corbett National Park is located in the state of Uttarakhand in India and the best known town to access the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park is Ramnagar that is at close proximity to the main entrance of the Park and also along with it to the various safari zones of the park. Ramnagar is well connected by a network of railway and roadway with various cities like Nainital, Bareilly, Moradabad and New Delhi. Once you arrive at Ramnagar, the Jim Corbett National Park entrance is around 15 km from the railway station and it takes around 30 minutes to reach this National Park. In case you are planning to reach Jim Corbett National Park by air then the nearest airport is the Pantnagar domestic airport that is around 123 km from the forest entrance of Jim Corbett National Park. The best way to access Jim Corbett National Park is to arrive at the Indira Gandhi International Airport at New Delhi and from here you can explore the various places of Delhi and Agra and then continue to visit Jim Corbett National Park by road or by rail. From New Delhi, Ramnagar is located at a distance of 260 km by road and you can hire the services of a taxi or even busses to travel to the oldest National Park of India at Jim Corbett National Park.
Jungle Safari options at Jim Corbett National Park
The forest authorities of Jim Corbett National Park allow visitors to go and explore the forest reserves of the habitat of the Royal Bengal Tigers on-board the Jeep Safari, Elephant Safari and the Canter safari. These three safari modes are ideal to explore the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park and in case you are lucky you get a chance to sight the Royal Bengal Tigers of Jim Corbett National Park. The jeep safari is a very popular way to explore the Jim Corbett National Park as this is a smaller vehicle as compared to the canter and it can manoeuvre across smaller spot where the tigers stay in rest. Jeep safari is also permitted across the buffer zones of Jim Corbett National Park and this safari mode is best explored in the zone of Bijrani. However, in case you are a large group of around 15 members then you can choose to go for canter safari inside the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park. For the canter safari option at Jim Corbett National Park you will need to enjoy your safari experience at the Dhikala tourism zone of the park and this is the place that is inhabited by the majority of the tigers of Jim Corbett National Park. These canter safari rides inside the Dhikala tourism zone of Jim Corbett National Park are conducted by the forest officials of the park in two shifts.
This canter safari ride is also considered to be one that provides maximum security to the tourists as it is an open roof and due to the tall height of the vehicle it provides better aerial view of the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park. At the Jim Corbett National Park, the safari options across all the five different zones are managed by the forest officials and there is an automated counter system in place that generates the safari permits for tourists. It is highly recommended that you book your safari rides inside the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park much ahead of your planned schedule of visit and this will eliminate any last minute hassles for your wonderful and memorable safari experience at Jim Corbett National Park. On jeep safari, one jeep can accommodate 6 adults and 2 children and the jeep safari is conducted in the Bijrani, Jhirna, Dhela and the Sitabari zones of Jim Corbett National Park. The jeep safari rides are conducted in the morning from 6 AM to 9.30 AM and in the afternoon from 3 PM to 6 PM. The canter safari rides are conducted in the Dhikala safari zone of Jim Corbett National Park and one canter can seat 16 people and the timings of canter safari are 6 AM to 11.50 AM and 12 PM to 6 PM at Jim Corbett National Park.
To explore the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park it is recommended that you avail the services of the jeep safari to experience the best way to explore Jim Corbett National Park and sight the varied flora, fauna and avifauna of the place. Jeep safari is unavailable for the day visitors to Jim Corbett National Park at the Dhikala tourism zone and the services can only be availed in case you choose to stay for the night at one of the many forest houses at the Dhikala area of Jim Corbett National Park and this will provide you with the unique opportunity to avail the jeep safari services at the Dhikala zone of Jim Corbett National Park. There are four forest rest houses at the Dhikala zone and these are at Dhikala, Sarpduli, Gaind and Sultan forest rest houses respectively. Once you have your accommodations booked at any of these forest rest houses then you can have the services of the registered jeeps of the forest department of Jim Corbett National Park to go for a thrilling wildlife safari experience inside the forests. At any of the above mentioned Forest Rest houses here at Jim Corbett National Park visitors can book a room for three nights and you can avail the services of the jeep safari at the Dhikala tourism zone of Jim Corbett National Park during your stay either at the morning safari slot or the afternoon safari slot to travel inside the forest reserves of the park.
The jeep safari duration at the Dhikala Safari zone of lasts for a maximum of three and half hours. The Dhikala Forest Rest house is the most sought after by tourists visiting Jim Corbett National Park and all the other Forest Rest Houses are located along the way to the Dhikala Forest and it takes around 1 hour to reach the place from the Dhangarhi entry point of Jim Corbett National Park. The option of night stay at the Dhekila Forest Rest house and also the other rest houses at the area is allowed from mid-November to mid-June and this is the time when lots of tourists visit Jim Corbett National Park and to be able to find a sure shot accommodation at these forest houses you will need to ensure to book your stay much ahead of time because the rooms are limited and the tourists are much more at Jim Corbett National Park. Once you book the accommodation you can arrange to hire for your jeep safari rides. The jeep safari ride at Jim Corbett National Park as mentioned earlier can accommodate a maximum of 6 adults and 2 children and in addition at can accommodate a driver and a guide.
Forest Rest Houses at Jim Corbett
The forest rest houses at the Jim Corbett National Park are well placed and built right inside the core area of the Tiger Reserve that provides visitors with a unique experience in the wild and these rest houses at Jim Corbett National Park are more than a century old. These forest rest houses of Jim Corbett National Park are located across separate tourism zones inside the park and these places of stay allows the authorities to have a better management of the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park without having to disturb the natural habitat of the wildlife species. The Bijrani forest rest house is located at the Bijrani tourism zone of Jim Corbett National Park and this is a government run forest rest house in the heart of the natural surroundings of Jim Corbett National Park. The area of Bijrani falls was earlier a dedicated zone for shooting by the British officials and was a prime location for game hunting. The Bijrani tourism zone of Jim Corbett National Park has more diverse vegetation when compared to the other zones of the park. The Malani forest rest house at Jim Corbett National Park is located 12 km northwest of Bijrani and the place offers very picturesque surroundings and solitude as well. The drive to Malani forest rest house at Jim Corbett National Park is a very rewarding experience and it is a good opportunity to sight the different mammals and birdlife in their natural habitat. The Sultan forest rest house is along the drive from Dhikala to Dhangarshi gate and it is named after a stream that is seasonal. This place is located in a dense area that is of pure sal trees that occupies this area of the park. Another forest rest house is of Gairal and the major attractions of this forest rest house is that is lies on the banks of the river Ramnagar and the people who come to stay here can experience sights of the crystal clear mountain stream and the place is also ideal for nature and wildlife viewing. Some of the other forest rest houses around Jim Corbett National Park are the Sarapduli Forest Rest House, Khinnauli Forest Rest House, Dhikala Forest Rest House, Jhirna zone. The Jhirna Forest rest house is located on the southern banks of the Jim Corbett National Park. This area has a landscape that is diverse and has mostly scrub vegetation. This area of Jim Corbett National Park is a good habitat to sight the Tigers, Elephants, Deers and also interesting mammals like the Sloth Bear and Wild Boars.
When it comes to stay options at the Forest Rest Houses of Jim Corbett National Park it can be said that the best stay option offered is at the Dhikala Forest Rest House of Jim Corbett National Park and after Dhikala Forest Rest House, the spot goes to the Gairal Forest Rest House that is located away from the hustle and bustle of a busy city life. The Gairal Forest Rest House is located around 40 km from the nearest city of Ramnagar and the place is safe guarded by solar electric fences to stop animals from entering the premises of the place and the place offers a tranquil atmosphere amidst the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park. Your stay here is sure to be enchanting and experiences that will make you cherish your visit to Jim Corbett National Park forever. The Gairal Forest Rest House is situated along the banks of the river Ramnagar and at the river banks you can sight the various animals that come to quench their thirst and the tigers of Jim Corbett National Park come here to prey on these animals. You can also get the opportunity to sight the herd of wild elephants and the various bird species of Jim Corbett National Park here at the Gairal Forest Rest House. The accommodation options at the Gairal Forest Rest House at Jim Corbett National Park is classified into Old Forest Rest House (2 rooms), new Forest Rest House (4 rooms) and Dormitory of 8 beds.
This being a Forest Rest House, the rooms are not very luxurious but are equipped with all basic amenities and attached bathrooms. The rooms are spacious and the bathrooms have all the western fittings with 24 hour running water. The place doesn’t have electricity but use of solar power is harvested to provide light and mobile charging including solar powered geysers for hot water facility. The place also offers dining facility for guests and the meals offered are of vegetarian cuisine that is cooked in a homely environment with good taste. Drinking of liquor is strictly prohibited at the Gairal Forest Rest House at Jim Corbett National Park. The Gairal Forest Rest House at Jim Corbett National Park is opened to tourists from 15th of November to 15th of June every year and it is closed during the monsoon season due to bad weather. All bookings not only at the Gairal Forest Rest House but the other Forest Rest Houses at Jim Corbett National Park need to be done in advance and for Indian nationals the bookings are accepted 45 days prior to check in and for foreign nationals 90 days prior to arrival. To access the Gairal Forest Rest House, the closest city is Ramnagar and visitors need to avail service of the registered jeeps of Jim Corbett National Park.
Adventure Activities at Jim Corbett
Jim Corbett National Park doesn’t only offer its visitors with a unique opportunity to go for wildlife safari inside the forest reserves but various adventure activities are allowed inside the Jim Corbett National Park as well. Visitors at Jim Corbett National Park can enjoy various adventure activities during their visit like river crossing, rafting, fishing and angling, nature walk, cycling, trekking, etc. When it comes to the adventure activities at Jim Corbett National Park, the nature walk is organized by the guests of Jim Corbett National Park who take visitors across the dense forests on a wonderful trek and you can hear the wonderful chirping of birds and occasional roar of the wild animals as well. Once you embark on this trek across the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park then you get a chance to refresh your mind along the trek. Another adventure activity that visitors to Jim Corbett National Park can experience is cycling that takes you to the forest reserves along the agricultural lands and this is an apt activity for the young visitors to Jim Corbett National Park. While cycling around the park you get to experience the tranquil and also get time to spend amidst the closeness of nature and see the beautiful agricultural fields of Jim Corbett National Park.
Birding is another adventure activity that can be experienced at Jim Corbett National Park as the forest reserves are home to around 525 species of birds and these birds are both resident and migratory that come to the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park from various parts of the world. As Jim Corbett National Park allows visitors to go for a nature walk inside the forest reserves so this is a unique opportunity to sight the bird life and ensure that you have your cameras ready to capture the birdlife here. Another popular adventure activity at Jim Corbett National Park is the River rafting on the Kosi river and this river flows adjacent to the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park. The best time to enjoy the river rafting activities is in the monsoon season when the water level is high. But across Uttarakhand there are other places that offer more adventurous river rafting experience on the water of the River Ganga especially at Rishikesh.
Another popular adventure sport that is conducted across Jim Corbett National Park is rope slithering that is organized at the old suspension bridge on the Kosi River. This adventure activity involves crossing the river Kosi by slithering across a rope that is tied across your body and expert guides conduct this experience near Jim Corbett National Park. Another popular adventure activity is crossing the river Kosi by the means of a rope. This is basically a group activity and it involves crossing the river by the help of a rope. The rope is tied tightly across the river banks and the members of the group cross the river with the guidance of the experts. Another important adventure activity is Body surfing on the waters of the Kichadi River that is a small hilly river that flows alongside the Jim Corbett National Park where the participants flow freely along with the river current. This river has crystal clear waters and visitors enjoy their thrilling experience at Jim Corbett National Park and this adventure activity is conducted under strict supervision of experts and can be undertaken by even families and children visitors to Jim Corbett National Park as well.
Fishing and Angling too are the most desired adventure activities to be enjoyed during the stay at Jim Corbett National Park after you complete your wildlife safari experience inside the forest reserves. Angling on the waters of the river around Jim Corbett National Park is an exciting experience to catch the golden mahseer and the big catfish species. The Mahseer is a very prized fish that is to be found in the waters of the rivers that flows from the Himalayan ranges and various variants of Mahseer are golden, silver, black and goand that are found extensively around the river flowing by the area of the Jim Corbett National Park. These adventure activities are conducted at Ramnagar on the Kosi river at the vicinity of Jim Corbett National Park and prior permission from the forest office of Jim Corbett National Park is required before visitors can undertake these fishing and angling activities. Since the past few years the fishing of mahseer is no longer allowed in the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park but visitors are allowed to have a view of these fishes in the deep waters of the Kosi river near Jim Corbett National Park.
No doubt the Jim Corbett National Park is one of the largest National Parks in the country and visitors to the place are left enthralled with its varied flora, fauna, avifauna and also the breathtaking landscapes of the place. Visitors come to visit the Jim Corbett National Park from around the World and therefore some amount of planning is necessary to make prior to your visit to Jim Corbett National Park. The National Park is the oldest in India and is located at around 1300 feet above MSL and the park offers both the peak of the cold winter season and the bright and sunny summer season as well. The best time to visit Jim Corbett National Park is from November to June. The presence of Royal Bengal Tigers at Jim Corbett National Park has made this National park one of the most renowned across India and visitors from around the World come to catch a glimpse of not only the Royal Bengal Tigers of Jim Corbett National Park but also the diverse other flora and fauna and also the various other activities that can be witnessed here. The river bank of Ramnagar offers majestic views of the wildlife of Jim Corbett National Park and the visitors can get an opportunity to sight the Tigers along the river banks as this is the place where the animals come in search of its prey. Even Elephant herds in the wild can be spotted at the banks along with ample opportunity for bird watching as well.
It can be said that the jeep safari option is a very good way to explore the forest reserves of JCNP and the place opens to tourists in the morning at around 5.30 AM and closes at 10 AM and again reopens at 2 PM to close for the day at 6 PM. To sight the Tigers of Jim Corbett National Park it is best to go for a safari ride in the morning time inside the forest to get the opportunity of sighting them in their natural habitat. The Canter safari is another option to explore the forest reserve of Jim Corbett National Park that is best for group of up to 16 members. The passes for jeep safari ride into the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park are allotted for half a day and in case you want to go for safari for the entire day then it can be done at an additional cost. Also for the evening safari inside the forest reserves the booking has to be done 48 hours prior to the safari timing. The safari passes are issued on first come first serve basis. The clothing to be worn during your safari at Jim Corbett National Park is based on the season and so it is advised that you wear clothes that suit the weather conditions of the season.
The Jim Corbett National Park remains open around the year at certain safari points but mind you the summer season here gets pretty hot and temperatures can reach up to 45 degrees in the month of June and the exact opposite is seen in the winters when the temperature falls to around 2 degrees. In case you are planning your visit to Jim Corbett National Park in the summer season so you can chose to carry light cotton clothes to keep your body safe from the sun and it is advised to carry sunglasses, hat to protect yourself from the sun’s rays. During the winter season it is only wise to wear warm clothes and on your open jeep safari ride you should carry a warm blanket to avoid feeling the chilly cold outside. Other things to carry are hand gloves, woollen caps, muffler, etc. Once you are exploring the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park on jeep safari ride and you witness the diverse flora and fauna of the place you will be so thrilled that the climate conditions will not be of much hurdle for you when you get the opportunity to sight the Royal Bengal Tigers of Jim Corbett National Park.
The jeep safari rides are conducted with the presence of forest guides and these naturalists are registered with the forest department of Jim Corbett National Park who accompany the tourists to the forest reserves and they help to spot the tigers and also ensure that they do not get lost in the forest reserves. So when you plan your visit to Jim Corbett National Park ensure to make sure that you enter the park area you have the valid permits in hand, not to litter inside the park reserves, get the services of a naturalist guide who can show you inside the park and help you to identify the animals and bird species and guide you safely inside the forest reserves. Respect the animals of the forest and maintain a silent atmosphere and refrain from playing loud music on stereos inside the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park and disturb the decorum of the place. Ensure that you drive slowly around the place in case you bring your own vehicle to the reserve outside of the core forest. Book your safari rides priorly to avoid any last minute hassles inside the forest reserves on your jungle safari rides. Do not carry any sort of firearm or sharp objects inside the forest reserves, and do not smoke or carry any matchbox inside the forest. No playing of loud speakers or cooking inside the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park.
Apart from the Forest Rest House that are present inside the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park, various luxury accommodations options are present around the forest reserves of the Jim Corbett National Park mostly near the entrance gate where visitors get the opportunity to relax and enjoy their vacation at Jim Corbett National Park. One among such places is the De Floresta Resort at Jim Corbett National Park that is located near the forest entrance of Jim Corbett National Park at the Kyani Khasan village that is around 9 km away from Ramnagar city. This resort is a budget priced resort but offers most of the modern luxuries and the warmth of nature as the place is cosily places amidst the enchanting surroundings of the hilly terrain around the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park. The rooms at the De Floresta Resort at Jim Corbett National Park are elegantly designed and classified into family suites, premium rooms and luxury cottages with a total of 20 rooms at the place. The budget is reasonable and the place is ideal for individuals, groups and family as well. The rooms are having the modern facilities like LCD TV, AC, Heaters, Tea and Coffee Maker, a modern western bathroom, etc.
The place offers a multi cuisine restaurant that serves various lip smacking cuisines and also there are facilities like swimming pools, bonfire, activity area, conference halls, etc. The resort at Jim Corbett National Park also provides options of parking, doctor on call, laundry, tour assistance for Corbett Safari, jungle trekking, birding, etc. The Corbett Tusker Trail Resort is a river side resort located near the Jhirna Safari zone and the Bijrani Safari zone of Jim Corbett National Park and this place offers the very luxurious accommodation options at Jim Corbett National Park. This is one of the very favoured stay options for visitors to Jim Corbett National Park as it offers various luxury facilities at pocket friendly prices. The architecture of the place along with the interior decoration is what makes the Tusker Trail Resort at Corbett a place to enjoy your stay on your jungle safari experience at Jim Corbett National Park. The rooms at this place are classified into family cottages, club rooms, country view rooms and there are a total of around 46 rooms at this place. Various activities on offering are Swimming Pool, Bar, Multi Cuisine restaurant, Conference Hall, Spa and Gym, Amphitheatre to enjoy wildlife movies of Jim Corbett National Park, etc.
The Infinity resort are the pioneers of the luxury stay options across the various National Parks of India and this group has their luxurious resort at the area across the Jim Corbett National Park as well. The resort spreads across an area of 20 acres of beautiful green landscapes that is present near the Amdanda gate and is located at the vicinity of the Bijrani tourism zone of Jim Corbett National Park. This Infinity resort is a perfect example of luxury accommodation that is a paradise for nature lovers as the place overlooks the beautiful backdrop of the mountains and the river banks of the Kosi river near Jim Corbett National Park. This luxurious resort offers 50 deluxe and premier rooms categorized as River facing and garden facing. Each room at the Infinity Resort has a balcony and the view to be seen are the green mountains, banks of the Kosi river, Mango orchards and a beautiful garden within the campus of the place. The rooms are luxurious, spacious and modern with amenities like AC, TV, Intercom, Mini Bar, Safety Deposit Box, luxurious modern bathrooms, etc. The Infinity Resort has various facilities for guests like swimming pool, spa, and recreational area for kids, conference halls, health clubs, etc. The place also offers a multi cuisine buffet restaurant, a grill house and an Asian speciality place as well all to be enjoyed during your visit to Jim Corbett National Park.
A four star hotel at Jim Corbett National Park is the Beyond Stay Vasavana Resort that is located at the Dhikuli village that overlooks the lush green landscapes of Jim Corbett National Park and is located just 1km away from the Bijrani Gate of the place. This place offers a spa that offers Ayurveda rejuvenation therapy for its guests and this place is a perfect weekend getaway where the visitors can get to relax in the resort and take a leisure stay or even sip tea in the garden and enjoy a game of badminton as well. There are a total of 16 Deluxe and modern rooms at the Beyond Stay Vasavana Resort at Jim Corbett National Park and the rooms have a balcony and a sit out area. The rooms are modern with new fittings and a luxurious bathroom as well. Enjoy you meals at the multi cuisine restaurant that is present at the Beyond Stay Vasavana Resort at Jim Corbett National Park.
Another of the luxurious resorts at Jim Corbett National Park is the Pagoda Manu Maharani Resort that is one of the best stay options at Jim Corbett National Park and the place is located in a serene environment with lush green surroundings and is located with lush green surroundings and is located far away from the hustle and bustle of a busy city life. The resort is spread across a sprawling 11 acre campus and the river Kosi can be seen from the place. The resort at Jim Corbett National Park also offers majestic views of the hilly landscapes and it is located at the Dhikali village that is near the Bijrani tourism zone of Jim Corbett National Park. At the Pagoda Manu Maharani resort at Jim Corbett National Park there are a total of 48 rooms that are classified under luxury rooms, club cottages and Suite rooms and all of these rooms speak of luxury and comfort and the interiors are designed keeping in mind the rustic forest environment as well. There are facilities of swimming pool, conference halls, banquet halls, recreational area, health centres cum spa and a multi cuisine restaurant that serves some of the very delicious cuisines to be enjoyed during your stay at Jim Corbett National Park.
The De Coracao Resort at Jim Corbett National Park is another symbol of luxury accommodation option at the oldest National Park in India and is just 5km away from the Ramnagar railway station and the Dhela gate is at the vicinity of this place. This is a unique eco-friendly resort that is spread across 6 acres of land and has numerous orchid trees and the place is perfect to rejuvenate yourself from a fast paced city life. The De Coracao resort is located at the foothills of the Shivalik Mountain range and is one of the best palces to enjoy motivational tours, adventure vacation and even conferences with friends, family and colleagues at Jim Corbett National Park. The place offers stay option at a total of 60 rooms classified under luxurious, luxury cottages, premium cottages and family rooms and the multi cuisine restaurant that serves some of the best Indian, Chinese and continental dishes.
Located at the Kyari Khas Village near Jim Corbett National Park is another luxury resort that is called as the Corbett Wild Iris Spa and Resort that is a great place to spend quality time for all the nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. At the Iris Spa and Resort at Jim Corbett National Park you will get to enjoy the luxuries of life and also get to be in the peace and calm with the bounties of nature all around you. This place is indeed an ideal retreat to all visitors who want to explore the mysteries of the wildlife and nature at Jim Corbett National Park. This place is located amidst the forest and hence it provides an ideal opportunity for visitors to spot the wildlife roaming across the jungle of Jim Corbett National Park. The place offers 41 deluxe rooms that are classified under jungle cottages, family suites and tiger suites and all the rooms are equipped with TV, refrigerators, electronic safe, themed lamps, etc. A luxurious multi cuisine restaurant and an independent bar ensures that your visit to Jim Corbett National Park is not limited to exploring the wildlife but also to spend an evening unwinding at the bar and even tasting some of the best cuisine that are prepared by some of the best chefs from across the country.
The place also provides musical evenings where guests can enjoy live karaoke and this gives an opportunity for the guests to discover their hidden singing talent as well. To sum up it can be said that Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest National Park in India and a Tiger Reserve that not only boasts of a healthy tiger population but also various other species of flora, fauna and avifauna as well. There are around 164 tigers and 600 elephants at Jim Corbett National Park and the other animal species to be found are Hog Deers, Sambars, Sloth Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, Ghariyal, Mugger Crocodiles and various other species like otters, pitta, owls, minnets, etc. The Tigers have always been a pride of Jim Corbett National Park and around 5000-7500 tigers remain in the wild around the World and 4500 in Indian Subcontinent. The Jim Corbett National Park boasts of India’s first Tiger Conservation Project that was started in 1973. Tigers are known to be active hunters who find their prey in the form of wild boars, deers, sambars, etc. These tigers also are heard of feeding on reptiles, birds and monkeys as well that are found in the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park. These tigers are also on top of the food pyramid and they are master predators who help balance the ecology of Jim Corbett National Park.
When it comes to exploring the National Parks of India that are also Tiger Reserves one needs to decide which of the National Parks to visit to get the best opportunity to sight the Royal Bengal Tigers in the forest reserves, there are various National Parks in India like Jim Corbett National Park, Ranthambore National Park, Kaziranga National Park, Kanha Tiger Reserve, Bandipur National Park, Buxa Tiger Reserve, etc. But of these National Parks when it comes to Tiger Safari then two of the much visited National Parks are the Jim Corbett National Park in the State of Uttarakhand and the Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan. Both of these places are prominent tiger reserves of the country and thousands of wildlife enthusiasts come to these National parks every year to try their luck to sight the Tigers of these places along with the various other species of flora and fauna. It can be said that each National park being located across different states have different topography that has varied flora and fauna based on the climate of the place. Both Ranthambore National park and Jim Corbett National Park are known for varied wildlife sighting and other activities as well.
Jim Corbett National Park is a paradise for not only the Royal Bengal Tigers but also other fauna but a special paradise for bird watching as the park boasts of over 500 species of birds. Jim Corbett National Park is one birding destination in India that offers visitors a chance to sight not only the bird species both resident and migratory and the place being in the proximity of the Himalayan Mountain range this provides a good home for not only the birds but also other wild animals as well. Every year thousands of tourists come to Jim Corbett National Park for the sole purpose of birding and also wildlife photography as well and this area has been declared as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by Birdlife International. What makes Jim Corbett National Park an ideal habitat for birdlife is the confluence of two major rivers – the River Mandal and the River Ramganga that provides an ideal food source for these birds of Jim Corbett National Park and the various bird species here are broadbills, flycatchers, minia along with Ibisbill, munia, thickknee and the various birds of prey as well.
To what comes as a disappointment to all tourists to Jim Corbett National Park but a cheer for the wildlife activists, the Uttarakhand High Court banned the commercial activities of Elephants. And with this decision, the elephant rides at all the National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries of Uttarakhand have been closed permanentantly. The Honourable court has also reduced the number of entry of the commercial jeeps going for the safari inside the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park to maintain the decorum of the National park and to create less noisy atmosphere for the animals inside the park. In another highlight the stay options for tourists at certain of the Forest Rest houses inside the premises of Jim Corbett National Park has been banned as per the order of the Supreme Court of India. The order states that inside the forest premises, these forest rest houses have been built for the stay of the officials of the forest department of a particular protected area and hence use of such forest rest houses for commercial activities has to be stopped and not further allowed. Therefore the officials of Jim Corbett National Park will not further allow the stay of tourists for the night at certain of the forest rest houses inside the Jim Corbett National Park premises.
Across the National parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in India where jeep safari rides are conducted inside the forest reserves, it is a strict rule for tourists not to get down from the jeeps inside the protected areas of the park and the same applies to the Jim Corbett National Park as well and visitors who come to enjoy their jeep safari rides here need to ensure to comply with this rule as this is for their own safety and security. As per recent news, a group of tourists were fined INR 5000 for stepping down from their jeeps during the safari inside the forest reserves at the Jhirna Safari zone of Jim Corbett National Park. The Jim Corbett National Park is one of the very favourite tourism destinations in India and visitors from across the World come to this oldest National park in India to take the opportunity to go for an adventurous jeep safari ride inside the forest reserves and get the opportunity to sight the Royal Bengal Tigers of Jim Corbett National Park and also the varied other fauna and avifauna species of the place. This National park is named after the great hunter turned naturalist and Tiger Conservation specialist Jim Corbett who spent a better part of his life looking out and hunting the man eaters and later working towards the conservation of the species when he found the due to excessive hunting of the animal, their numbers dwindled from the forest reserves.
Jim Corbett was an army officer in the British Indian army and he held the rank of a colonel and in the later part of his life he turned into a naturalist and also an author of bestselling books. Jim Corbett’s 135th birth anniversary was celebrated on 25th July 2017 and it is after his renowned works on conservation that the oldest national park in India and the first tiger conservation program centre in India was named after him. Jim Corbett held a fascination for wildlife from his early childhood and he became a good tracker and hunter in his adulthood. The Government of the United Province reached out to him to track and kill man eating tigers that caused loss of many lives in the villages and Jim Corbett achieved a status of a famed hunter who hunted down only man eaters. Jim Corbett went on to be interest in wildlife photography hundred years ago and he started to spread his knowledge across the country for the conservation of Tiger and eventually authored many books as well. Today his home at Kumaon has been converted to the Jim Corbett museum that is a prime tourist attraction near the Jim Corbett National Park.
You will never be disappointed on your visit to Jim Corbett National Park as there is always some animal species to be sighted that you might have not earlier seen during your visit to Jim Corbett National Park. While the Royal Bengal Tigers remain a flagship species to be sighted on your visit to the park, but often you can see animals and birds that are even rare to be found in any other part of the World. The chance to spot the Tigers inside the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park is solely a matter of luck and it is recommended that you take the opportunity to go for a safari ride at the Bijrani zone of Jim Corbett National Park as this place is believed to be the largest tiger area inside the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park. Be observant and patient on your tiger trail at Jim Corbett and you might not be lucky enough to sight this magnificent beast just on one safari ride and you might need to go on for more rides to sight it. Lucky tourists who stay at either of the various resorts around the place do not even need to go for a safari inside the interiors of the forest and they might get lucky to sight the tigers across the river banks where the other animals come to quench their thirst and the tigers come here in search of their prey.
However, you do not need to be disappointed in case you do not spot a tiger but sight various other animals like the spotted deer, grey Langurs, jackals, mongoose or even the various of the 500 species of birds here at Jim Corbett National Park. The resorts around Jim Corbett National Park that offers luxurious accommodation options to their guests are examples of perfect jungle stay experiences as these places are known to be located amidst a natural environment that allows visit to forget about the hustle and bustle of a city life and enjoy the clean and fresh air of the place. The resorts also have fully operational restaurants that serve some of the very fine cuisine that visitors to Jim Corbett National Park can savour. Jim Corbett National Park is surely the oldest National Park in India and the place is a delight to see the wild animals in their natural habitat and some of the salient features of Jim Corbett National Park are that it is the oldest National Park in India, rich in diverse flora, fauna and avifauna, there are an extraordinary variety of animals and reptiles to be found inside the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park, to accommodate visitors here there are numerous hotels and resorts that cater from budget to luxury end tourists who come to Jim Corbett National Park.
Although the safari experience at Jim Corbett National Park is a good enough reason for visitors to come to this land of the Royal Bengal Tigers and enjoy the sight of various other animals around the vicinity of the park but there are many other places of attractions around this place as well. For example after enjoying your safari experience of wildlife safari at Jim Corbett National Park, you can visit the suspension bridge area called as the Jhula Pul that dates back to more than 150 years and is the prime location near the Dhikuli villahe of Ramnagar. The bridge is located atop the Kosi River and a famous temple shrine of the Garijiya Temple is present here as well. Variosu adventure activities are conducted across this place like River Crossing and rappelling and one has to be careful while crossing this bridge as it is a very old suspension bridge and so people need to walk carefully across this bridge. The Kosi River that flows underneath this bridge is a mountain river that has crystal clear waters and a rocky bed. Enjoy your stay at one of the many resorts around Jim Corbett National Park that are built along the banks of the Kosi River and some these resorts at Jim Corbett National Park offers visitors a unique opportunity to have breakfast along the river bank as well.
An important temple shrine near the Jim Corbett National Park is the Seeta Bani temple that is dedicated to Goddess Sita and as per a legend it states that Goddess Sita raised her sons Luv and Kush at this place. This temple shrine is a protected shrine under the ASI and every year a grand celebration of Ramnavami festival is held here. The place has a very divine and peaceful ambiance around the place. This is a water stream that flows alongside this ruin and there is immense natural beauty around this place near Jim Corbett National Park. Another temple shrine that is located here is the ancient Shiva Temple that is located inside the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park and it is a dedicated ASI monument. This place has been renovated recently and because of the old charm of this place and as per the study conducted it is said that this temple was built in the 9th to 13th century. This is a temple constructed with stone and hence there is a unique rustic charm to the place as well.
Jim Corbett National Park can be said that it is a complete infrastructure that has been setup by Mother Nature. This oldest National Park in India is said to be the perfect place for wildlife lovers and nature enthusiasts who come here every year to sight the varied flora and fauna of the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park and also take the opportunity to capture great pictures and videos of the Royal Bengal Tigers of Jim Corbett National Park. The place is home to 50 species of mammals, 110 tree species, 25 reptile species and around 580 species of birds both resident and migratory and the best way to explore the park interiors is to go for a jeep safari ride accompanied by local guides who will take you deep into the forest reserves of the place and help you identify the varied species of flora and fauna of Jim Corbett National Park. In general, the Jim Corbett National Park opens to visitors on the 15th of November every year after the spell of the monsoons and visitors can come to the place to enjoy their safari ride and the park remains opened until June for visitors. From the months of July to September the Jim Corbett National Park welcomes the monsoon season that is very much needed to rejuvenate the biodiversity of the place and hence some parts of the park remain s closed for visitors and to witness the greenery of the place this is a the best time to visit.
Though the visitors many not be able to enjoy their safari ride at all the tourism zones inside the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park but this is the time that budget travellers come to Jim Corbett National Park to enjoy the weather of Uttarakhand and enjoy their summer breaks and the hotels and resorts offer cheaper rates for accommodation during this time. At Jim Corbett National Park, the park can be explored across five different zones namely the Jhirna, Sonanadi, Dhikala, Bijrani and the Durga Devi zones of the park and almost all these zones allow jeep safari options inside the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park and out of all these safari zones, the Jhirna safari zone can be visited by tourists at any time of the year to enjoy their safari. Rest of the four safari zones inside the Jim Corbett National Park opens to tourists from the mid of November to mid of June. From the above mentioned details it can be inferred that the best time to explore Jim Corbett National Park is during the winter season from the months of November to March and this is the time of the year you can enjoy the park and get to sight the animals enjoy their time in the natural habitat.
When it comes to the conservation efforts at Jim Corbett National Park, the park authorities ensure to take all adequate measures to guide any strayed animal out of the park into the forest reserves to protect the animal and ensure that no human animal conflict takes place. In one such rescue story, a leopard that had strayed out of the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park and was causing fear in the minds of the local people of the Belpadam village was captured and released back into the forest reserves of the Jim Corbett National Park by the forest authorities. Often there are reports of the Royal Bengal Tigers straying out of the interiors of the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park and are seen wandering across the agricultural fields of the fringe villages of the park and the lowland areas of the forests and the villagers alert the forest authorities who spring into action and take all necessary measures to direct the animal back into the forest reserves. The leopards of the Jim Corbett National Park are the second most dangerous animals of Jim Corbett National Park and they also wander outside the forest reserves and this makes the human settlements vulnerable to attacks.
In more good news to Jim Corbett National Park, after a span of 25 years an elephant calf was born in the premises of the Kalagarh reserve zone of Jim Corbett National Park and it has been reported that both the mother and the calf are healthy. The female mother is a pet elephant and it was a part of the group of 4 male and 5 female elephants that were relocated from Karnataka. The authorities of Jim Corbett National Park are rejoiced with the birth of this baby elephant that has come as auspicious news to the place as elephants are believed to be an incarnation of the Hindu God Ganesha. In more good news to Jim Corbett National Park, the park has now recorded the highest population density of the Royal Bengal Tigers in the World. India is home to approximately 70% of the World’s total population of Tigers and Jim Corbett National Park has recorded the highest density among the 50 tiger reserves in the country a title that was held by the famed UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kaziranga National Park in Assam. Now after Jim Corbett National Park, Kaziranga National Park, Nagarhole National Park (Karnataka) and Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam hold the record of the highest population density of the tigers. Jim Corbett National Park also has the highest number of tigers 252, followed by Nagarhole (127), Bandavgarh (126) and Kaziranga National Park (104).
When you are planning to visit the Jim Corbett National Park that is the oldest National Park in the country and also the first to begin the Tiger Conservation Project it is sure that you will be thrilled to enjoy your wildlife safari experience at the place and hence you would want to be completely prepared before your arrival at the place. At Jim Corbett National Park your visit needs to be planned much prior to your day of arrival and your accommodations and safari has to be kept booked prior to your arrival during the peak travel season as the place being home to the highest density of the Royal Bengal Tigers in the World draws visitors from across the World and during the peak season you might have trouble at the last moment to find accommodations and safari bookings as the safari vehicles are limited to not disturb the ecology of the Jim Corbett National Park. While you are at Jim Corbett National Park and you have boarded your jeep safari vehicles then it is advised that you wear light coloured clothes inside the forest reserves of JCNP and bright coloured clothes are known to disturb animals and they might get attracted towards your safari vehicle hence it is best to avoid it. This rule is applicable not only at Jim Corbett National Park but also across the various other National parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries across the country that allow jungle safari for visitors inside the forest reserves.
Ensure to take adequate warm clothing when you are going for the jeep safari rides in the winter season as the weather of Jim Corbett National Park remains very cold in the winter mornings and hence it is best to carry a blanket and also wear caps and mufflers to avoid catching a bug during you stay at Jim Corbett National Park. To spot the wild animals from the safari vehicle it is best advised to carry a pair of good binoculars because you will spot these animals from a distance and to get a close up view of these animals a binocular is preferred and also carry a good camera in case you are interested to capture your encounters with the wildlife and birds of Jim Corbett National Park during your visit. Ensure not to play any music or talk loudly as animals are irritated with noise and they tend to run away and your sole purpose of visit to Jim Corbett National Park to sight the wildlife is disturbed. Always cooperate with your local guides and driver because they are the ones who have been staying and visiting the interiors of Jim Corbett National Park since long and they are the best judge to take you to places on designated safari routes where the chances of wildlife spotting are more.
To summarize in brief, a safari experience at Jim Corbett National Park is a once in a lifetime experience and any wildlife enthusiast would like to sight the Royal Bengal Tigers in the wild should have a visit to Jim Corbett National Park planned on their bucket list. This is the oldest National Park in India and the Jim Corbett National Park is a reserve that is located amidst the grasslands, densely wooded hills and it attracts tourists from all across the World. The Jim Corbett National Park is spread across a core area of 521 sq. km. and it is present in the Nainital district of the Indian State of Uttarakhand and the Jim Corbett National Park boasts of a rich variety of flora, fauna and avifauna. From across the area of the Jim Corbett National Park one can get to view the towering Himalayan mountain range and at the same time enjoy their jeep safari rides at either of the safari zones of the park. A visit to Jim Corbett National Park can be planned not only as a wildlife viewing experience but as a complete holiday because the place has various other tourism destinations nearby including the famed hill station of Nainital close by and visitors can get the opportunity to explore these places as well and get to experience their stay in some of the luxurious resort around the city of Jim Corbett National Park that are arguable some of the finest in the county and their hospitality is unmatched and unparalleled.
For tourists who prefer to travel on a budget, Jim Corbett National Park doesn’t disappoint as well because there are various budget stay accommodations to choose from as well. But visitors need to ensure to book their accommodations and safaris at Jim Corbett National Park much ahead of time especially during the peak tourist season because Jim Corbett National Park being the oldest National Park in India and also the home of the highest population density of the Royal Bengal Tigers in the wild anywhere in the World sees visitors from across the World and so to find a place to stay at the last moment during the peak tourist season will definitely be a challenge. Once you are here at Jim Corbett National Park then ensure to hire the services of a local guide on your jeep safari rides as these are the trained people who have been living around the forest reserves of Jim Corbett National Park since quite long and have done immense safari rides into the park interiors and they are very well aware of the surroundings and locations.
