Corbett - Gairal, Bharatpur Tour with Taj Mahal - 2025

 🐅Wild Trails : Our Jim Corbett & Bharatpur Bird sactuary Journey 🦜

Itinerary

27.03.2025   Kolkata (0055 hrs) - Delhi (0325 hrs) by Air India (Return Ticket Rs 10,000)

27.03.2025 Ramnagar (1145 hrs) > Dhangarhi Gate (1215) - 290 Km > Gairal (1415) >Dhikala zone>Gairal (1615) 

28.03.2025 Gairal (0615 hrs) > Dhikala Zone > Dhikala-1015 : Dhikala-1415 >Dhikala Zone>Gairal (Dhikala-1815)

29.03.2025 Gairal (0615 hrs) > Dhikala Zone > Dhikala-1015 : Dhikala-1415 >Dhikala Zone>Gairal (Dhikala-1815)

30.03.2025   Gairal (0615 hrs) > Dhikala Zone >Gairal (Dhikala-1015) : Gairal >Dhanagarhi gate - 1115 >Bharatpur (NH)

31.03.2025   Bharatpur (NH)

01.03.2025   Bharatpur (NH) > Fatehpur Sikri>Itmad-ud-Daulah>Taj Mahal>Delhi

02.03.2025    Delhi (0200 hrs) - Kolkata (0415 hrs)

Lineated Barbet

Blue Throated Barbet

black hooded golden oriole

Night Jar

Crested Kingfisher

Meet the Adventurers

Our group for this thrilling adventure consists of 5 travellers:

• Sourabh (the planner and narrator of this journey)
• Mohua dropped out due to some family exigiency
• Jaideep & Sanchita (joining from CR Park, Delhi, with their own car)
• Sampa
• Soma

• Additionally, Dr Pranab Datta aka Jadu Kaka joined us later from Delhi on March 30, 2025 at Iora Guest House (near Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary) with his family

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About Jim Corbett National Park

Jim Corbett National Park, established in 1936 as Hailey National Park, is India's oldest and one of its most prestigious tiger reserves. Located in Uttarakhand, the park spans 1,318 sq. km, including 520 sq. km of core area. It is home to Royal Bengal Tigers, leopards, elephants, gharials, deer species and more than 600 bird species.

The morning safari timing is - 0615-1015 and evening safari timing is 1415-1815

Corbett’s Safari Zones:

The park is divided into 6 major zones:

1. Dhikala Zone – The most premium and sought-after zone, known for its vast grasslands, high tiger population, and stunning river views. The rest houses near the Dhangarhi gate are: Sultan > Gairal > Sarpadhuli > Dhikala. Dhikala is furthest from the Dhangarhi gate
2. Bijrani Zone – Dense forested area with a mix of sal trees and open meadows.
3. Jhirna Zone – Open all year round and known for frequent sloth bear and leopard sightings.
4. Dhela Zone – Rich in birdlife, making it a great spot for birdwatching.
5. Garjiya Zone – Relatively new, ideal for nature lovers and photographers.
6. Durga Devi Zone – A hilly terrain, best for spotting mahseer fish and elephants near the Ramganga River.

Wildlife in Dhikala Zone (Jim Corbett National Park) 🐅🌳

Dhikala is the most biodiverse and sought-after zone in Jim Corbett National Park. The mix of dense forests, riverbanks, and vast grasslands (chaurs) makes it an ideal habitat for a variety of wildlife.

🔹 Mammals Found in Dhikala:

1. Royal Bengal Tiger 🐅 – The star attraction, often seen in the grasslands and near water bodies.
2. Leopard 🐆 – More elusive than tigers, found in rocky and forested areas.
3. Asiatic Elephant 🐘 – Herds frequently roam the Ramganga riverbanks.
4. Sloth Bear 🐻 – Sightings are rare, but they do exist in the dense forests.
5. Wild Boar 🐗 – Commonly seen, especially near the chaurs.
6. Spotted Deer (Chital) 🦌 – The most commonly spotted deer in the park.
7. Sambar Deer 🦌 – A preferred prey of tigers, found in denser parts of Dhikala.
8. Barking Deer  – Shy and solitary, often heard rather than seen.
9. Hog Deer – Found mostly in the grasslands of Dhikala.
10. Gharial & Mugger Crocodile 🐊 – Seen in the Ramganga River.
11. Otters – Playful and often seen near the riverbanks.

🔹 Birds Found in Dhikala: 🦜

Dhikala is a paradise for birdwatchers, with over 600 bird species recorded! Some highlights include:

1. Crested Serpent Eagle – Often seen perched on high branches.
2. Fish Eagle – Spotted near water bodies.
3. Osprey – A migratory bird often seen diving for fish.
4. Hornbill – Found in the dense forested areas.
5. Ruddy Shelduck  – Seen in flocks near the river.
6. Changeable Hawk-Eagle – A common raptor.
7. Black Stork – Found wading near water sources.
8. Kingfishers (Pied, White-throated, Common, and Stork-billed) – Found along the riverbanks.
9. Himalayan Griffon Vulture – Seen soaring in the sky.
10. Peafowl (Peacock) – A common sight throughout the park.
11. Barbet - Lineated, Coppersmith, Blue throated

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Why Dhikala zone is Special  ?

• Dhikala is the largest and most scenic part of Corbett, renowned for its grasslands (chaurs) where tiger sightings are most frequent. It is definitely the most picturesque of all the National Parks in India.

• Staying inside the Dhikala Zone is  allowed only at forest rest houses (FRHs). There is no private property here.

• Day visitors can enter via Canter safari, but they are not allowed to stay overnight. These visitors do not access the core zones, as they mostly stick to the main roads—limiting the chances of significant wildlife sightings.

• People staying in other zones are not allowed to enter Dhikala zone.

• The Ramganga River runs through Dhikala, making it a prime area for wildlife movement.

• This zone is also famous for elephant herds, crocodiles, and raptors/birds of prey.

         Sultan/ Gairal / Sarpadhuli Forest Rest House 

• Staying at these rest houses gives you early access to core areas—unlike outside lodges.

  • Distance from Dhikala:

    • Sultan: ~1 hour away

    • Gairal: ~45 minutes (17 km)

    • Sarpadhuli: ~35 minutes

  Hence, if you're not staying at Dhikala FRH, you must return earlier to avoid fines. The main sighting area is Dhikala.

  • Food:

    • Only vegetarian food is served. Prices: ₹500 (Dhikala), ₹400 (Gairal).

    • Personally found it overpriced—e.g., 2 toasted breads with butter and an omelette cost ₹120 at Dhikala!

    • Outside food is not allowed.

  • Network:

  • No mobile network in Dhikala or Gairal (we had Airtel, Jio, BSNL, Vodafone—none worked).

  • Only a faint signal exists near one pole in Dhikala.

  • The whole tour is booked through Banzaara Travels. Booking safari in Corbett has become a big scam. So we were forced to book through Banzaara Travels. We were in touch with Priyanka - who did everything for us. We paid Rs 120,000 for 6 people for 6 safaris - without food (from Ramnagar to Ramnagar)

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📅 Date-Wise Itinerary

🛫 March 27, 2025 – The Journey Begins

• 00:55 AM – Flight from Kolkata (CCU) to Delhi (T3) via Air India.

• 03:25 AM – Arrival in Delhi.

• 04:15 AM – Our car (arranged by Banzaara Travels) picked us up. Jaideep and Sanchita joined from Sarai Kale Khan.

• 09:00 AM – Breakfast at the well-known (but expensive) Mama Yadav restaurant.

• 11:30 AM – After a 6-hour drive, we reached Ramnagar, bought 45 litres of water, parked our car at Ringora, and headed to Dhangarhi gate, where our driver Mushaid was waiting.

• 12:30 PM – Completed entry formalities and entered the park.

• 01:30 PM – Checked in at Gairal FRH inside Dhikala Zone. We had snacks for lunch.

Gairal FRH: Offers more peace and privacy than Dhikala FRH. Located right next to the Ramganga River—ideal for spotting gharials, otters, and even tigers. Due to dense tree cover, tiger sightings from the rest house are unlikely (unlike Sarpadhuli or possibly Sultan - I have not visited Sultan).

🌿 Evening Safari (02:15 PM – 06:15 PM)

Our first safari in Corbett's wild terrain. We explored dense sal forests, riverbanks, and grasslands.

• Sighting: Two 15-month-old tiger cubs and a tiger crossing the road.

• 06:15 PM – Returned to Gairal FRH.

Dinner: Skipped the overpriced vegetarian meal. Had Maggi, Anda Bhurji, and Bread Omelette instead.

The vegetarian dinner costs Rs 400 !  We were told there is no fan in Gairal. It is not correct. There is no AC, but there is fan. Because of the elevation it is not all cold in Gairal. It was actually quite chilly in the mornings and evenings.

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 🐾 March 28, 2025 – Into the Heart of Corbett

🐾 March 28, 2025 – Into the Heart of Corbett

• 06:15 AM – 10:15 AM – Morning Safari: No tigers, but plenty of birds.The morning was quite cold,even though it was March 28th !

• 10:15 AM – 02:15 PM – Break at Dhikala. We didn't return to Gairal to save time. Had a light breakfast at 1030 am and snacks at 1330 pm.

  • Snacks counter has reasonably priced items.

  • Didn't opt for pricy lunch (₹500) at  the main Restaurant 

  • Relaxed —There is a nice place beside the Dhikala Reception, where we took some rest and had chitchat

• 02:15 PM – 06:15 PM – Evening Safari:

  • Wonderful elephant sightings.

  • Left Dhikala at 5:30 PM to reach Gairal by 6:15 PM.

08:30 PM    Dinner: Skipped again,  had Bread omelette and made Maggi in the room.

🐾 March 29, 2025 – Another Day in the Wild

06:15AM - 10:15 AM – Morning Safari. No Tiger sighting - but lot of birds. 

• 10:15 AM – 02:15 PM – Break at Dhikala. We didn't return to Gairal to save time. Had a light breakfast at 1030 am and snacks at 1330 pm.

  • Snacks counter has reasonably priced items.

  • Didn't opt for pricy lunch (₹500) at  the main Restaurant 

  • Relaxed —There is a nice place beside the Dhikala Reception, where we took some rest and had chitchat

🐅 02:15 PM - 06:15 PM – Evening Safari 

• Explored another section of Dhikala.

• Finally saw the tiger!

• Returned to Gairal by 6:15 PM.

08:30 PM    Dinner: Skipped again,  had Bread omelette and made Maggi in the room.

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🐾 March 30, 2025 – Final Safari & Transfer to Bharatpur

06:15 AM – 10:15 AM – Last Morning Safari
Our final chance to experience the morning wilderness of Corbett. Although we didn’t spot any tigers, we saw plenty of birds. I spotted the Coppersmith Barbet, Lineated Barbet, and Blue-throated Barbet.

We had to rush back to Gairal and didn’t have the option to stop at Dhikala. Unfortunately, our vehicle had a mechanical issue today, and the driver, Mushaid, took some time to fix it—so our safari time got shortened.

We were told there was a tiger sighting near Gairal FRH, so we hurried back, but unfortunately, we didn’t see it.

11:00 AM – Check-out from Gairal FRH

12:00 PM – Reached Ringora
At this point, our group split into two: Sampadi and I continued on to Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, while Didi (Soma) returned to Delhi with Jaideep and Sanchita. Didi will catch her 9:00 PM flight from Delhi to Kolkata. She skipped Bharatpur as she’s leaving for Ladakh on April 3, 2025.

I made a mistake while booking our car to Bharatpur—it’s near Agra. I mistakenly selected the date as 30.04 instead of 30.03!

13:45 PM

Anyway, our trusted Gozocab managed to arrange a car within 1 hour 45 minutes. It will take us to Bharatpur (about 320 km) on an 8-hour journey. The charge was around ₹7,300.

23:10 PM – Arrival in Bharatpur & Check-in at the hotel. Jadu Kaka was waiting for us in the hotel. We had our dinner at Iora Guest House, while Jadu Kaka was giving us company !

Tony, Tapul and Spriha (and Jadu Kaka) had also arrived for the safari in their own car. They were resting in their room. The distance from Delhi to Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary by road is 220 km (via Yamuna Expressway and Agra Highway), with a travel time of 4–5 hours, depending on traffic.

Bharatpur, also known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the finest bird sanctuaries in the world. Spread over 29 sq. km, it is renowned for its wetlands, marshes, and forests, attracting migratory birds from as far as Siberia, Central Asia, and Europe.

The park is very well-maintained and tourist-friendly. There is no need for advance booking—we booked our visit on the spot. The sanctuary hosts both water birds and land birds, with different zones catering to each terrain type. I had the wrong impression that it was only home to water birds.

Only 4 people can travel in an e-rickshaw. Just as a gypsy is to a national park, the e-rickshaw is the preferred mode of transport inside Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. There are also buggy carts (which can accommodate more than 6 people) and horse carts available.

• Entry fee: ₹155 for Indians

• E-rickshaw rental (3 hours): ₹1,200

• Guide charges: Approximately ₹1,200 (hiring a guide is not mandatory)

• Bicycle rental: ₹150 for 3 hours

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Key Birds in Bharatpur:

• Siberian Crane – The rarest winter visitor (now extremely rare)

• Painted Stork – Seen in large numbers, nesting in trees

• Great White Pelican – Found in flocks near water bodies

• Bar-headed Goose – Migrates from Central Asia

• Spot-billed Duck – A resident species

• Eurasian Spoonbill – Found wading in shallow waters

• Black-necked Stork – Rare but striking

• Indian Cormorant & Little Cormorant – Frequently seen fishing

• Common Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher – Often seen near water bodies

• Purple Heron & Grey Heron – Common in marshy areas

• Night Heron – Active during dusk and dawn

• Sarus Crane – The tallest flying bird in the world, often seen in pairs

• Indian Roller – Known for its dazzling blue feathers

• Oriental Darter (Snake Bird) – Often seen swimming with only its head above water

• Greater Flamingo – Occasionally spotted in the shallower lakes

• Raptors (Marsh Harrier, Steppe Eagle, Tawny Eagle) – Seen hunting in open areas

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Mammals Found in Bharatpur:

Though mainly known for its birdlife, Bharatpur is also home to several mammals:

• Golden Jackal – Frequently seen along the dirt tracks

• Nilgai (Blue Bull) – The largest antelope in India, commonly seen grazing

• Rhesus Macaque & Langur Monkeys – Often seen near temple areas

• Indian Porcupine – Nocturnal and rarely spotted

• Indian Python – Occasionally seen basking in the sun

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🐦 March 31, 2025 – Exploring Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

06:30 AM – Early morning at Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary), spotting migratory birds like Pelicans, painted storks, Spotted Owl, Copper smith Barbet by an e rickshaw. We saw a King Cobra.

We had our lunch at Iora Guest house.

3:00 PM – 6:00 PM – This afternoon, we once again explored the park and enjoyed a peaceful rickshaw ride through Bharatpur’s beautiful wetlands. Tapul chose to ride a rented e-cycle. Sampa Di did not join us for the evening safari. 

We had our dinner at Iora Guest House.

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🚗 April 1, 2025 – Left for Delhi via Fatehpur Sikri and Taj Mahal

10:30 AM – We left for Delhi. Fatehpur Sikri is only 25 km from Bharatpur, so we decided to visit it on the way. There was a huge crowd at Fatehpur Sikri due to Salim Chishti’s Mazar, as it was just after Eid. Due to time constraints, we had to skip Sikandra.

Next, we visited Itmad-ud-Daulah, also known as the Baby Taj, which is considered a prototype of the Taj Mahal. The entry fee is ₹30.

The ‘Baby Taj’ (Itimad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb, 1622–1628) stands as Nur Jahan’s marble tribute to her father, Mirza Ghiyas Beg — the Persian noble who rose to become Akbar’s Diwan of Bengal and later Jahangir’s finance minister. As the grandfather of Mumtaz Mahal (who would marry Shah Jahan and inspire the Taj Mahal), his tomb’s delicate pietra dura mosaics and latticework mark it as the Taj’s direct prototype, predating it by 3 decades.

Nur Jahan’s destiny was forged in Bengal’s history : her first husband, Sher Afgan, fell to a staged revolt in 1607 as governor of Burdwan — a tragedy that cleared her path to marry Emperor Jahangir. Her brother Asaf Khan, Mumtaz’s father, further anchored the family’s power through his governance of Bengal.

As empress, Nur Jahan wielded unparalleled power during Jahangir’s opium-clouded reign, issuing imperial decrees, striking coins in her name, and leading military campaigns — ruling, in effect, as the empire’s shadow sovereign.

Without her ascent after Sher Afgan’s death, there would be no Asaf Khan to orchestrate Mumtaz’s union with Shah Jahan... and thus no Taj Mahal.

Yet history reduces her to ‘Jahan’s Light’, obscuring the truth: this architect-empress didn’t just illuminate the Mughal court — she designed its golden age.

After that, we had lunch at McDonald’s, and then proceeded to visit the Taj Mahal. The entry fee is ₹50, but if you want to go up to the elevated platform near the minaret, there is an additional charge of ₹200. Previously, there was no extra fee, but I was told the new government has imposed it.

To know more about the history of this place , read https://www.bomadg.in/search/label/Agra

9:30 PM – We reached Jadu Kaka’s house in Vasant Kunj, had dinner there, and left for the airport by Uber around 12:00 AM. We were late, but somehow managed to check in at the airport.

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🛫 April 2, 2025 – The Final Goodbye

02:00 AM – Our Air India flight departs from Delhi Airport.

04:15 AM – We land in Kolkata, officially concluding our thrilling adventure.

In the land of Jim Corbett , India

Corbett National Park Tour diary 

Itinerary

07.03.2020   Kolkata (630 hrs) - Delhi (0830 hrs) by Go Air (Return Ticket Rs 8300)

07. 03.2020 Merchula, Ramnagar (1800 hrs) (Sterling Resort)  - 290 Km

08.03.2020  Bijrani  and Dhela 1st and 2nd Safari 

09.03.2020 Bijrani  and Dhela 3rd and 4th Safari

10.03.2020 Merchula (10 00 hrs) - Delhi (0500 hrs) - Kolkata by Go Air

07/03/2020

We left at 3.30 hrs (by yellow cab) from our house and picked up Subir-da and Swapna di near RN Tagore Hospital and left for airport and reached airport at 5.00 hours. We met Arun and Mr Lahiri (86 years old) at the airport.

We reached Delhi airport at 8.30 hrs. 

Get in

It is normally accessed from the town of Ramnagar and Kotdwar.

Kotdwar and Ramnagar can be accessed by train from Delhi.

There are 4 airports near Corbett National Park : 1. Pantnagar (123 KM Away) 2. Dehradun (176 KM Away) 3. Delhi (248 KM Away) 4. Lucknow (447 KM Away)

Dehradun airport is the nearest airport to the park .

By Car

You may reach Jim Corbett from Delhi by car. It takes about 7.30-8.00 hours to reach Corbett from Delhi

By Train

Ramnagar is 10 kms from the park and has a small railway station that is connected to major cities around. 

Kotdwar is 5km from the park and has a railway station which is connected to major cities. One can also enter the park through Kotdwar which is situated on the other a side of the park.

We left for Ramnagar (the gate nearest to it is Bijrani) from Delhi Airport at 9.30 hrs. We booked 7 seater car - Chevrolet Enjoy. We tried various options - people were asking Rs 18,000 - 20,000 . Ultimately we settled for online booking (from Gozo Cab). They are very professional company - with a 24/7 call centre and emailed everything in advance : www.gozocabs.com/ . They charged Rs 12,469/- excluding Toll Tax and permit. Highly recommended. One can also book from MakeMytrip.com or ahataxis.com . This is much better than, other offline services, I ever had.

One should  ideally stay near Bijrani gate to cut down the travel time. Most of hotels are near Bijrani Gate - including Taj, Club Mahindra. Our resort is at Merchula - 35 Km from Bijrani. We reached at 6 pm. We stopped thrice - once for breakfast near Gaziabad, once for lunch and lastly to meet our guide Mr Arif near Bijrani gate. So it took 8.30 hours to reach Merchula from Delhi !! We reached Bijrani at 5 pm. We are staying at Sterling Resort. Mr Lahiri is long time member of Sterling. We paid only Rs 1000 per day for 4 star facility, thanks to him ! The location of the resort is simply amazing.

However it takes 1 hour to reach Bijrani and 1.20-1.25 hours to reach Dhela Gate. I would recommend do not stay in Sterling - if you do not spend all the time travelling. The morning safari ends at 10 am and evening safari ends at 6 am. We are almost fined for finishing the evening safari at 6.05 pm !

We had our dinner quickly since we have to get up at 4.30 am and leave for Bijrani at 5.15 am. 

08/03/2020

When we left it is still dark. We reached Bijrani at around 6.15 am. Since I was busy with my Myanmar tour I had to partly outsource the job of booking the permit (and also safari car - gypsy, safari driver) to my trusted and very knowledgeable friend Avijit Ganguly who runs a wildlife magazine Aranyok and a "Company" for Wild life safaris (only). The rates have been very reasonable (later I found out, on my independent research) .

avijitwildlife@gmail.com 

+91 94330 67783


+91 98319 18004

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The park was originally named the Hailey National Park after Governor Hailey and was created on August 6th, 1936. It was India's first National Park. 

After independence, the park was renamed, this time after the Ramganga River, and was hence called the Ramganga National Park. 

The park was renamed again in 1957. It was named after Edward James "Jim" Corbett who helped to set up the park and spent most of his life in the area. The area of the park was increased in 1991 when the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary was added to the park.

Spread across the districts- Nainital and Pauri, the Corbett National Park covers an area of 1288 sq. km, together with neighbouring reserves- Sonanadi Wildlife Santuary and Reserve Forest (Area of the Jim Corbett Park is 520.82 sq km excluding Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary).

Altitudes inside the forest vary between 400 m to 1200 m and the landscape is a wonderful mix of open grasslands interspersed between dense vegetation predominantly by Sal and Peepal Trees, lakes, hills, marshes, Ramganga river flowing like forest veins.

The main areas (Dhikala and Bijrani) of Corbett National Park are closed from 16 June - 14 Nov for the monsoon season. Jhirna and Sitabani (Buffer Zone) remain open year round.

Chances of sighting tigers can be significantly raised by staying at Dhikala Forest rest house & leaving early morning for Safari, as Dhikala is rest house is in the core area of jungle.

Dhikala

It is one of the most popular destinations in Jim Corbett National Park for tourists. Dhikala, located near to Patil Dun Valley, offers an amazing and uninterrupted view of the valley. There is a watchtower near Dhikala, which gives the more imposing view of the valley.

Corbett is the only major tiger reserve to offer accommodation in forest rest houses inside the park. However, the number of rooms is very limited and they get sold out like hot cakes. The majority of visitors stay in resorts outside the park.

Bijrani

Bijrani area was once formed part of a shooting block. This shooting block area covers the entire in and around area of Bijrani. This place was most famous during the British time for hunting. Bijrani terrain is drier in comparison to Dhikla and it also has more diverse vegetation then Dhikla.

It is the closest entry from Ramnagar. Numerous birds can be spotted on the way to forest rest house, an erstwhile hunting complex now converted to accommodate visitors.

Bijrani is an absolute wilderness especially when night falls as there is no electricity here (be sure to charge your camera batteries) and we are provided only with solar lamps. There is no mobile connectivity too which makes it the perfect retreat for a digital detox. Landscape in Bijrani is a mix of river plains and open grasslands.

Jhirna and Dhela - same entry point

Jhirna is a rest house which lies inside the south area boundary of the park. This rest house is located on the road from Ramnagar to Kalagarh. The landscape in this area is drier than Dhikla. Jhirna was one of the farming village till 1994 and after that, it was taken under project tiger.

Durga Devi:

Durga Devi is a gate on the north-eastern side of Corbett National Park. It serves as the entry point for the Lohachaur Guesthouse inside Corbett. This part of the trail in Corbett runs along the hills and crosses the Ramganga River on the way to the guesthouse. The Ramganga River flowing through this area finally drains into the Ramganga Reservoir in the Dikhala Zone. This is a hill road with the valley on one side and the mountain on the other.

The area is said to be populated more with leopards and elephants, but occasionally one may spot the tiger here too. It is paradise for bird watching. Varying altitudes along with dense tree cover provides excellent opportunity to spot birds. 

It falls between Merchula and Bijrani. So we saw it on the way to Bijrani / Dhela from our resort,every day.

Flora and fauna

It is home to approximately 110 tree species, 50 mammals' species, 580 bird species, and 25 reptile species that are found both in the lower and higher regions of the park.

Birds:

Species of Birds are divided into 5 categories in Jim Corbett National Park:

Water-birds and Waterside-birds:

Cattle Egret, Black Neck Storks, Cattle Egret, Darter, Grey Heron, Cormorants,Large Pied Wagtail, White-Capped Redstart, Sandpipers, Snipe. 

There are about 15 kinds of duck and a variety of wagtails.

Birds of Prey:

Himalayan Vulture, peregrine falcon, booted hawk-eagle, steppe eagle, black eagle, osprey, Himalayan grey-headed fishing eagle, crested serpent eagle, black-winged eagle

Night Birds:

Fish owl, Great stone plover, Jungle nightjar

Woodland Birds:

Green Pigeons, Hornbills, Barbets, Orioles, Drongos, Peafowl, Parakeet, Babblers, Thruses, Red Junglefowl, White-crested kalij pheasant, Bulbus, Warblers, Tailor Bird, Robins, Chats, Redstarts, Finches, Doves

Air Birds:

Indian Alpine Swift, Crested Swifts, Striated (or Red-rumpled) Swallows, the Indian Cliff Shallow and the Wire-tailed Swallow

Animals :

The most famous of Corbett's wild residents are the Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Elephant, Leopards, Wild Boar, Sloth Bear, Himalayan black bears, Jackal, Mongoose, Crocodile, Barking deer, Sambar deer, Chital, otters, Indian pangolins, Langur and Rhesus macaques.

Reptiles:

Garial crocodile, Mugger crocodile, Indian Python, King Cobra, Indian Pythons, Monitor Lizard, Turtles, Cobra, Tortise, Russell's Viper, Kraits

Flora:

One of the biggest claims of Jim Corbett National Park is its vegetation. Teak/ Segoon, Sal (Shorea robusta), Sheesam (Dalbergia sissoo), Kanju (Holoptelea integrifolia), Ber (Zizyphus mauritians), Dhak (Butea monosperma), and Bael (Aegle Marmelos) are some of the trees which can be seen scattered in Jim Corbett National Park. 

Some of the grasses which can be seen in Jim Corbett National Park are Kansi, Themeda arundinacea, Baib or Bhabar, Narkul, Tiger Grass, Khus Khus and Spear Grass

Safari Timings

Summer

Morning Safari: 0630 hrs- 1000 hrs

Evening Safari: 1430 hrs - 1800 hrs

Jeep Safaris in the Dikhala zone are only allowed for people who are staying inside the Park in the forest rest houses in the Dikhala Zone.

Elephant Safari: Elephant Safari is no more available in Dhikala zone .

Canter Safari: This is an open bus with 18 seats. This safari operates only in the Dikhala zone and is accessible to tourists not staying within the Park's core zone. It approximately lasts for 6 hours with pick up points at Ramnagar and the Dhangari gate.

Buy

You can buy souvenirs and books at the canteen at Bijrani.

Lodging

Few guest houses are available. Dhikala and Gairal being the most sought after. This rest house is high in demand so it is always advisable to book well in advance. Maximum stay of 3 nights at a time is permitted. Electric fences are present around the housing area.

There are a few local companies like 'sam's travel house' that offer to do the entire package [pickup from Ramnagar station, booking in the Forest Rest House in Dikhala and jeep safaris] that can be booked online.

Alternatively, one can look at staying in one of the numerous resorts, lodges, hotels outside the core zone on the road running north-south in between Sitabani Reserve and Corbett National Park. These places organise permits and jeep safaris for the guests and provide basic to lavish accommodations along the western bank of the Kosi River .

How to get Jim Corbett safari permit

Accommodation can be booked 45 days in advance. Booking for a day visit is a permit to enter the particular zone. For Dhikala alone, staying in the forest rest house is mandatory for going on a jeep safari.

But there is a canter ride that can be booked 30 days in advance (limited to 16 seats). One needs to note that except Dhikala zone, safaris can be done by only booking day visits and staying at resorts/hotels outside the park.

A naturalist must accompany in each vehicle and maximum of 6 people can be accommodated in a jeep (excluding driver and naturalist).

Points to note about the Park

§  Permit is required to enter the forest.

§  Cancelling or rescheduling the permit is not allowed after booking.

§  Entry is restricted only to the zone for which permit is obtained.

§  Walking or trekking inside the forest is prohibited except few places.

§  Private vehicles are not allowed inside. We need to hire Gypsy from registered vehicles.

§  Proof of identification (PAN card, Voter ID etc) has to be shown at the entry of each zone.

§  Canteen food is available only at Dhikala, Bhijrani zones.

Each zone opens and closes at different dates. Safari timing differs too across months depending on sunlight. We have summarized various zones and its open period here. 

Zone	Entry Gate	Dist from Ramnagar	Open Period
Dhikala	Dhangarhi	18 km	15th Nov – 15th Jun
Bijrani	Amdanda	2 km	15th Oct – 30th Jun
Jhirna	Jhirna/Dhela	20 km	Open on all days subject to weather
Durgadevi	Durgadevi	26 km	15th Oct – 15th Jun
Dhela	Jhirna/Dhela	15 km	Open on all days subject to weather

Accommodation in Jim Corbett

Although forest rest houses are the ones which are easily suited for safari purposes, there are many hotels and resorts in the periphery of the park. Some are budget friendly and some luxury. 

Corbett  Motel is a budget accommodation located on a mango farm. A good value for money in the range of 1500 INR – 2000 INR per day. The food here is very good. The hotel owner Mr. Ranjith can also help you arrange/book your safaris and jeeps. You can reach them at 05947-253033. 

Tiger House Corbett is another mid-range hotel located little further from Ramnagar. You can check their website for details. 

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After doing our morning safari at Bijrani (reached the gate at 10 am) we left for our resort and had our quick lunch and again left for Dhela at 12.30 pm.

Today our evening safari is at Dhela gate . It is further 15 Km from Bijrani. 

We saw a tiger at the fag end of our evening tour , but because of the commotion of other tourists , the tiger simply vanished in the forest !

09/03/2020

Today our monring safari is in Bijrni and evening safari is in Jhirna. (Both Dhela and Jhirna gates are same - then it moves in two different directions.)

The birds and animals we saw are :

Verditer fly catcher (Verditer = a light blue or bluish-green pigment)

Indian Grey Hornbill

Purple sunbird

Redstart

Long tailed Shrike or butcher bird

Bee eater

White throated or white breasted kingfisher

Spotted dear

Red-wattled lapwing

Vulture

Sepent eagle

Crested hawk eagle

Hawk eagle ?

10/03/2020

Today is Holi. The Park is closed today. 

The nearest destination you can go from Jim Corbett National Park are:

1. Nainital : Its a very good hill station around 60kms from the National Park. This is a good birding zone too.

2. Ranikhet : Its also around 80 kms from the national park

We left for Delhi at 10 am. Since the road was empty, we reached  Delhi airport at 5 pm. Our flight is at 9.05 pm and reached Kolkata at 11 pm.

Source :

1. wikitravel.com
2. https://devilonwheels.com/jim-corbett-national-park-travel-guide/
3.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/jim-corbett-national-park-the-paradise-of-tigers-a-fact-file-1458305286-1