Uttarakhand · India
Jim Corbett
India's oldest national park and premier tiger reserve in the Ramnagar terai — sal forest, grasslands and the Ramganga river, with jeep and canter safaris, waterfalls and riverside temples.
Jim Corbett is jungle Uttarakhand: tiger and elephant safaris across the Dhikala and Bijrani zones, Corbett Falls, the Garjia Devi river temple, the Corbett Museum at Kaladhungi, and terai-Kumaoni food.
Plan your trip
Jim Corbett Tour Itineraries
Timed, walkable day plans — plus the best season to go.
Where to shoot
Jim Corbett Photo Spots
Medium crowdEntry Nominal
Corbett Falls
- Best timeLate morning, when light filters through the teak onto the water; after the monsoon for the fullest flow.
- ColorsForest greenRustCream
Low crowdEntry Nominal
Corbett Museum, Kaladhungi
- Best timeMorning, when soft light falls on the veranda and the garden is empty; late afternoon for long shadows under the trees.
- ColorsCreamOliveBrown
High crowdEntry Safari permit & jeep
Corbett National Park
- Best timeEarly morning, when animals are on the move and the light is soft; late afternoon for warm light on the forest tracks.
- ColorsOliveKhakiBrown
Medium crowdEntry Permit & jeep/canter
Dhikala Zone
- Best timeEarly morning, when mist lies over the grassland and elephant herds are out in the open; late afternoon for golden light on the chaur.
- ColorsOliveKhakiBrown
Medium crowdEntry Free
Garjia Devi Temple
- Best timeEarly morning, when the river is calm and the temple is quiet; late afternoon for warm side light on the rock.
- ColorsSaffronRedCream
For the feed
Trending Wear in Jim Corbett
Modern, Instagram-friendly looks
Rooted in the city
Jim Corbett Traditional Wear
Local, cultural, handcrafted outfits
Taste the city
Food to Eat in Jim Corbett
Trusted tables
Where to Eat in Jim Corbett
Representative photoCorbett Machaan Restaurant
Dhikuli, Ramnagar
Representative photoGarjia View Restaurant
Garjia, Ramnagar
Representative photoRamnagar Kumaoni Dhaba
Ramnagar
Representative photoRiverside Café Corbett
Dhikuli, Ramnagar
A tiger reserve with a town at its gate
Jim Corbett is not a town. It is the Corbett Tiger Reserve, a block of sal forest, grassland and river valley in the Kumaon foothills, and the town most visitors actually sleep in is Ramnagar, on its south-eastern edge. The park was set up in 1936 as Hailey National Park, the first national park in India, and later renamed after Jim Corbett, the hunter who became one of its loudest defenders. Project Tiger was launched here in 1973. The 2022 census counted about 260 tigers, which is one of the highest densities anywhere.
How the park is split
Corbett National Park is visited zone by zone, and you book a zone, not the park. Bijrani, Jhirna, Dhela and Garjia are the day-safari zones closest to Ramnagar. Durga Devi, in the north-east, is quieter and good for birds. Dhikala is the big one: grassland above the Ramganga reservoir, reached by a long drive through the forest, and open to private jeeps only for guests staying at its forest lodges. Day visitors see it from the shared canter bus that leaves from Ramnagar.
Seasons, briefly
The core zones follow a fixed calendar. The official site lists Bijrani as open from mid-October to the end of June, and Dhikala and Durga Devi from mid-November to mid-June. Jhirna, Dhela and Garjia are listed as open through the year, though heavy rain can shut roads for days at a time. All overnight stays inside the reserve stop from mid-June to mid-November. Check the dates on the reserve's own booking site before you plan around them.
Beyond the safari
Corbett's own house at Kaladhungi, about 30 km from Ramnagar, is now the Corbett Museum. On the same road, Corbett Falls drops through teak forest a short walk from the car park. The Garjia Devi Temple sits on a rock in the Kosi river north of Ramnagar. Its mound has been under repair after years of flood damage, and entry has been closed for long spells, so check before you drive out.
Getting in and staying safe
Book safaris only on the reserve's official portal, with the ID you will carry on the day. Sightings are never promised. Stay in the vehicle, keep your voice down and follow the driver and guide. Elephants cross the Ramnagar–Kaladhungi road, especially around dusk, so drive slowly after dark and never stop to photograph a herd from close range.
Questions
Jim Corbett — FAQ
Is Jim Corbett the same place as Ramnagar?
Not quite. Jim Corbett is the tiger reserve; Ramnagar is the town on its edge with the railway station, the booking offices and most hotels. The resorts on the Kosi river at Dhikuli sit between the two.
Which Corbett zone should I book for a first visit?
If you can get a forest-lodge night, Dhikala gives the best sense of the park. For day safaris, Bijrani is the classic choice, and Jhirna and Dhela are easier to book and open for more of the year.
Can I visit Corbett in the monsoon?
Only partly. Dhikala, Bijrani and Durga Devi close, and no one can stay overnight inside the reserve. Jhirna, Dhela and Garjia are listed as open all year, but rain can close their tracks at short notice.
How many days do I need in Jim Corbett?
Two nights lets you do three or four safaris in different zones plus Garjia or Kaladhungi. For Dhikala, add a night or two at the forest lodge inside.
Is it safe to drive around Corbett at night?
The main roads are fine, but elephants and other animals cross them, especially the Ramnagar–Kaladhungi road. Drive slowly, never get out for a photo, and back off if a herd is on the road.