Jim Corbett National Park National Park

Address: Jim Corbett National Park - Ramnagar (Nainital district), Uttarakhand, India

Website: https://www.corbettonline.uk.gov.in/

Hours: Park open year‑round; safari timings vary (early morning and late afternoon)

Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand is India’s oldest national park and a core protected area for the Bengal tiger in the Terai foothills of the central Himalaya. The park covers a mosaic of grassland, riverine forest and sal-dominated woodland in a rugged foothill landscape.

Wildlife viewing is the primary draw, with regular sightings of tigers, elephants, leopards, deer and a wide variety of birds across different park ranges. Guided jeep safaris and authorised elephant rides operate in selected zones, and some ranges such as Dhikala have forest rest houses for overnight stays.

The area was designated a protected reserve in 1936 to conserve declining wildlife populations and has since been expanded and managed to prioritise tiger conservation within a larger Terai landscape. It was later renamed in honour of the hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett.

Sited in the foothills of the Himalaya in Uttarakhand, the park’s main access is from the town of Ramnagar, which serves as the gateway for visitor entry and administrative services.

• Size: Park area is approximately 520 square kilometres, making it one of India’s larger protected tiger reserves dedicated to Bengal tiger conservation.
• Visiting season: Most visitor safaris run from November to June when roads are open and animals are easier to spot; the monsoon season floods many corridors and limits access.

What to See#

• Dhikala range: Dhikala zone is the park’s largest and most visited range, offering grassland and riverine forest habitats with high probability of tiger and elephant sightings.
• Bijrani range: Bijrani range is comparatively accessible and frequented for regular jeep safaris with good sightings of big cats and ungulates.
• Jhirna range: Jhirna range is a lowland area opened for tourism to extend the park’s accessible season and habitats for wildlife viewing.

Jim Corbett National Park is typically reached via the gateway town of Ramnagar (the usual railhead). Trains run to Ramnagar Railway Station; from Ramnagar most park entrances and safari zones are a short taxi ride away (typically 15-40 minutes depending on which zone you visit). By road the park is commonly driven to from Delhi - roughly 250-270 km and about a 5-6 hour drive by car or bus. The nearest commercial airport is Pantnagar (used for regional flights), at roughly a 60-80 km drive to Ramnagar depending on the route; onward travel from the airport is by taxi or bus.

• Book safaris and forest‑department permits well in advance and choose early‑morning jeep or elephant safaris for the best chance of wildlife sightings; many popular ranges and safaris fill up weeks ahead in peak season.
• If you want fewer tourists and a different experience, ask the forest office or your lodge which ranges are less frequented that day - avoiding the most popular routes increases quiet viewing opportunities.
• Plan your trip in the park's open season (generally winter/early spring) and avoid the monsoon months when the park is closed or access is restricted.