Set in the Himalayan foothills of Uttarakhand, Corbett was established in 1936 as India’s first national park and became the birthplace of Project Tiger. Its sal forests, the Ramganga river and open grasslands known as chaurs make up a classic tiger landscape. The park is named for the hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett.
Different zones follow different schedules, but the season runs broadly from mid-October to June, with Dhikala open from mid-November to mid-June. Jhirna and Dhela stay open year-round. November to March is pleasant, while summer offers the best chances of a sighting.
The zones include Dhikala, the most famous, with grasslands and riverine terrain and its own staying option; Bijrani, a dense and popular forest zone; the year-round Jhirna and Dhela; and Durga Devi, Garjia and Sonanadi.
The park gateway is the railhead at Ramnagar. It is reached by road from Delhi, roughly 250 km, or from Dehradun, with the nearest major airports at Dehradun and Delhi.
New shared safaris coming soon.
The reserve holds Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, leopard and sloth bear, along with gharial and mugger crocodile and otter, and more than 600 species of birds.
Jeep safaris run in most zones and Canter safaris serve Dhikala, which also offers overnight stays in forest rest houses. Advance permits are needed and the popular zones fill quickly.