Jim Corbettt

Set in the Himalayan foothills of Uttarakhand, Jim Corbett is India’s first national park and the birthplace of Project Tiger. Established in 1936, the reserve stretches across nearly 1,300 sq. km. of sal forests, grasslands, rivers and ridgelines, and remains one of the best national parks for tigers in India. Its fame rests on more than biodiversity. There is a lore to Corbett, stories that have lived in these forests for generations and still seem to hang in the air.

The Ramganga River threads through the park, sustaining one of the most scenic and biologically rich landscapes in India.

Flora:

Corbett’s landscape shifts from sal forests and stands of haldu, peepal, rohini and mango to open grasslands known as chaurs. These clearings draw prey species into the open, and often, the predators that follow them. Each zone feels distinct, moving from riverine belts to dense forest to wide plains.

Fauna:

If you have ever wondered what animals you can see on Indian safaris, Corbett answers generously. Beyond the Bengal tiger, the park is home to Asian elephants, leopards, Himalayan black bears, otters, langurs, barking deer and wild boar. The Dhikala zone is especially known for its elephant herds and tiger sightings along the riverbanks.

Avifauna (Birdlife):

With close to 600 recorded species, Corbett is a birder’s paradise. Watch for crested serpent eagles, fish owls, great hornbills, pheasants and kingfishers, while the wetlands draw ospreys, storks and migratory waterfowl.

A guided tiger safari in Corbett is less a checklist and more a slow reading of the forest. Mornings begin before light, with mist settling over the grasslands and alarm calls deciding the route. Tiger tracking here is a craft: your naturalist reads pugmarks on the track, the pitch of a langur’s warning, the sudden stillness of a deer herd. The jungle reveals itself at its own pace, and that is the point. Whether it is a tiger crossing a forest road or elephants wading the Ramganga at dusk, nothing here is staged and every sighting is earned. This is what an ethical tiger safari looks like.

Dhikala Forest Rest House

The Dhikala Forest Rest House is the most coveted address in Corbett, and for good reason. Staying inside the core zone offers:

• First light in the forest, before day visitors arrive
• Raw, uninterrupted jungle sounds through the night
• Wildlife watching from watchtowers and the surrounding grasslands

Note: Accommodation is limited and in high demand, and must be booked well in advance through official forest department channels.

Why Dhikala is a Photographer’s Paradise?

Dhikala is a fixture on serious wildlife photography tours in India, and the reasons are all around you:

• Vast open grasslands for action frames of elephants, deer herds and tigers on the move
• Misty mornings and golden winter light, widely considered the best season for wildlife photography in India
• The Ramganga as a natural backdrop for layered compositions
• Bird diversity that rewards patience as much as luck
  

The Safari:

Dhikala isn’t just a safari zone. It is an experience that takes you deep into the wild, far from the noise of city life. Whether you are here for tiger photography, to watch an elephant herd against the Himalayan foothills, or simply to listen to the jungle wake at dawn, Dhikala captures what a tiger safari in India is meant to feel like, and the soul of Corbett like no other.