Corbett Tiger Reserve- A must-visit wildlife home for nature lovers

It was a chilled, frost, and foggy Saturday morning my wife and I went crazy when we drove approximately 250 KM from Delhi to Jim Corbett, Nainital, Uttarakhand. Jim Corbett- A perfect weekend escape from the chaotic corporate life of Delhi. While Delhi gives us livelihood, Jim Corbett pampers us with love, beauty and peace. 

Our Stay- 

Corbett Tiger reserve is divided into a total of 6 zones. The most attractive one is Dhikala Zone having the most beautiful landscape consisting of dense Sal forest, extensive grassland, narrow valley, and various channels of the Ramganga river.

Dhikala does not have any option of jeep safari for day visitors, but  you can book  canter safari. However, if you book your stay with Forest Rest House- Forest Department, Dhikala, jeep safari is available.  The authentic link for booking the night stay inside the forest rest house is only https://www.corbettonline.uk.gov.in/

Once you booked night stay, you can connect with authorized jeeps owners for safari (details mentioned on the authorized website of Forest dept). The jeep and driver will assist you from entering the forest until your checkout as you can not travel inside the forest with your personal car. You can book this package from a private travel agency as well, but they charge on the higher side, so better do booking and planning on your own.

Unfortunately, we could not get availability for Dhikala, ; hence we booked a room in Gairal Forest Rest House (FRH) . All these FRH are guarded by electric fencing to prevent any accident.

Pic1. Entry Gate : Corbett Tiger reserve | Dhangri Gate

Pic 2. Gairal FRH

It took us approx. Forty-five minutes from the main gate to reach Gairal FRH. On this travel, you can enjoy Sal forest and basic wildlife. Gairal FRH has both options of rooms and dormitory . We booked room with Ramganga river view at the backside. Room was adequately cleaned with all the required facilities.  As this FRH is inside the forest, hence  no network coverage, which in my opinion is the best part of this trip. This gave us ample time to enjoy the nature and scenic beauty . This guest house has solar panels for electricity supply.   

Food

Gairal Forest Rest House has one small canteen and one dining room where 10-15 people can sit comfortably and have meals. Here the food is simple and delicious. Consumption of any meat or fish or liquor is strictly prohibited while staying at Gairal. All staff at canteen and gairal forest rest house is local from the nearest village and very caring.

Jungle Safari 

 For the evening safari.,we started from Gairal at  1:30 PM and reached to the Gharial point within five mints. We spotted  three gharials and an alligator resting there on the riverside.

Pic. 3 Click from Ghariyal Point. 

In the next half hour, we entered the Dhikala grassland area. This area has maximum grassland; hence easy to spot tigers and elephants. We went through the best wildlife enjoying nature, grasslands, crossing wooden made crossing on channels of the Ramganga river.

Pic 4. Warm welcome by Sal forest into Dhikala

After a few minutes, we noticed  deer’s calls of continuously, and our guide asked the driver to move in that direction. After waiting silently for 10 minutes at a crossing spot, we noticed tiger coming out. It was the  moment for which we were waiting for, the tiger was moving in front of us and we were following him soon, he went inside and there were loud voices of deer and then a long silence. Our  guide told  us that the  tiger has killed the deer, most probably,  now tiger  will not  come out  for  3-4 days.

Pic 5. Royal Begal tiger spotted in Dhikala

While doing safari, we witnessed a group of elephants, though they were distant but were clearly visible from binoculars (it was available with guide). After such am incredible experience, we headed  back to our rest house.

Pic 6. Wooden Bridge crossing

Pic 7. Indian Muntjac (Barking Deer)

Champion Road

Next morning 7AM,   we did  safari again. This time we saw barking deer in front our guest house gate. Then the guide took us to the champion road, which is only one-way road, and elephants can be found here depending on the season. It’s the champion road because if an elephant attacks you, you can run just in front, which is blocked by the river channel so you can not cross it and must return from the same route and encounter an elephant attack. So here driver needs to be champion to cross it. The view at river point was much stunning in the morning.

Pic 8. Ramganga River morning view

Then we headed to Dhikla and  welcomed by Sal forest bowing on both sides.  While entering, we were feeling VIP as if someone exceptional is standing in honour.  The sunshine, droplets on the grass of grasslands and the natural colours were creating a magnificent  view which everyone would love to enjoy for a longer time.  The meeting point of grassland and river seems like the view of a Hollywood movie, which cannot be elaborated in words. 

Pic 9. Waterbody meeting forest

We in safari spotted various wildlife consisting of spotted deer, sambhar deer, hog deer, langurs, wild boars, crocodiles and many other animals and reptiles. 

Charge’s list- 

Guesthouse were INR 3526 per room per night.

Food- As per your choice. But the canteen is little expensive. 

Jeep operator- INR 6400 for both days. 

Guide Charges –  approx. 700 per safari. 

Pic 10. Spotting wildlife via binoculars.

Pic 11. Angry Bird

 

End to start

We ended our journey same day with an absolute promise of coming back to experience the same.  This journey was only for a single night stay but if anyone wants to enjoy nature can go for booking of up to maximum 3 nights. Further, once you are out and in your car, you can go nearby sightseeing such as Corbett fall and other places.

Leaving you here with some more amazing photos. If you are planning to visit this place, please feel free to connect with me. Also don’t forget to like, comment and share. 

Happy Reading!

Pic 12. River crossing by wildlife animal

Pic 13. Birds resting on part of dead tree. 

pic 14. Seems to be in stress 😊 

pic 15. B.Byee click of FRH.

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