Jeep safari
An open jeep and a guide take you through the reserve. Most zones, such as Bijrani and Jhirna, start from Ramnagar town. Book only at corbettgov.org, since copy-cat sites exist, and tickets can't be refunded.
2 to 3 daysHow long to stay
Not confirmedRough cost
Couples, Families, FriendsWho it suits
Uttarakhandthe Himalaya
Is this for you?
Corbett is a safari stay, so don't come expecting to hike. You get up before dawn, ride in an open jeep and rest between drives. Tigers are never guaranteed, so make the drives the point. It suits couples, friends and families. Skip it if you're solo and watching your money, because you pay for a whole jeep.
When to go
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Go in the coloured months. The black ones are best avoided.
What to do
Night stay at Dhikala
Sleep inside the reserve at this forest rest house, open 15 November to 15 June. Foreigners pay Rs 10,450 for a room for two, safari permit included. Book well ahead.
Corbett Museum
A museum about the reserve and the hunter-turned-conservationist it's named after, handy for the hours before an afternoon safari. Check its location and opening hours locally.
Durga Devi birding drive
Come to the Durgadevi zone if you're here for the birds. It's open 15 November to 15 June.
Riverside days in Ramnagar
Many resorts in this gateway town sit beside the river. A slow morning there fits nicely between safaris.
What to eat
You'll eat most meals at your lodge, and that's fine, because safaris set the day here. Ask ahead for Kumaoni cooking, the hill food of this region, since standard menus lean North Indian.
Aloo ke gutke
Potatoes tossed with hill spices, a simple Kumaoni side. Ask your lodge whether its kitchen makes a Kumaoni plate.
Vegetarian
Bal mithai
A brown fudge of roasted milk solids rolled in small white sugar balls, from Almora in Kumaon. Buy a box as you pass through.
Vegetarian
Bhatt ki dal
A dark lentil dish made from a local black soybean, eaten with rice across Kumaon.
Vegetarian
Madua roti
Flatbread of finger millet, darker and denser than wheat. It usually comes with a Kumaoni thali, a set plate.
Vegetarian
Where to go
Dhikala RestaurantAahana Resort, Ramnagar
A Kumaoni thali, a set plate of regional dishes with millet roti. Ask ahead.
A treatTreetopTaj Corbett Resort, Dhikuli
Multi-cuisine hotel dining when you want a long dinner after a dawn drive.
A treat
Getting there
Head for Ramnagar, the normal gateway. An overnight train gets there before dawn. By road from Delhi it's about 240 km, and a map estimate of about 3 hours 45 minutes probably runs short on hill-foot roads. From Rishikesh it's about 172 km by road.
Where to stay
Dhikala rest house For sleeping inside the reserve. It's only open 15 November to 15 June, so book well ahead.
Ramnagar town and riverside resorts The normal base, with resorts along the river and the reserve office in town.
Worth knowing
Permit
A foreigner's day permit is Rs 6,680, plus vehicle (Rs 2,700 to 3,000) and guide (Rs 1,000), and one foreigner puts the group on foreign rates. Permits cover up to 6, so check the live page for pricing, and check foreign night-stay booking windows, given as 90 and 45 days.
Safety
Book safaris and rest-house stays only at corbettgov.org, as many look-alike sites aren't authorised. Tickets can't be refunded or transferred, and the original ID details are required.
Opening
Check your zone's dates: Jhirna and Dhela all year, Bijrani 15 October to 30 June, Dhikala, Durgadevi, Sonanadi and Pakhro 15 November to 15 June. July to September, only year-round zones open.
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