Jim Corbett National Park: Cab Travel Guide from Bareilly
India's oldest national park and the birthplace of Project Tiger sits just 160 km from Bareilly. Here's your complete guide to reaching it.
Jim Corbett is India's oldest national park and the birthplace of Project Tiger, and it sits about 160 km from Bareilly — close enough for a weekend, far enough that the drive deserves an early start. The route runs through Kashipur and Ramnagar, and takes roughly four hours.
Which zone can you enter?
The park is divided into zones, and which one you can enter depends on the season and on how far ahead you book. Dhikala is the best known and requires an overnight stay inside the park; Bijrani and Jhirna are the usual day-safari zones. Jhirna and Dhela stay open through the year, while Dhikala and Bijrani close during the monsoon, roughly mid-June to mid-November.
Booking the safari
Safari permits are limited and released online in advance. In the winter season they routinely sell out weeks ahead, so book the permit before the accommodation. Morning safaris start around sunrise and afternoon slots run until dusk; the morning drive is generally better for sightings.
When to visit
November to February is the most comfortable period for weather. March to June is hotter but gives better odds of a tiger sighting, since the animals concentrate around the remaining water. Even then, treat a sighting as a bonus — the birdlife, the sal forest and the Ramganga riverbed make the trip worthwhile regardless.
Most lodges sit around Ramnagar and Dhikuli, within twenty minutes of the entry gates. An SUV is the sensible booking for this route: the last stretch to some of the resorts is unpaved, and the extra clearance matters after rain.
