Distinctive Safari Zones in Jim Corbett National Park

Jim Corbett National park is a beautiful landscape of lush green forests and water tributaries that run through the arena of 540 square kilometers.  The exuberant beauty of the place attracts a very high number of tourist foot fall to the park from all over the world. The place offers an experience of a lifetime to tourists to take home with them.

Situated in the state of Uttarakhand, Jim Corbett is home to the mighty Royal Bengal Tiger. To discover the exclusivity of wilderness and nature, Jim Corbett Safari is an exceptional way to check off an adventure from your bucket list on a vacation. The place also hosts a number of jim Corbett resorts near river.

The vast grasslands are broadly divided into 5 distinctive Safari zones namely - Dhikala, Bijrani, Jhirna, Dhela and Durgadevi where tourists can enter the forests and witness the animals in their natural habitat. There are three types of Safaris offered to the tourists in these regions: Jeep Safari, Canter Safari and Elephant Safari. Each types promises to provide you with an enthralling perspective of the exquisite Jim Corbett along with its splendid creatures. The buffer zone hosts distinctive categories of Jim Corbett resorts near river. A wildlife enthusiast must try a safari tour in the habitat as it is known as one of the best jungle safaris in India. One must choose a jim Corbett resort near river that offers various indulging activities coupled with Safari tours of choice.

The five zones have distinctive gate and timings fixed by the government in order to streamline the Corbett Tiger Reserve management and for the convenience of the tourists. The regulations are formulated to achieve a balance between the management and convenience of the tourists, both with a motive to cause minimal disruption possible to the habitat. The four zones along with their specification of timings and transport are provided below for easy understanding of prospective visitors.

  

Dhikala Zone

Best time to visit: Mid of November to Mid of June

Entry Gate: Dhangadi Gate

Safari type offered: Canter Safari

As one of the largest zones of the Corbett national park, Dhikala zone is situated 32 kilometers from Ramnagar. The zone is open from 15 of November to 15^th of June. With ample amount of resorts and hotels, the tourists get to enjoy their stay amid the wilderness of Corbett. Besides this, the zone is famous for its delightful natural beauty as well as for providing the sight of discreet exotic fauna species like the Bengal Tigers, Elephants, Deer, Chital, Vulture, Teal, Dove, Crocodile, Cobra, etc.

  

Jhirna Zon 

 

Best time to visit: October to June End

Entry Gate: Jhirna Gate

Safari type offered: Day Jeep Safari

Included as a part of the tiger reserve in 1994, Jhirna is an integral tourist zone in the Jim Corbett National Park. Located at a distance of 16 kilometers from Ramnagar, the zone is easy to access by the tourists and has rest house facility for the visitors. It is famous for spotting the sight of the wild bear.

Bijrani Zone

Best time to visit: Mid of October to June End

Entry Gate: Amdanda Gate

Safari type: Jeep Safari

Swaying grasslands with lush Sal forests and various other diversified Flora species define the Bijrani Zone at its best. The zone is situated at a distance of 1 kilometer from the city of Ramnagar and is famous for its encounters with distinctive animal species such as Elephants, Monkeys, Tigers, Chital and Deer. One can also enjoy the wonderful skies full of beautiful birds flying high. Attaining a forest rest house at this zone is easy.

Durga Devi Zone

Best time to visit: Mid November to End of June

Entry Gate: Durga Devi Gate

Safari type: Day Safari

Situated at a distance of 28 kilometers from Ramnagar, Durga Devi Zone is a place best known for Bird Watching. You can spot Bird species like Grey Headed Fishing Eagle, Black Chinned Yuhina, Maroon Orile and Crested Laughing Thrushor-a Long Tailed Broadbill. This zone is also known as the breeding zone for the Mahaseer.

   

Sitabani Buffer Zone

Best time to visit: October to June End

Entry Gate: Near Teda Village.

Safari Type: Jeep Safari, Day Elephant Safari

The zone does not fall under the Corbett Tiger Reserve and is actually just a buffer forest area. The Sitabani zone is known for its temple and innumerable avifauna species leading to a great Bird Watching experience for the Bird Watchers.

The Glittering Rivers of Jim Corbett National Park

The rivers of Jim Corbett are magnificent ornaments to the majestic forests. As a lifeline to the forest life, these water bodies serve as an integral source.  There are many resorts in Jim Corbett that offer a river view stay to their guests to enhance their overall experience of the jungle vacation. There are Jim Corbett packages during particular seasons that one can avail to witness the rivers in their season when they are in their fuller fiercer sight. 

 

A couple of rivers of the place are:

 

1. Ramganga River

 

Known as the river of existential importance of the Jim Corbett, Ramganga River is the largest river streaming through the terrain of the forestlands. In the year of 1954 to 1955, the park was named after the river Ramganga as ‘Ramganga National Park’ before being changed into ‘Corbett National Park’ in 1956.

The river initiates its journey form the Gairsain region of the lesser Himalayas and flows to a stretch of 100 kilometers before entering into the forestland of the Corbett National Park. It flows through the eastern section to the western section of the park for a distance of about 40 kilometers till Kalagarh. From Kalagarh, the river enters into the plains. A dam on the Ramganga River was built in the year 1970’s as a reservoir that is spread over an area of 80 kms. The backwaters of this dam reach the Dhikala Zone of the park.

Many species of Kingfishers, Storks, Fish Eagles and Terns can be found in the region where the river flows. During the winter season many migratory birds are lured towards the river. The river contains some rare aquatic species including turtles, otters, crocodiles, gharials and the rare species of mahaseer.

2. Sonanadi

 

The name Sonandi depicts ‘the river of gold’. In the trivial times, the river contained muddy deposits of gold that trickled down from the upper regions. The deposits were obtained from the riverbed henceforth. A tributary to the major river of Corbett- Ramganaga, Sonandi River is the major inspiration for naming an adjacent wildlife sanctuary to Jim Corbett - Sonandi Wildlife Sanctuary. 

As an integral part of the Corbett’s water resource, Sonanadi flows from the northwest side of the park and bumps into the Ramganga River, at its reservoir. One must book a resort in Jim Corbett that is near a river to absorb the magical experience of living next to a river within the jungles.

3. Kosi

 

Kosi river is one of the very important water bodies  of the jungles. It makes for the major thirst quenching source for the wild animals. The river flows alongside the eastern periphery of the park, from Mohan till Ramnagar via Dhikuli. With an unpredictable course, the river is known to change its direction pretty often.

4. Mandal and Palain

 

The Mandal River is a stretch of 32 kms that flows along the eastern elevations in Chamoli.  The river meets Ramganga at Domunda. The river sees it’s gushing potential in the months of monsoon while the summers make it more of a light water body. The river also stands as an important breeding ground for the Mahaseer fish that is rare to the region of Corbett National Park.

 

Palain makes for the third integral tributary of the Ramganga River. Palain River joins Ramganga almost 3 kilometers north of the Boxar settlement at the reservoir of the Ramganga.

5. Sots - Seasonal Streams

 

Sots are seasonal streams found in the park and are important to the wild animals as it makes for a quintessential drinking water resource. There are quite a few sots in the park that are vital such as Jhirna, Garjia, Paterpani, Dhara, Kothirao and Laldhang. These sots are responsible for closing of the park in the monsoon season as they wash away all the paths whereas some animals use these as guides to their pathways. These sots are surrounded by bamboo clumps and evergreen bushes and shrubs contributing to the ecosystem of the jungle.

These rivers are a divine source for the natural park that contributes to the successful existence of the ecosystem. These sources make for the best fishing and angling spots for the tourists. However, one must have proper permits while planning such activities. These rivers lure out the wildlife and play a major role in animal sightseeing for the safari tourists. A tourist must seek a suitable time and book a Jim Corbett package to save on the cost and get the most of the jungle experience.