Best Places to Visit in Jim Corbett for a Tiger Safari
Spread across the foothills of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand, Jim Corbett National Park is India's oldest national park and one of the country's most searched names for a wildlife safari. Established in 1936 as Hailey National Park and renamed in 1956 after the legendary hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett, the park was founded to protect the Bengal tiger, making it the birthplace of Project Tiger in 1973.
For travellers researching the best places to visit in Corbett, the destination pairs dense sal forests, grassy chaurs, and the Ramganga river with a genuine chance of a tiger sighting, all within a few hours' drive of Delhi. The park's core lies within the Corbett Tiger Reserve, a roughly 1,288 sq. km. reserve with a core area of about 822 sq. km., divided into safari zones such as Dhikala, known for its grasslands and the highest concentration of tigers, Bijrani, popular for shorter day safaris, and Jhirna, which stays open through the monsoon when other zones close.
Beyond the jungle safari, Corbett draws birdwatchers too, with over 550 species recorded across the reserve, earning it recognition as an Important Bird Area. Nearby, the cliffside Garjia Devi Temple on the banks of the Kosi river and Choti Haldwani, the model village Jim Corbett himself helped build, add heritage layers to the trip, while the gateway town of Ramnagar sits roughly 277 km from Delhi and about 63 km from the hill station of Nainital.
Our Resort(s) at CORBETT
Important Information
State: Uttarakhand
District: Nainital (park also extends into Pauri Garhwal and Almora)
Destination Type: Jungle & Wildlife Reserve
Nearest Railway Station: Ramnagar Railway Station
Nearest Airport:Pantnagar Airport, with Delhi serving as the main gateway for most flight connections
Languages: Hindi, Kumaoni
Summer (March to June): Warms up toward 40°C on the plains; widely regarded as the best season for tiger sightings, with all zones open until 15 June
Monsoon (July to mid-October): Heavy rain floods forest tracks, closing Dhikala, Bijrani and Durga Devi; Jhirna, Dhela, Sitabani and Garjia stay open with limited slots
Winter (November to February): Cool and pleasant with misty mornings; nearly all safari zones are open, making it the most popular season for sightseeing
● Most travellers fly into Delhi rather than Pantnagar, since Pantnagar's flight frequency is limited; plan for a road transfer either way.
● Book safari permits well ahead of time, particularly for the Dhikala and Bijrani zones, which fill up fast in the November to June season.
● A stay at the Dhikala forest rest house needs to be booked far in advance if you want to spend a night inside the reserve.
● Carry warm clothing for early winter safaris, when misty mornings can feel considerably colder than the daytime temperature suggests.
● During the monsoon, only the Jhirna, Dhela, Sitabani and Garjia zones stay open, so confirm zone availability before finalising a monsoon-season trip.
Quick Facts About Jim Corbett
Our Resort in Corbett
Sterling Riverview Jim Corbett
Set deep in Marchula village on a 3-acre property overlooking the Ramganga river and the Shivalik hills, Sterling Riverview Jim Corbett is a remote retreat for travellers who want their Corbett trip to feel unhurried. The resort's 42 rooms and suites range from the 320 sq. ft. Classic Room with mountain or river views and the 400 sq. ft. Cottage with Mountain View and Sit-Out, to the River View Room with Sit-Out and the Riverview Privilege Suite with Balcony facing the water, and the 2 Bedroom River View Suite with Terrace, a king-bedded retreat with a separate living area.
Sterling Quinta Jim Corbett
Tucked into the quiet Bail Parao–Kaladhungi belt of Ramnagar, Sterling Quinta Jim Corbett is a peaceful retreat built for travellers who want their Corbett trip to feel spacious. The resort's 46 rooms across five garden-facing categories include the 374 sq. ft. Premier Room, the 390 sq. ft. Gardenia Room with Sit-Out with a private outdoor seating area, and the 390 sq. ft. Duplex Family Room spread over two levels. Larger options include the 658 sq. ft. Grande Suite with a private balcony and the 590 sq. ft. Plunge Pool Room with Courtyard, with its own private courtyard and plunge pool.
Location & Information
State: Uttarakhand
District: Nainital (park also extends into Pauri Garhwal and Almora)
Destination Type: Jungle & Wildlife Reserve
Nearest Railway Station: Ramnagar Railway Station
Nearest Airport:Pantnagar Airport, with Delhi serving as the main gateway for most flight connections
Languages: Hindi, Kumaoni
● Most travellers fly into Delhi rather than Pantnagar, since Pantnagar's flight frequency is limited; plan for a road transfer either way.
● Book safari permits well ahead of time, particularly for the Dhikala and Bijrani zones, which fill up fast in the November to June season.
● A stay at the Dhikala forest rest house needs to be booked far in advance if you want to spend a night inside the reserve.
● Carry warm clothing for early winter safaris, when misty mornings can feel considerably colder than the daytime temperature suggests.
● During the monsoon, only the Jhirna, Dhela, Sitabani and Garjia zones stay open, so confirm zone availability before finalising a monsoon-season trip.
Summer (March to June): Warms up toward 40°C on the plains; widely regarded as the best season for tiger sightings, with all zones open until 15 June
Monsoon (July to mid-October): Heavy rain floods forest tracks, closing Dhikala, Bijrani and Durga Devi; Jhirna, Dhela, Sitabani and Garjia stay open with limited slots
Winter (November to February): Cool and pleasant with misty mornings; nearly all safari zones are open, making it the most popular season for sightseeing
Best Time to Visit
November to February – Winter, Peak Safari Season
Winter is the most popular window for a Jim Corbett safari, with cool, pleasant days and misty mornings. By mid-November, the Dhikala and Durga Devi zones reopen for the season after the monsoon closure, joining Bijrani, which opens in mid-October, so nearly all safari zones are accessible.
March to June – Summer, Best for Tiger Sightings
As temperatures climb toward 40°C on the plains, wildlife gathers more often around waterholes and the Ramganga river, making summer widely regarded as the best season for tiger sightings in Corbett. All safari zones, including Dhikala and Bijrani, remain open until 15 June, right before the monsoon closures begin, so this period offers a last window for a full-zone jungle safari before the rains set in.
July to mid-October – Monsoon, Quiet & Green
Heavy rain floods the forest tracks leading into Dhikala, Bijrani, and Durga Devi, so these zones close for the season, while the Jhirna, Dhela, Sitabani, and Garjia zones stay open with limited safari slots.
For the best mix of pleasant weather and open safari zones, plan a Jim Corbett trip between November and June. If a tiger sighting is the priority, aim for the summer months of April to June, when animals cluster around water sources. Travellers who prefer fewer crowds and don't mind limited zone access can consider the monsoon months, when only Jhirna, Dhela, Sitabani and Garjia remain open.
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