Our Fancy Trips to the Jim Corbett National Park

When the city-life makes us breathless, we run for cover to the nearest haven, the Jim Corbett national park. The fun starts from booking tickets in Ranikhet Express, a train from from Delhi to Kathgodam, which has limited coaches for Ram Nagar (a town about 9 kms farther from the Corbett territory). After boarding in from the Old Delhi Railway Station at about 10.45 p.m., the train reaches Ram Nagar at about 5 o’ clock in the morning. And, then the moment you move out the station, you start feeling a different breeze—fresh and chilly, that can never be replicated by an AC or a deo. The condition remains that you enjoy it in early morning.

Most of the hotels/resorts are located at Dhikuli. All hotels in this belt are rather expensive, but they do provide cozy and fancy living at the foothills of the jungle. Almost all the hotels have the Kosi river in their backdrop which just roars in its season (post-monsoon).

We prefer to stay in Tiger Camp, a very hospitable resort in Dhikuli. They arrange pick-up from the station in their Maruti Gyspies, which make the morning ride quite windy and an eye-opener (literally). But, yes if you are covered well, you may enjoy them. Tiger Camp provides cozy cottages to live. It is also worth mentioning the Golghar-based buffet dining they provide. The menu is mainly Indian, served with English convenience. Not sure if they mastered these facilities, but now almost every hotel in that ring boasts of cottages, river-view, and similar eating arrangement. However, the hotel also has a trademark guide (aka naturalist) named Dhanu. A seasoned jungle and bird-watching expert who just pours his passion into the profession. Do request him to host the evening slide-show arranged around the bonfire. His jungle stories, animal tales, and tiger encounters will certainly leave you more literate about animals, trees, and birds around.

You can make a schedule of 1.5 or 2 days to spend here. Given below are our five must-dos here.

1. A safari in the jungle - From the Dhikuli area, jungle safaris (limited in number) are arranged via the Bijrani gate every morning and evening. Keep your fingers crossed for spotting a tiger. The guides (compulsory with every jeep) may keep you hooked for sometime by showing the tiger pugmarks and scratches. However, be ready to see lots of langoors, deers, and birds, beyond zoo.

Note: For Safaris, permission need to be obtained from the forest deptt at the Bijrani gate. Since limited jeeps can go (every morning and evening), include this while booking your hotel in advance; they manage it better.

2. The Corbett museum – From Dhikuli, you may also plan a 2 hour trip to the Corbett Museum in Kaladhungi. This museum is at the place where the great hunter stayed. Apart from his small statue, you can enjoy an illustrated museum with information about Corbett and national parks and Geography in general. In the other room, you can see stuffed corpses of Tigers that were hunted decades ago and are now in preserved state.

3. The Garjia temple - On a way back from the jungle, do visit the Garjia temple. Located on a small hill, the temple is surrounded by the Kosi river. A lot of locals from nearby areas come to worship devi, who is also known to protect the temple from drowning during floods in the Kosi river. There is a very small Shiv temple under the hill as well. Do move inside for a dekko and blessings of course.

Few meters away across the river is the Bhairon temple. People visit this temple in the end; however, the way to the temple requires one to cross the river over a fragile bridge, made up of cement stacks.

4. Sitabani jungle – About 22 kms from Ram Nagar is a pristine forest area. You will rarely come across any animal other than monkeys and deers. However, this jungle is not for watching animals. Come here to see how silent, dense, and expanse a jungle can be. In fact, you must not conclude to have seen a jungle until you see this one. A dense green forest consisting of tress of sal, kattha, and many more. A long and bumpy ride will take you to a small desolate ashram and temple, where Sitaji is said to have spent her years with Luv and Kush, in exile. The temple is very quite and unique in every sense. Plan your trip in mid-afternoon here, as going back from the lonely jungle might seem challenging.

5. Walks to the Kosi river every morning and at the time of sunset are very relaxing. You will get addicted to the moods of the river and the noise it makes by hitting the stones and boulders.

We call this trip a fancy trip because a real jungle trip is not supposed to be that cozy. The Dhikuli-Ramnagar area is located on the outer boundaries of the Corbett forest area . To see some non-bookish real-time jungle activity, plan a visit in the Dhikala area. Enlivened by the Ramganga river (the lifeline of the entire jungle), you have better chances of spotting prized animals like tuskers and tigers. For planning a trip to Dhikala, see more details on the KMVN site.

Note: The jungle is closed for safaris during the monsoon season. The best time to visit is between November to April. However, don't be surprised to see full hotels on any odd weekend as well. Book your stay in advance.