About Jim Corbett National Park

Explore India's oldest national park, the legendary birthplace of Project Tiger, and Uttarakhand's premier wildlife safari destination.

Established in 1936 as Hailey National Park, Jim Corbett National Park holds the prestigious distinction of being India's very first national park. Located in the picturesque Nainital district of Uttarakhand, it is globally famous as the historic launchpad of "Project Tiger" in 1973. Spanning over 520 sq. km of pristine core area, the park’s dramatic landscape features sub-Himalayan hills, dense riverine belts, marshy depressions, sprawling grasslands (chaurs), and a massive lake.

Popular Safari Zones & The Ramganga River

To ensure incredible wildlife viewing and proper conservation, the park is divided into several highly sought-after ecotourism zones:

• Dhikala Zone: The most famous and coveted region, celebrated for its panoramic valley views, vast grasslands, and frequent Royal Bengal Tiger sightings.
• Bijrani & Jhirna Zones: Highly popular core areas offering excellent big cat tracking and dense forest landscapes.
• Dhela & Durgadevi Zones: Known for their rich birdlife, undisturbed wilderness, and scenic hilly beauty.

The lifeblood of these zones is the meandering Ramganga River, which acts as a vital water source and draws massive herds of wild Asian Elephants to its banks, especially during the hot summer months.

Birding Paradise & Core Night Stays

Beyond its famous tigers and elephants, Corbett is an absolute paradise for birdwatchers, boasting an astonishing record of over 600 avian species. What makes a Corbett jungle safari truly unparalleled in India is the exclusive opportunity for overnight stays deep inside the core jungle. Booking a night at the legendary Dhikala Forest Rest House allows nature enthusiasts to wake up to the haunting alarm calls of deer and experience the raw, unfiltered sounds of the Himalayan wilderness.