Two days fit two morning safaris in two different zones and the sights outside the park. Day one is a Bijrani safari, then Garjiya Devi Temple and the Dhangarhi museum, about 41 km and back by about 12:30. Day two is a Jhirna safari, then Corbett Falls, Jim Corbett's house and his village at Kaladhungi, about 88 km and back by about 15:50. No sight here closes on a fixed weekday.
7 places129 km by cabtimed against opening hours
Day 1
Bijrani safari, Garjiya Devi and Dhangarhi
A morning jeep safari in Bijrani, about 06:30 to 10:30. Then the cab takes you up the Kosi valley to Garjiya Devi Temple and the park museum at Dhangarhi gate. About 41 km by cab, back in Ramnagar by about 12:30 for lunch and a free afternoon, or an evening safari.
06:15 to 12:263 places41 km by cab
1Bijrani safari zone (Amdanda Gate)
2Garjiya Devi Temple
3Dhangarhi Museum
Back
★
Leave Ramnagar
3.4 km · 5 min by cab
1
Bijrani safari zone (Amdanda Gate)
4 h here
The most popular jeep safari zone, a few minutes from Ramnagar. It has open grassland, sal forest and streams, and is one of the better zones for seeing tigers and elephants.
Jungle safarisTwo shifts a day, from 15 October to 30 June. From October to mid-February about 06:30 to 10:30 and 13:30 or 14:00 to 17:30 or 18:00; later in the year from about 05:45 and to 19:00
Tip: Our pick for a first safari. Book the permit only on booking.corbettgov.org, as there are many look-alike sites. A cab cannot go in: you ride in a registered jeep with a guide, up to 6 people. From July to mid-October Bijrani is closed, so book Jhirna or Dhela instead.
12 km · 13 min by cab
2
Garjiya Devi Temple
30 min here
A small temple to the goddess Garjiya, built on top of a big rock in the middle of the Kosi river. You cross a bridge and climb steps up the rock. It is the best-known temple near Corbett.
TemplesAbout 06:00 to 12:00 and 16:00 to 20:00; some listings say open all day to 18:00
Tip: Entry is free. Leave shoes at the bottom. The crowds are biggest at Kartik Purnima in November. In the monsoon the river runs high and the steps can close.
5.8 km · 7 min by cab
3
Dhangarhi Museum
45 min here
The park's visitor centre at Dhangarhi gate, on the road north of Garjiya. It explains the forest and its animals, with a room that shows the jungle at night and plays animal calls. It is a good stop for children.
Jim Corbett's storyAbout 09:00 to 17:00 (one listing says from 08:00)
Tip: Expect a small fee (about Rs 20). This is the gate for Dhikala, but a cab cannot go past it. Dhikala has no day jeep safaris, only the Canter bus tour or a night in the forest lodge.
19.5 km · 21 min by cab back
★
Back at Ramnagar
Day 2
Jhirna safari, Corbett Falls and Kaladhungi
A morning jeep safari in Jhirna, a different forest from Bijrani, about 06:30 to 10:30 from Dhela gate. Then Corbett Falls, lunch, Jim Corbett's house at Kaladhungi, and a walk in Chhoti Haldwani, the village he built. About 88 km by cab, a little over the usual 80, back in Ramnagar by about 15:50. Works on any day.
06:05 to 15:494 places88 km by cab
1Jhirna and Dhela safari zones (Dhela Gate)
2Corbett Falls
Lunch
3Jim Corbett Museum, Kaladhungi
4Chhoti Haldwani Village
Back
★
Leave Ramnagar
13.2 km · 20 min by cab
1
Jhirna and Dhela safari zones (Dhela Gate)
4 h here
Two safari zones on the south-west side of the park, entered from Dhela gate, about 13 km west of Ramnagar by road. Jhirna is mostly dry forest and grassland, and both stay open in the monsoon.
Jungle safarisTwo shifts a day, all year when the roads allow. Same shift times as the other zones
Tip: Our pick for a second safari, as the forest is different from Bijrani's, and the one to book from July to mid-October. Book on booking.corbettgov.org. Heavy rain can stop safaris for the day, so keep a spare shift in mind from July to September.
38.7 km · 48 min by cab
2
Corbett Falls
1 h here
A waterfall in a teak forest near Kaladhungi, where the water drops about 20 m into a pool. The forest department runs it as an eco park with a path through the trees.
Falls & riversAbout 07:00 to 17:00 (one listing says from 06:00)
Tip: Expect a fee of about Rs 50 for adults. The cab stops at the gate and you walk in. Swimming and bathing in the pool are not allowed.
Lunch, about 1 h. Your driver will know a place nearby. The times after this include it.
3.5 km · 5 min by cab
3
Jim Corbett Museum, Kaladhungi
45 min here
The winter home of Jim Corbett, the hunter who became a writer and helped save this forest. The old stone house keeps his letters, photos and furniture, with a small garden around it.
Jim Corbett's storyAbout 09:00 to 17:00; the park's site says 07:00 to 18:00, closed only on Holi
Tip: There is a small fee; listings give different amounts. Reading his book Man-Eaters of Kumaon before you go makes the visit mean more. Chhoti Haldwani village is right behind the house.
1.8 km · 2 min by cab
4
Chhoti Haldwani Village
1 h here
The village Jim Corbett built for local farmers, right behind his house. You can still see the stone wall he put up to keep wild animals out of the fields, and the meeting place where he sat with the villagers.
Jungle safarisA village; visit in daylight?
Tip: A village group runs a heritage walk of about 3.5 km that takes about 2 hours. The plans give one hour for a short walk; ask at the museum about the full one.
30.8 km · 39 min by cab back
★
Back at Ramnagar
Drive times come from road routing without traffic. The roads round Ramnagar are mostly flat and good, but the Kaladhungi road passes through forest and slows for villages and wildlife, and the Garjiya road is busy on festival days. Opening hours marked ? are not yet confirmed, so check them before you go.
Book a cab for these 2 days
Call or message a local Jim Corbett operator with this plan. Tell them your hotel and dates, and they send a price for the car and driver.
2 × full day, 8 h / 80 kmSedan, SUV or InnovaPrice from the operator
We are still listing Jim Corbett operators. Write to [email protected] and we will put you in touch.
Opening times for this plan
The hours we planned around. Check before you go on a public holiday.
Place
Open
Best time
Visit
Bijrani safari zone (Amdanda Gate)
Two shifts a day, from 15 October to 30 June. From October to mid-February about 06:30 to 10:30 and 13:30 or 14:00 to 17:30 or 18:00; later in the year from about 05:45 and to 19:00
The morning shift, when animals are most active.
4 h
Garjiya Devi Temple
About 06:00 to 12:00 and 16:00 to 20:00; some listings say open all day to 18:00
Morning, before the midday closure and the tour groups.
30 min
Dhangarhi Museum
About 09:00 to 17:00 (one listing says from 08:00)
Late morning, after it opens.
45 min
Jhirna and Dhela safari zones (Dhela Gate)
Two shifts a day, all year when the roads allow. Same shift times as the other zones
The morning shift. From July to mid-October these are the only zones open for jeep safaris.
4 h
Corbett Falls
About 07:00 to 17:00 (one listing says from 06:00)
July to October, when the water is high.
1 h
Jim Corbett Museum, Kaladhungi
About 09:00 to 17:00; the park's site says 07:00 to 18:00, closed only on Holi
Bijrani one morning and Jhirna the other. They are different forests, so you see more than two drives in one zone. From July to mid-October Bijrani is closed: book Jhirna and Dhela instead.
Is 2 days enough for Jim Corbett?+
Yes, for most people. You get two safaris and see Garjiya Devi and Kaladhungi. Add an evening safari on day one, after the free afternoon, if you want a third.
Which order should the two days go in?+
Either, as the permits allow. Bijrani is close to Ramnagar, so it suits a day when you arrive late the night before.
Is Dhikala worth it?+
Dhikala has the most open grassland and animals, but it has no day jeep safaris. You go on the Canter bus tour from Ramnagar or stay a night in the forest lodge, both booked on the same site.