Jim Corbett National Park — The Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about India's most iconic wildlife destination — history, geography, zones, wildlife, seasons, photography and conservation. Written by Jungle Junction naturalists who live and work in the Corbett landscape.
India's First National Park
Jim Corbett National Park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park — the first national park in India and in Asia. It was renamed after Jim Corbett, the legendary British-Indian hunter and conservationist who lived in the Kumaon hills and wrote the celebrated Man-Eaters of Kumaon.
Corbett became one of the nine tiger reserves established under Project Tiger in 1973 — the programme that pulled the Bengal tiger back from near-extinction. Today it is home to over 260 tigers, the highest density in any tiger reserve in the country.
The park spans 1,318 sq km across the Ramnagar, Lansdowne and Pauri Garhwal forest divisions, flanked by the Ramganga River reservoir to the north, the Kosi River to the east, and the outer Himalayan range to the north and west.
Corbett at a Glance
Who Lives in Jim Corbett
Bengal Tiger
Corbett's most celebrated resident. 260+ tigers roam the reserve — the largest single-reserve population in India. Dhikala, Bijrani and Dhela offer the best sighting rates.
Asian Elephant
Corbett has a thriving elephant population of 600+. Dhikala reservoir hosts herds of 50–100. Elephant-human conflict in buffer zones is actively managed by the Forest Department.
Leopard
India's most adaptable big cat. Every zone in Corbett has resident leopards — Jhirna and Bijrani have the most reliable sightings. Nocturnal and highly elusive.
Mugger Crocodile
The Ramganga and Kosi Rivers have thriving mugger populations. Garjiya sandbars host the largest concentrations — 30–40 individuals basking simultaneously in winter.
Birds (580+ Species)
Corbett is a world-class birding destination — crested serpent eagle, pied kingfisher, great hornbill, osprey and 25+ owl species. Garjiya is the premier birding zone.
Sloth Bear
Corbett has a healthy sloth bear population, most visible in Jhirna and Dhikala zones. They are best spotted at termite mounds and rocky outcrops in the morning.
The 8 Safari Zones of Jim Corbett
Bijrani
Best for first-timers. High tiger probability. 8 km from Jungle Junction.
Guide →Dhikala
Crown jewel. Grasslands, reservoir, highest tiger density.
Guide →Jhirna
Open year-round. Sloth bear, leopard, monsoon specialist.
Guide →Garjiya
Kosi River. 600+ birds. Crocodile. Birdwatcher's paradise.
Guide →Dhela
Buffer zone. Year-round. Leopard, crocodile, winter birding.
Guide →Durga Devi
Mountain rivers, Himalayan birds, Northern zone.
Guide →Sitabani
Buffer zone. Walking safari option. Hornbill & wild dog.
Guide →Phato
Marsh & grassland. Seasonal birds, hog deer, crocodile.
Guide →Useful Guides for Your Corbett Trip
Best Time to Visit
Month-by-month weather, zones and wildlife activity guide.
Read →How to Reach
Train, road and flight routes from Delhi and beyond.
Read →Safari Zone Guide
Full zone comparison — timings, fees, wildlife, tips.
Read →Stay + Safari Packages
All-inclusive packages from Jungle Junction.
View →Ready to Experience Jim Corbett?
Stay at Jungle Junction — 8 km from Bijrani, 35 km from Dhikala. We handle permits, guides and transfers.