Jim Corbett, also known as Edward James Corbett, was a British-Indian hunter, tracker, naturalist, and author who played a key role in the establishment of India's first national park, the Jim Corbett National Park, which was initially named Hailey National Park. The park is located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand, India.
The Corbett Forest Rest House also referred to as the Corbett Inspection Bungalow, is one of the accommodations within the Jim Corbett National Park. These rest houses provide visitors with the opportunity to stay within the park and experience its wildlife and natural beauty. However, it's important to note that access to the rest houses is controlled by the forest department, and visitors typically need to obtain permits to stay there.
These rest houses are situated in different zones of the national park, such as Sultan, Gairal, Sarapduli, Khinnanauli, Bijrani, Malani, Jhirna, Dhela, and Sonanandi, each offering a unique experience in terms of wildlife sightings and landscapes. Dhikala Zone is one of the most popular zones, known for its diverse flora and fauna, including the Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, and various species of deer and birds.
To stay at the Corbett Forest Rest House or any other accommodation within the national park, visitors usually need to make reservations through the official website of the forest department or contact them directly. It's recommended to plan and book well in advance, especially during peak seasons, as the demand for accommodations within the park can be high.
Corbett Forest Rest House - Inside Jim Corbett National Park 8 rest houses are Bijrani, Malani, Sultan, Gairal, Sarapduli, Khinnanauli, Dhela, and Jhirna Forest Rest House.
Bijrani is one of the prominent zones of the Corbett Tiger Reserve. Bijrani There is a Government forest rest house inside this zone that permits night stay in the lap of nature. The area in the Bijrani was once dedicated to shooting blocks during the British period. The area was much loved by the Shikaris as it offered quality game hunting. As far as the terrain of Bijrani is concerned it is drier and also has more diverse vegetation as compared to Dhikala.
Malani Forest rest house is situated deep inside the Corbett Tiger Reserve. In other words, it is about 20 km from the entry gate of the Bijrani zone. Malani Forest rest house has 2 rooms in total and an extra bed facility is available as per request. Both rooms have attached bathroom facilities and a dining area is common for both rooms. A hot water facility is also available and electricity here is provided in the evening time as it depends on solar power.
If we head towards Dhikala from Dhangarhi gate, Sultan is the first Forest Rest House we come across. This rest house is named after the seasonal stream running through that area called Sultan sot. It typifies the dense forest area of pure saal that occupy in the park.
This rest house can be accessed by a short detour of the Dhangarhi-Dhikala main forest road. The prime attraction of this rest house is that it lies on the banks of River Ramganga. Tourists staying here can experience crystal clear, fast-flowing mountain rivers running through the scenic forests. Situated in the lap of nature Gairal presents ideal conditions for nature watch and wildlife viewing.
Another forest rest house inside the Dhikala zone is Sarapduli that is located downstream of Gairal on the flat southern bank of the Ramganga. It is preferred by wildlife lovers as here one can spot movements of large mammals including tiger and elephants. It is also a perfect place to watch crocodiles and birdlife viewing.
Strategically located amid the Khinnanauli Chuar, this wonderful forest rest house is an excellent tiger territory. It has been developed recently in order to promote easy tourism to the various parts of the park.
Dhikala forest rest house needs not much introduction if we talk about wildlife tourism in Corbett. This well-known tourist destination is located at the edge of Patli Dun valley through which River Ramganga flows in numerous channels. Dhikala is an easy gateway to various parts of the park. The place offers a panoramic view of the valley with the Kanda ridge in the backdrop. The old Forest Rest House at Dhikala is a historic structure, built over a hundred years ago.
Jhirna: Jhirna is also a well-known forest house that lies just inside the southern boundary of the park. If we move from Ramnagar to Kalagarh road that runs in the east-west direction of the park, Jhirna lies on that particular road. If we talk about the landscape it is drier as compared to Dhikala and the vegetation is mostly scrub. The area in and around Jhirna was a farming village till 1994 when it was successfully relocated under project tiger. This important zone of the Corbett is a good habitat for tiger, elephant, deer, and mother interesting mammals like sloth bear and wild boar. Visitors can enjoy bird watching as many species of residents and migrated birds can be seen.
Jim Corbett Biography
