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Dhikala Forest Safari Zone

Jim Corbett National Park

The Jim Corbett Park is a beautiful natural reserved forest maintained meticulously by the forest department of India, as it is a natural gem which gives the regular visitors a chance to stare in the eyes of the natural wildlife. The forest is divided into several forest ranges which are carefully divided to give the visitors equal chances of tiger sightings. Out of these ranges the forest range which is the notorious for maximum tiger & other wildlife sightings is the Dhikala range. This is the finest & the most unspoilt natural range present at the Jim Corbett Park where you can easily spot a tiger, wild boar, deer, and other fauna in their natural beauty. The lodge at the Dhikala Forest safari zone was built in the year 1936 before independence. The range is situated on the edge of the Ramganga Reservoir overlooking the deeply forested Kumani & Garhwali hills. Dhikala canter safariin Jim Corbett reserve is the most popular tourist attraction of the reserve. If you need to reach a destination near this range, then can catch a train to Ramnagar Railway station & the range is literally just 50 kilometres’ drive from there.

The best way to tread the forest if you are coming with a big group is canter safari. Dhikala canter safari prices start from 1500 per head and can go up in season. The best part about the Dhikala Canter Safari is that it is maintained by the forest department itself, thus there are no requirement for additional permissions. Just book this mode of transport in advance, as only limited canter safari vehicles are available at the reserve forest.

  • Old Forest Rest House :- 5 rooms
  • New Forest Rest House :- 4 rooms
  • Annexe :- 7 rooms
  • Hutment :- 6 rooms
  • Cabin :- 3 rooms


Attractions

Canter Safari

Canter Safari in Corbett is the best option for those who reside outside the Dhikala Zone and wish to sight the wildlife of the area. Canter is a 16 seater open air bus that drives from Ramnagar to Dhikala and then back to Ramnagar. For canter safari also one needs to make prior booking using the official website.

Chaurs (Grass Lands)

Dhikala is famous for the vast grassland that is packed with Elephants, Spotted Deers, Wild pigs, Hog Deersetc. Often visitors can spot a wild Tiger crossing the grassland or chasing a deer.

Watch Tower

Watch tower situated at Dhikala is perfectly located and enables you to get an excellent view of wildlife which are come for grazing into the nearby chaurs, It also gives you an excellent view of entire ramganga riverbed as well as a large section of Dhikala chaur.
This watch tower is located at a 10 mins walk from Dhikala forest rest louse. There is a man made waterhole around fifty yards to the south of the watchtower which makes it the perfect place to spot Deers, elephants, wild pigs and occasionally a Tiger.

Crocodile Point at Gairal

Crocodile pool is located on the short cut from Gairal to the other rest houses west of it. It is also a balcony-like natural structure, which looks down upon a pool almost permanently inhabited by crocodiles.

Sambar Trail

This jungle track extends from the base of the Dhikala watchtower till the Khinanauli rest house. This area probably has the maximum sighting of tigers in the area.This is due to its ideal location between the hills on one side and the riverbed on the other. Most of the animals cross over in this area while moving down for water. Elephants are also frequent visitors to this track and it is important to be able to reverse your vehicle as easily as you drive it forward, if you plan to drive down this way just before sunset in the summer months. A couple of Serpant Eagles also had their nest high up in a tree beside this track. If patience is one of your virtues, it can almost be guaranteed that this track will not send you back disappointed.
One can spot several types of Deers when in the zone this includes Spotted Deer and others like Para (Axis pornicus), The Sambar (Cervus unicolor), Kakkar (Muntiacus muntjak) which is also called the barking deer due to the hoarse sound it makes resembling the bark of a Dog.
It is one of the best places on earth to spot a tiger and wild elephants.
This area is also bird watchers dream destination. The surrounding forests and the large water body supports a wide diversity of birds in the area.
The chances of spotting a sloth bear are very high in this section of forest. They are attracted by both termites and the sweet nectar of Mahua floweINR The bears have been recorded in intoxicated state when the Mahua ferments in their digestive system.


Dhikala Range Entry Timing

One can enter Dhikala range via Dhangarhi Gate and the entry timing to Dhikala range from this gate is 10:00 AM till 4:00 PM.
Corbett Tiger Reserve remains closed during the monsoons. All ecotourism zones of Corbett Tiger Reserve are closed to visitors for night halts from 15th June to 14th November. The Bijrani Zone remains closed for day visits from 30th June to 14th October. The Dhikala, Lohachaur and Sonanadi Tourism Zones are closed for day visits also from 16th June to 14th November. From 1st to 15th June, these ecotourism zones remains on standby mode and advance reservations are not done as during this time these zones can be shut down by Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve at short notice on considerations of visitor safety due to bad weather conditions.

Terms and Conditions

  • PHOTO ID Proofs: ADHAR CARD or DRIVING LICENCE or PASSPORT or PAN CARD or STUDENT ID or VOTER ID : that are Accepted - we require the number only - Scan copy is not required.
  • The First Traveller listed on the Booking form has to carry the same ID Proof as submitted for Booking Jeep Safari to visiting Corbett National Park.
  • All other Travellers also have to carry an ID Proof.
  • Charges are NON-REFUNDABLE.

Corbett FRH