Jim Corebtt Dhikala Canter Safari
1. Timing of winter safari-
Morning safari entry – 06:55 and exit – 12:00.
Evening safari entry -12:25 and exit – 17:30.
2. Timing of Summer Safari –
Morning safari entry – 06:00 and exit – 11:00.
Evening safari entry – 12:00 and exit – 17:00.
dhikala canter safari
Dhikala is the primary zone of the Jim Corbett National Park where overnight stays in the middle of the jungle are also allowed. We also provide complete tour package of Dhikala tourist zone which includes Jeep & Canter Safari Permit and accommodation in Dhikala zone forest rest houses. Dhikala Canter Safari operates only from 15th November to 15th June every year. It is closed for the rest of the time due to the rainy season.
Dhikala Jeep Safari:
Unlike other zones of Corbett National Park, Dhikala zone does not offer jeep safari for day visitors. Jeep safari in Dhikala can be enjoyed only by tourists who have reservation in the forest lodges located in the zone. After you get permission to spend the night at any FRH in the zone, you need to hire a Jeep with a driver and a naturist to get to the park and visit your reserved forest house. Once you reach the park, you can explore the jungle and its flora and fauna throughout the day at the prescribed time.
A perfect example of untouched natural beauty is the Dhikala Ecotourism Zone with the most scenic landscape in the Corbett National Park. It is extremely rich in wildlife diversity and is the most sought after tourist zone in India. The Dhikala zone is the largest of the five zones of the Corbett Tiger Reserve with the most beautiful landscape consisting of dense Sal forest, large grasslands, narrow valleys and various channels of the Ramganga river. Ramganga river is considered as the lifeline of the Corbett forest which enriches the rustic beauty of the wilderness and nurtures the flora and fauna of Corbett.
The main attraction among the vibrantly rich wildlife in the Dhikala zone is the Royal Bengal Tiger and Asian Elephants. To the delight of tourists, this area is quite populated by these large animals, and therefore tourists were most often gifted with graceful sightings of Bengal tigers and herds of Asian elephants. Dhikala zone named after the large Dhikal grasslands which are the largest grasslands in the Corbett reserve landscape. Apart from tigers and elephants, the zone is home to a large number of diverse wild fauna consisting of leopards, spotted deer, sambhar deer, pigs, langurs, wild boars, crocodiles and many other animals and reptiles.
Dhikala Elephant Safari @ Temporarily Closed
Elephant safari in the dense forest is the best way to explore the rich flora and fauna of the park and it is also the most exciting safari experience as tourists can see the animals from a very close distance compared to Jeep and Canter safari. . Dhikala zone also offers elephant safari but this can only be enjoyed by tourists staying at Dhikala forest lodge. The safari uses a limited number of elephants and is a first-come, first-served service, so the phrase “the early bird can get the worm” applies here. You have to pay for the elephant safari on the spot at the elephant camp as there is no advance booking. Elephant safari is not organized on Mondays, so if you want to enjoy elephant safari, plan your overnight stay at Dhikale accordingly. Note: Elephant safaris in Corbett are currently banned by the Dehradun High Court order under the Wildlife Protection Act.
Attractions in Dhikala Zone:
Canter safari is conducted by Corbett forest officials in Dhikala zone to provide an opportunity to explore the rich wildlife of the zone. Canter safari is the only option for wildlife lovers who stay outside Dhikala tourist zone and want to visit this area as Day Jeep safari is not conducted for this zone. The Canter is an open 16 seater bus and a seat in the Canter can be booked online or at the Corbett National Park office in Ramnagar. The starting point of the Canter Safari is Ramnagar Corbett office, so tourists can board the Canter here for the safari if they have a pre-booked permit. During the day safari, the Canter stops for a while at the Dhikala forest rest house and the tourists can get down from the Canter, freshen up, walk around the premises and also enjoy the beauty of the view of the Ramganga River. as a chance sighting of various wild animals in the river bed.
Forest rest stop:
A night stay at a forest lodge in Dhikala zone is like a dream adventure for all wildlife lovers. There are 4 forest rest stops in this zone which are Dhikala FRH, Gairal FRH, Sarpduli FRH and Sultan FRH. Among all the four rest stops, Dhikala FRH is the most sought after rest stop due to its strategic location and better facilities. The Dhikala Forest Camp is the largest camp with about 28 double rooms and a dormitory with 12 beds in different accommodation wings. Dhikala FRH is the only forest lodge in Corbett NP that has 24-hour electricity in the rooms.
To visit the Bijrani zone, you need to get a safari entry permit, which you have to show to the forest officials at the entrance gate. You can book your safari entry permit online up to 45 days in advance or you can book the safari on the same day at the Ramnagar Forest Office after paying the required fee. Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to availability. Along with the entry permit, you need to hire a safari jeep and a guide/naturist which are mandatory to enter the tiger reserve area. In addition to the driver and guide, a maximum of six adults and two children (under 12 years) are allowed in one safari jeep. It is always best to book a permit in advance before reaching the Corbett Tiger Reserve as there is always a rush of tourists for the safari and only 30 safari jeeps are allowed to enter the Bijrani zone in one shift and almost all the jeeps are pre-booked. – reserved.
Forest Watchtower:
The watchtower is a unique feature of the Dhikala zone that offers you an amazing opportunity to view wildlife. The watchtower is strategically located overlooking the great Chaur and the entire Ramganga river, so from the tower you will have an excellent view of the animals grazing in the grassy field or roaming on the banks of the Ramganga river. The watch tower is located near the Dhikala rest house and can be easily reached while staying at the rest stop.
Gairal Crocodile Point:
The crocodile point, located near the Gairal Rest house, is a terraced place built over a pool with a large number of crocodiles as a permanent habitat. You can watch the crocodiles and their activity by standing on the terrace and looking down into the pool. It is an amazing feeling to watch such a dangerous aquatic creature so close.
Grass Lands (Chaurs):
The vast grassland which is known as Chaurs is the main place in Dhikala where one can spot wild animals from tigers to elephants, different species of deer, wild pigs and many more. The Dhikala zone is known for its extensive Chaurs and tourists often report sightings of tigers in the area.