[sansvk]

Read this article regarding booking at Jim Corbett.
https://www.moneylife.in/article/whi...ark/57485.html

[Tgo]

Originally Posted by sansvk

Read this article regarding booking at Jim Corbett.
https://www.moneylife.in/article/whi...ark/57485.html

This covers a separate issue but the issue I faced regarding bookings is that.

• Safari to prime zones (Dhela, Dikhala, Jhirna, Bijrani etc. ) is possible only for people who book the forest rest houses (FRH) inside the forest. These are usually always booked and not preferable in summer time due to non availability of ACs in the FRHs
• Resorts outside Corbett (Mainly in Ramnagar area) take you for a buffer zone ride (Sitabani) where you hardly get a feel of the actual jungle
• Many 'websites' are operating which just ask you to fill up a safari booking form and get back to you on the phone and offer Sitabani safari only. Kind of a racket for someone who doesn't know that Sitabani is not an actual zone of the main forest.
• The only zone for which safari booking is available easily is Sonanadi but its on the west end of the park. People living in Ramnagar have no way to go to the entry point of the west end of the forest since its a 3 hour drive from Ramnagar and the shorter drive through the forest is not allowed. Also the resorts are unaware of the existence of that zone altogether since falls outside their commercial interests.

I am willing to have another go at it by staying inside the forest at the FRHs this time so that I get to see the main zones. For now the experience is a bit spoiled.

We stayed at Alaya Resort & Spa which was just OK. Other enjoyable stuff we did was a Village Walk, Home Cooked local food at a small tea stall, unguided nature walk along an irrigation channel where we saw some Jackals in their natural habitat.

[am1m]

Originally Posted by Tgo

Safari to prime zones (Dhela, Dikhala, Jhirna, Bijrani etc. ) is possible only for people who book the forest rest houses (FRH) inside the forest. These are usually always booked and not preferable in summer time due to non availability of ACs in the FRHs

Have very fond memories of the FRHs in Corbett, and yes it was in May, peak summer, but it's been a while since I went there, mainly because of the crowds.

Personally, I think it's silly to expect an a/c when you are going to visit a...forest But hey, if it means those of us who don't mind living without those 'comforts' can get there with less hassles or crowds, then great! Just to clarify: from what I remember, both Malani and Dikhala had long periods of no power itself, so for an a/c, you would need a diesel generator which is hardly the best thing to put/run in the middle of a tiger reserve! Unless there is some way that an air conditioner can work off solar?

[mathuranuj]

Hello

Your information is partially correct. Out of all the zones, only Dhikala is the one where FRH booking is mandatory for day safari. Rest all you can book via UK govt's website - https://www.corbettonline.uk.gov.in/

Here you will need to book about a month in advance and be quick as there are limited vehicles allowed and they go up pretty fast. Give the details of all the visitors and pay the fee to confirm the booking. Once this is done, you'll still need to book a gypsy, seperately, by some private operator to take you inside the zone.

Sitabani is a buffer zone and does not require booking to be done in advance. A day's notice will be enough and it can be arranged by the numerous operators or resorts. However, it is no where comparable to the experience of Bijrani or Dhikala.

For the resorts, the Riverside Corbett Resort is very very good. It is located in the buffer zone and on the banks of Kosi river. It is quite close to Amdanda as well as Dhangari gates. The location is fantastic and the resort is also very picturesque. Especially the river flowing nearby. You can take your liquid poison with you into the stream and have a fun time.

Originally Posted by Tgo

This covers a separate issue but the issue I faced regarding bookings is that.

• Safari to prime zones (Dhela, Dikhala, Jhirna, Bijrani etc. ) is possible only for people who book the forest rest houses (FRH) inside the forest. These are usually always booked and not preferable in summer time due to non availability of ACs in the FRHs
• Resorts outside Corbett (Mainly in Ramnagar area) take you for a buffer zone ride (Sitabani) where you hardly get a feel of the actual jungle
• Many 'websites' are operating which just ask you to fill up a safari booking form and get back to you on the phone and offer Sitabani safari only. Kind of a racket for someone who doesn't know that Sitabani is not an actual zone of the main forest.
• The only zone for which safari booking is available easily is Sonanadi but its on the west end of the park. People living in Ramnagar have no way to go to the entry point of the west end of the forest since its a 3 hour drive from Ramnagar and the shorter drive through the forest is not allowed. Also the resorts are unaware of the existence of that zone altogether since falls outside their commercial interests.

I am willing to have another go at it by staying inside the forest at the FRHs this time so that I get to see the main zones. For now the experience is a bit spoiled.

We stayed at Alaya Resort & Spa which was just OK. Other enjoyable stuff we did was a Village Walk, Home Cooked local food at a small tea stall, unguided nature walk along an irrigation channel where we saw some Jackals in their natural habitat.