Wildlife enthusiasts and nature travelers can once again explore the lush wilderness of Uttarakhand as the state officially launched its winter tourist season. Following a five-month seasonal closure that began on June 15, the gates to Jim Corbett National Park and Rajaji Tiger Reserve reopened on November 15. The resumption of tourism operations at both renowned conservation reserves has revitalized the hospitality and travel sectors across the adjoining districts.
Safari Vehicles Roll into Corbett with Night Stays Restored
At the Ramnagar-based Corbett Tiger Reserve, the celebrated Dhikala and Durgadevi ecotourism zones welcomed their inaugural batches of visitors. Operations commenced at 6:30 AM following traditional ceremonial prayers, after which local legislator Diwan Singh Bisht and Corbett Director Dr. Saket Badola jointly cut the ceremonial ribbon and flagged off the morning convoy.
During this opening morning run, approximately 64 tourists headed into the core wilderness of Dhikala aboard three commercial day-canters. While visitors exploring Dhikala will travel in open canters, those venturing through the Durgadevi zone are allotted open gypsy safaris. Simultaneously, the park management has restored overnight accommodation facilities, allowing registered guests to reserve night stays across heritage forest rest houses situated within the Dhikala, Bijrani, Dhela, and Jhirna zones.
All Four Major Gates Operational at Rajaji Reserve
Simultaneously, vibrant scenes played out at Rajaji Tiger Reserve, widely recognized as a major stronghold for wild Asian elephants. Traditional rituals preceded the synchronized opening of all four primary entry points on Sunday morning. Visitor turnout on day one saw 30 safari gypsies dispatching through Chila gate, 15 from Motichur, 15 via Chillawali, and 10 vehicles passing through the Ranipur gate.
Chila Range Officer BD Tiwari alongside Haridwar Wildlife Warden Chitranjali Negi highlighted that the reserve enjoys immense appeal among domestic and international tourists due to its close proximity to Dehradun, Haridwar, and Rishikesh. In addition to harboring breeding populations of tigers and leopards, the sanctuary is home to over 315 bird species. Visitor interest has also been buoyed by frequent leopard sightings along the Chillawali-Mohand track and the Ranipur belt in recent weeks.
Forest Department Deliberates Full-Day Safari Access
Under conventional scheduling, tourists are restricted to four-hour safari shifts conducted twice daily during mornings and late afternoons. To enhance wildlife observation and photography opportunities, forest authorities have initiated steps toward sanctioning full-day safari access. Corbett Director Dr. Saket Badola and Rajaji Director Koko Rose have officially submitted a collaborative proposal outlining this model to the Chief Wildlife Warden.
According to the blueprint, Corbett would allocate two full-day gypsies in the Bijrani-Garjia zone and two in the Dhela-Jhirna sector, while Rajaji would deploy four vehicles inside its Chila zone from dawn until dusk. Tourists participating in these extended excursions will be permitted to rest at designated forest rest houses or watchtowers during midday hours. Administrative authorities are actively finalizing the tariff structure and reservation guidelines, with implementation anticipated during the ongoing operational season.
