Uttarakhand Resumes Wildlife Tourism as Jim Corbett and Rajaji Tiger Reserves Open After Five Months Jim Corbett and Rajaji National Parks have reopened for visitors following a five-month seasonal hiatus, with forest officials also planning full-day jungle safaris this season. 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. What this means for you The reopening restores wilderness access for travelers and triggers a major economic rebound for regional hospitality and transport businesses. • Across India: Wildlife enthusiasts and photographers can now access core tourism circuits including Dhikala and Durgadevi. Travelers can execute planned itineraries including gypsy rides, canter safaris, and overnight rest house stays. • In Uttarakhand: Local economies across Ramnagar, Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Dehradun will experience a strong surge in visitor spending. Homestays, safari drivers, resort staff, and nature guides will resume regular commercial operations after five months. • For Safari Planners: The prospective rollout of all-day safaris will offer dedicated tourists dawn-to-dusk tracking options. Intending visitors should track upcoming forest department updates regarding separate bookings and applicable rates. • Regarding Park Regulations: Vehicle limits per gate and strict zone-specific transport modes remain strictly enforced. Travelers must ensure advance reservations and comply with entry protocol verification at forest checkpoints. Why this happened The seasonal shutdown is implemented annually to accommodate heavy monsoon weather, preserve natural breeding periods, and allow safe maintenance of forest corridors. • Weather and Track Safety: Heavy monsoon downpours routinely wash out unpaved jungle tracks and cause flash floods in seasonal forest rivulets, necessitating closure from June 15. With the dry winter season arriving and route maintenance completed, authorities reopened access on November 15. • Wildlife Breeding Protection: The rainy period coincides with critical breeding windows for flagship species such as tigers and wild elephants. Suspending vehicular traffic during this duration eliminates human interference and offers undisturbed tranquility within core zones. • Administrative Readiness: The forest administration used the off-season to inspect accommodation infrastructure, repair watchtowers, and clear vegetation along safari tracks. Once technical clearances and route protocols were completed, ceremonial flag-offs marked the start of the tourist calendar. Questions & Answers 1. When did Jim Corbett and Rajaji Tiger Reserve reopen for visitors? Both wildlife reserves officially reopened for tourists on November 15 after a five-month seasonal break. 2. Which zones were opened at Corbett on the first day? The world-famous Dhikala and Durgadevi tourism zones were officially reopened for visitors. 3. What types of safari vehicles operate in Dhikala and Durgadevi? Dhikala operates commercial canter safaris, while Durgadevi accommodates open gypsy safari vehicles. 4. How many safari vehicles entered Rajaji across its gates on day one? A total of 30 gypsies entered through Chila, 15 from Motichur, 15 from Chillawali, and 10 vehicles through Ranipur gate. 5. What is the proposed full-day safari concept? A proposal has been sent to forest headquarters to permit select gypsies to operate continuously from dawn to sunset in designated zones. https://trendkia.com/en/uttarakhand/uttarakhand-men-vanyajiva-paryatana-satra-shuru-pancha-mahine-bada-khule-jim-corbett-aura-rajaji-ke-pravesha-dvara-60092 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.