Tiger spotting at Jim Corbett National Park, Dhikala Photo journal

Yes, we saw the tiger near Dhikala! We waited for more than three hours at a spot quietly...

This was our fourth trip in two years to Jim Corbett National Park in Kumaon Himalaya, Uttarakhand. The eight of us Rohit, Meetali, Amit, Gursharan, Aditi, Dinesh, Pooja & Vishu caught the overnight train from Lucknow to Ramnagar via Moradabad.

We reached there early in the morning and found our driver cum guide (authorized by the park) Girish Dhasmana was waiting in an open Gypsy outside the Ramnagar station to whisk us away.

Rohit Sharma, Meetali Sharma, Amit Sharma, Gursharan, Aditi, Dinesh, Pooja & Vishu

Dhasmana first took us to the forest department office for the necessary formalities to enter the park.

Jim Corbett National Park is spread in about 1288.6 square kilometers and holds the world record for maximum number of tigers in the wild. The latest counting says there are 186 tigers, 1500 elephants and more than 650 bird species.

Grassland at Dhikala in summer, ideal for tigers to camoflouge in as they hunt

Getting to Dhikala

On our first day while moving from the entrance gate to Dhikala, a giant tusker (a grown-up male elephant with tusks) crossed our path giving us a warm welcome as well as warning us that we were in their home, and should behave as a good guest.

Tusker in elephant herd crossing a track at Dhikala, Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand, India

It was just the beginning as we kept moving ahead slowly watching many other animals like Sambhar deer, spotted and barking deer, monkeys, a monitor lizard, and a group of alligators on the bank of Ramganga river.

Barking deer, Dhikala, Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand, India

Enjoying the jungle we reached Dhikala forest rest house at noon, where we were allotted rooms to stay for two days. Dhikala is a core area of the jungle and home to tigers, unlike Bijrani which is more of a buffer zone. Dhikala has dense forest with animals everywhere.

Evening Safari at Dhikala, Jim Corbett National Park

On reaching the Dhikala forest guest house, we got ready for the 4pm evening jingle safari ride in a gypsy.

Jim Corbett National Park has so much of everything - the mountains, river, grasslands, dense forest, birds, reptiles, tigers and other animals. The evening safari ended on a positive note as we enjoyed almost everything except a tiger.

Evening safari in the grasslands of Dhikala, Jim Corbett National Park

Morning Jungle Safari, Dhikala

The next morning our driver cum guide Dhasmana took us to a dense forest area after hearing a deer's call according to which a tigress was out to hunt. Even after two hours of search we did not see her physically though we could here her call the cubs to breakfast after the kill. We kept silent and waited for a glimpse of the tigress or any of her cubs.

Tiger, tiger!

After three hours of a halt, we saw a cub on his way to have some water after the meal. As per our guide the cub was approximately one year old.

One year old tiger cub in Ramganga River, Jim Corbett National Park, Kumaon Himalaya, Uttarakhnad, India

Following the young tiger finally we came to a spot from where the tiger was perfectly visible and ready to give us good pictures.

One year old tiger cub in Ramganga River, Jim Corbett National Park, Kumaon Himalaya, Uttarakhnad

One year old tiger cub in Ramganga River, Jim Corbett National Park

We kept silent as per the norms of a jungle safari, which enabled us to watch the tiger for about fifteen minutes at a spot. Any sort of action with a tiger in front of us could have got all of us in big trouble as a one year old tiger is big enough to hunt any animal except the elephant.

Elephant on the bank of river Ram Ganga, Dhikala, Jim Corbett National Park

After this visit, we've become more committed to creating awareness about the role of nature in our life and about wildlife.

Tips for a jungle safari

  • Follow the rules: do not walk in areas you are not permitted to do so.
  • Clothing should be in jungle colours so as to camoflouge: clothes of light shades or preferably green, brown are less disturbing to the wild denizens.
  • Avoid wearing strong perfumes and do not smoke in the jungle.
  • Animals are extremely sensitive to the human voice. Don't make a noise, don't play music and don't blow the horn.
  • Carry medication and insect repellent.
  • Don't leave behind any litter. Plastic bags are big hazards for animals.

Travel facts

Map


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How to reach Jim Corbett National Park

Road: Lucknow to Ramnagar - 410 km, an 8 hour drive via Moradabad

Train: Daily train from Lucknow to Ramnagar - Janta Express (Train No. 4265) departure at 8:25 p.m. from Lucknow's Charbagh Railway station. Arrival at 6:25 a.m. at Ramnagar.

[Photo credit: Rohit Sharma]

Rohit Sharma
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great photos of the tiger :-)

anisha on Sunday, June 7, 2009

True...very dazzling sighting!!!

Gursharan on Monday, June 8, 2009

hi great photos of the tiger i go on wildlife safaries regularly i am interested to visit jim corbet so would be greatful if u could help me know about the procedure to get bookings at dhikala jungle lodge thanks

shivaram subramaniam on Wednesday, June 10, 2009

The Corbett park closes on 15 June every year and reopens on 15 November. Please note my email [email protected] and intimate me before November. Thanks for reading the article.

Rohit Sharma on Friday, June 12, 2009

we have gone to jim corbett 6 times we have seen tiger many many times it was very amazing & interesting and we have great fun there.......... "we love jim corbett its amazing"

mansi,om on Friday, June 26, 2009

Really a nice article and to be so close to nature... I am from Delhi. How can i reach there.. after reading and seeing yr pics decided to join and be with nature.. Plase guide..Thanks

Parvez on Friday, June 26, 2009

Hi... Nice article.. How can i reach there.. i m from Delhi.. will sure make a visit after 15th November as u mentioned..Thanks

Parvez on Friday, June 26, 2009

Jim corbett is such a wonderful place and i wish to visit this place as many times as possible.......Great pics, very neatly composed and waiting to see more of these.... thanks

abijith on Thursday, July 30, 2009

hi where can i see high megapixel photo

UMESH on Saturday, August 22, 2009

We have three families. We will reach at Ramnagar from Moradabad on road at 01.00p.m. . Please let me know the name of the resort and address where you stay at Dhikhala in details.

Ajoy Kumar Roy on Monday, November 23, 2009

really so nice tour of Corbett park..

Rakesh Negi on Tuesday, December 29, 2009

our guide and driver is also girish dhasmana. we are regular visitors of this park and we must say that this is an amazing tiger!!!!!!!!!!! good luck!!!!!

Deeksha Sharma on Thursday, February 25, 2010

Deeksha / Rakesh could you please provide me your driver details :D

Kailash on Tuesday, March 9, 2010


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