What makes Jim Corbett a unique destination?

Sprawled at the foothills of the Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, the Jim Corbett National Park is India’s oldest and arguably most popular game reserves. It is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and mystical jungles providing refuge to some of India’s most iconic wildlife species.

Home to over 250 tigers and 600 elephants, Jim Corbett National Park also hosts species such as the Himalayan black bear, Himalayan goral, hog deer, over a 1000 species of birds and over 30 species of reptiles! To know more about its wildlife, read our blog ‘Stunning species of Jim Corbett’.

Jim Corbett is undoubtedly a unique destination because of its diverse magical habitats and the wealth of wildlife it nurtures. It is also a much celebrated destination as it is where the Project Tiger was first launched, back in 1973.

Visitors throng season after season to this popular wildlife destination to enjoy its rich wildlife and in the hope of encountering a charismatic big cat in its element and its prime habitat.

If you are wondering how to go on a safari in Corbett, read our detailed blog to know more. If you are wondering when to visit Jim Corbett, read on as this blog answers your question.  

Is there really a best time to visit Jim Corbett?

All zones of the Jim Corbett National Park are open to tourists every year from the 15th of November to the 30th of June. The Bijrani zone is an exception and it opens a month earlier to tourists from the 15th October.

In the months of the monsoon, visitors can only explore the buffer zones which are open all year round.

The most popular time to visit Jim Corbett National Park is probably between October and March. Tourists throng the park during these months as the climate is pleasant, seldom touching the higher 20s°C, the birdlife thrives and the forests are luxuriant, rejuvenated by the monsoon season. However, one must be ready to brave the chilly early mornings of December and January.

But, what exactly is the best time to visit Jim Corbett National Park? The answer varies. It depends on what the tourist aims to spot in Corbett.

Read on to find out our take on the sightings offered throughout the year across the varying seasons of the moist deciduous forestscape. We hope it will help you choose what the best time to visit Jim Corbett is according to your needs.

Jim Corbett in the spring - February and March

After the lull of the winter, in February and March, Jim Corbett brims with life! It is as if a child’s blanket has been gently pulled away and the child awakens and the entire house is charged with positive energy. Likewise, early spring in Jim Corbett brings a vibrant energy to the forest. It is a time of plenty for the herbivores who make the most of the green cover.

Birds hustle to feed themselves as well as their chicks. This short period of extravaganza is a great time for bird lovers as they get to spot the many migratory birds that are around the many pristine water bodies of Jim Corbett. This time of year also creates ample opportunities for wildlife photographers to make some wonderful photographs.

Jim Corbett in the summer - April to June

The scorching summer changes the forestscape completely! The greens of the forest turn to a sienna blend and the smaller water bodies in the park dry up. This is a time period that forces the big cats to frequent the remaining water holes in the park to cool themselves. Once in the water, the tigers usually sit there for a while, and this makes it easier to spot them!

If a tigress is nurturing cubs, there are high chances that the entire family visits the water hole together or plays in the undergrowth around it. If lucky, photographers can really capture some intimate moments of the tiger family interacting with one another.

This is also a time when the elephants are spraying themselves with soil and taking sand baths and subsequently cooling themselves in the water. One can make some creative silhouette images!

Jim Corbett in the monsoon - July to October

Although most zones are closed from the 1st of July to the 14th of October, the Jhirna zone remains open all through the year. If one wants to visit Corbett, beating the crowds, this time of year provides you the optimum opportunity to have a peaceful and memorable trip.  

The monsoon is a time of replenishment and the entire habitat transforms from a dull brown to a vibrant green! The pristine water bodies across the Park begin to swell up and provide refuge to several species of wildlife!

It is a busy time for the herbivores and birds and the big cats patrol their territory frequently as the monsoon washes away their scent marking. Photographers can make some brilliant frames with a gamut of vivid colours!

As it is not the peak tourist season, exploring the forests during the monsoon can be a refreshing and unique experience - the perfect break from routine life.

Corbett in the winter - November to January

In the winter, a calm embraces the forest. The early mornings are cradled by a layer of mist that slowly disappears when the sun rises over the undulating hills. The mist factor can help photographers make some dramatic images. Moreover, the soft diffused light in winter allows photographers to get creative and compose some backlit images as well as experiment with the rim-lit effect on furry animals and waterbirds. Tiger sightings perhaps are harder, but arguably, much more thrilling and satisfying than in the summer.

Although a few parts of the jungle turn a shade darker, there is no dearth of animal activity. The birds chirp melodiously, the frisky langurs leap and bound about and the alarm calls of spotted deer are heard in the distance, pumping up the adrenaline of visitors and filling them up with an ineffable excitement!

A big cat sighting is always cherished and remembered for the seasons to come, but one in winter definitely makes the heart grow fonder! And one can experience the ‘land of the roar and the trumpet’ in all its glory!

Summary - best time to visit Jim Corbett National Park

Every season has its alluring charm in the forests of India and there is no single definite answer to the question ‘what is the best time to visit Jim National Park?’. The answer varies on the intentions and desires of the tourist. If one enjoys birding, then spring provides optimum chances to spot and photograph the winged beauties.

If one has never seen a tiger in its element, a visit in the summer months brings one closer to realising one’s dream. If one wants a quiet getaway and immerse oneself in the freshness of a vibrant, lush green forest, then the monsoon is the best time to visit Jim Corbett. And last but not the least, if one wants to make creative images and explore the forest under different lighting scenarios, then winter provides the most challenging conditions and yields the most satisfying results.

The land of the roar and trumpet welcomes tourists with open arms and is a treasure trove of opportunities. For many, it is the place where they first experienced India’s mesmerising wild kingdoms and the experience set ablaze a tiny flame in them - an inextinguishable love for the wild!