Delhi to Jim Corbett by Car: Route, Safari Zones and How to Book a Jeep Safari

Jim Corbett is India's oldest national park and the easiest tiger reserve to reach from Delhi: about 250–270 km and 5.5–7 hours to Ramnagar, the town at its gates. You drive there in your own car, then go into the forest by jeep safari. The season is just starting: Dhikala, the park's best zone, opens on 15 November. This guide covers the route, the safari zones and when they open, how to book, where to stay and a weekend plan.

Delhi to Jim Corbett at a glance

• 📍 Distance: about 250–270 km to Ramnagar.
• ⏱️ Driving time: 5.5–7 hours.
• 🛣️ Route: the Delhi–Meerut Expressway, NH9 via Hapur, Gajraula and Moradabad, then Kashipur and Ramnagar.
• 💰 Tolls: about ₹400–550 one way, by FASTag.
• 🐅 Safari season: Dhikala 15 November to 15 June; some zones open almost all year.

The route

Leave Delhi on the Delhi–Meerut Expressway and turn onto NH9 towards Hapur. The road crosses the Ganga at Garhmukteshwar (Brijghat), runs on to Gajraula and round Moradabad, then heads north to Kashipur and Ramnagar. The highway is four-lane most of the way; the slow parts are the Moradabad and Kashipur stretches.

Safari zones and when they open

The park is split into zones, each with its own gate and season. Your safari permit is for one zone and one time slot.

• 🌾 Dhikala: the largest zone, with open grasslands on the Ramganga. Usually 15 November to 15 June. Best seen with a night at the forest rest house, or on the forest department's canter trip.
• 🐘 Bijrani: the classic day-safari zone near Ramnagar. Usually mid-October to June.
• 🌳 Jhirna and Dhela: open almost all year, including some of the monsoon. Good for a first visit.
• 🏞️ Durgadevi: hilly forest along the Ramganga, known for birds and mahseer. Usually 15 November to 15 June.
• 🌿 Garjiya and Sitabani: smaller zones, with Sitabani a buffer area popular with birders.

How to book a jeep safari

1. Fix your dates, then book the safari permit on the Uttarakhand forest department's official Corbett booking site: choose the zone and the morning or afternoon slot.
2. Book early: winter weekends and holidays sell out weeks ahead.
3. Keep the photo ID you booked with: it's checked at the gate.
4. Arrange a registered gypsy and guide through your hotel or the safari desk in Ramnagar; the permit and the vehicle are separate.

Beyond the safari

• 🛕 Garjiya Devi Temple: a temple perched on a rock in the middle of the Kosi river, about 15 km from Ramnagar.
• 💦 Corbett Falls: a forest waterfall on the Kaladhungi road.
• 🏡 Corbett Museum at Kaladhungi: Jim Corbett's old house, about 30 km away.
• 🐦 Birding along the Kosi river: over 600 species have been recorded in and around the park.

A weekend plan

1. Day 1: leave Delhi at 6 am, reach Ramnagar by 1 pm, and take an afternoon safari in Bijrani or Jhirna.
2. Day 2: morning safari in another zone, Garjiya Devi Temple and Corbett Falls in the afternoon, and a quiet evening by the Kosi.
3. Day 3: one more morning safari, then drive back to Delhi after lunch, or carry on to Nainital, about 65 km away.

Tolls and fuel costs

Tolls come to about ₹400–550 one way for a car, paid by the FASTag in the car.

Renting a self-drive car for Corbett

• ✅ Unlimited kilometres and an All-India permit on every car; you pay the tolls and any state entry taxes.
• 🏷️ Trips over 48 hours get 10% off, perfect for a two or three-safari weekend.
• 🚙 A compact SUV such as the Brezza or Creta for four; the Ertiga or Scorpio N for a family or group.
• 📍 Collect the car at our Mahipalpur office near IGI Airport, or have it delivered in Noida, Ghaziabad or anywhere in Delhi NCR.
• 🪪 You need a driving licence held for at least a year, a government ID and a refundable deposit. What renting involves.

Looking for more trips this winter? See weekend getaways from Delhi.