Places to Visit in Jim Corbett and Ramnagar, beyond the Safari

A trip to Jim Corbett is built around the safaris, but you cannot spend all day in a jeep: morning and afternoon drives leave the middle of the day free, and many visitors have a spare day when permits for their favourite zone run out. The country around Ramnagar fills it well. There is a river temple on a rock in the Kosi, a waterfall in the forest, the house where Jim Corbett himself lived, and quiet temples in the buffer forests, all within an hour of town.

Places to visit around Ramnagar, at a glance

Garjia Devi Temple

The best-known sight outside the park is the Garjia Devi temple, about 13 km north of Ramnagar on the road towards Ranikhet. The shrine sits on top of a large rock rising out of the Kosi river, reached by a flight of steps from the bank, and the goddess is worshipped as a form of Parvati. It is busiest on Kartik Purnima, when a fair is held, and through the Navratris. The river below is shallow and inviting in winter, but it rises quickly after rain upstream; keep out of it in the monsoon. The Garjia safari zone takes its name from this area, so the temple fits easily before or after a drive there.

Corbett Falls

Corbett Falls drops about 20 metres into a pool in teak and sal forest near Kaladhungi, on the road between Ramnagar and Nainital. You leave the car at the forest gate and walk about two kilometres on a level path. It is cool and shady even in April, and the birdlife on the walk is good, so go early. Swimming in the pool is not allowed.

Jim Corbett's house at Kaladhungi

Jim Corbett, the hunter of man-eaters who became one of India's first great conservationists, spent his winters at Kaladhungi. His house there is now the Jim Corbett Museum, with his furniture, letters, photographs and the story of the tigers and leopards he wrote about. It is a short, moving visit, and it makes sense of why the national park carries his name. The village he helped settle, Choti Haldwani, is close by. The museum is usually open from morning to late afternoon; check the day's hours locally.

Sitabani

Sitabani is a forest area outside the reserve's main zones, with a temple that local belief links to Sita and to the sage Valmiki. It is quieter than Garjia and good for birdwatching. Entry to the forest is controlled, so ask your hotel whether you need a permit and which road is open.

A day without a safari

Start early at Corbett Falls for the birds, carry on to the museum at Kaladhungi, and come back through Ramnagar for lunch. In the afternoon drive north along the Kosi to Garjia Devi, and stay on the river bank until dusk. If you have a second free morning, spend it at Sitabani. Our Corbett safari zones guide explains which zone opens when, so you can plan the drives around these.

Where to stay

Ramnagar town is the base for the Bijrani and Jhirna gates and for the safari offices; the resort belt along the Kosi on the Ranikhet road is closer to Garjia and the Dhikala side. Our hotels in Ramnagar page compares the areas with real photos.