Places of interest abound in within close proximity of the Corbett National Park. These locales are chiefly renowned for the adventurous activities they offer, besides being an abode of nature and forming the habitat of wildlife vanishing species in India. Given below are some of the places of tourist interest in Corbett.
Bijrani
The area in and around Bijrani once formed part of a shooting block. During the British period, it was much famed for the quality of game hunting that it offered to shikaris. In comparison to Dhikala, the terrain at Bijrani is drier and also has more diverse vegetation.
Jhirna
Jhirna was a farming village until 1994 when it was successfully relocated under Project Tiger. The abandoned farmland is gradually reverting to a wild state and is being managed to develop grassland habitat. The nearby terrain consists of numerous sots and narrow gorges running typically through the Shiwalik landscape. The hills to the north of Jhirna are covered with dense patches of bamboo. Apart from being a good habitat for tiger, leopard and deer, the place hosts other interesting mammals like sloth bear and wild boar. The place is also ideal to enjoy a panoramic sight of some interesting birds in India.
Durga Devi
Durga Devi is a tourism zone within the Corbett National Park. It is a virgin area used only for long elephant safaris and has access to the Ramganga River for the purpose of fishing. Leisure hotels has got the opportunity to have the first private lodge inside the park and will be providing angling facilities at the Jamun camp in the private untouched pool in the Ramganga river. This is on the north-eastern boundary of the Park. The entrance gate is about 20 Km away from Corbett Hideaway. The Mandal range of Corbett Tiger Reserve through Durgadevi entrance involve challenging birding species to lookout for include the grey headed fishing eagle, crested laughing thrush, black chinned Yuhina, maroon orile, slaty blue flycatcher, long tailed broadbill, little forktail, and bar tailed tree creeper. Lohachaur forest area is known for wild elephants all round the year and the undulating terrain provides excellent opportunity to see the leopards as well as tigers.
Dhikala
Dhikala is the most well known tourist destinations in Corbett. It is located at the edge of the broad Patli Dun valley through which the Ramganga flows in numerous channels. Dhikala offers an awesome unhindered view of the valley, with the Kanda ridge in the backdrop.
Sitavani
Dhikala is the most well known tourist destinations in Corbett. It is located at the edge of the broad Patli Dun Sitavani is located about 35 km. from The The River View Retreat & The River View Retreat and within the reserve forest area of Ramnagar Forest Division. It boasts of beautiful dense forests of sal and mixed vegetation with open grasslands and riverbeds. The safari takes one to the ancient temple of Goddess Sita. According to a legend, this is the place where Goddess Sita disappeared into the earth. Sitavani is a part of Corbett buffer zone and there is a gated entrance but does not require any special permits to venture inside. The forest offers ample birding opportunities in the surrounding thick sal and mixed forest. Preferably early morning drive is the best to view wildlife like tiger, sambar, barking deer, porcupine, King cobra and lots more. Sitavani is well known to have visiting wild elephants and tiger all round the year as both the animals frequently visit river Kosi for water and get across to raid the crops and lift the domestic animals from the village.
Around Corbett National Park
Garjia Temple
14 km from Ramnagar, on the way to Ranikhet, is a huge rock in the midst of river Kosi. This place has been named Garjia Devi after the deity. The temple is visited by thousands of devotees from different parts of the state. A large fair is held here on Kartik Poornima.
Corbett Wildlife Museum
The Corbett Museum at Dhangarhi houses the belongings of Mr Jim Corbett, with some of the animals at Corbett National Park.
Corbett Village Heritage Trail
Choti Haldwani and its residents are vividly described in the book written by Jim Corbett called “My India”. The trail takes you along the Bour River through the Choti Haldwani village in Kaladhungi, which was settled by Jim Corbett. The trail offers glimpses into the typical kumauni village culture and also provides bird watching opportunities. The trail ends with a visit to Jim Corbett’s home. Today this unique home, is a comprehensive museum housing souvenirs, relics, mementoes related to Jim Corbett and his famous exploits. Along the trail, one can see the boundary wall which was constructed by Jim Corbett to protect crops from the wildlife. There is also the house that Jim Corbett built for his associate Moti. One can see a gun gifted to a village man Sher Singh by Jim Corbett.
Garal Kantheshwar Temple
The temple which is situated in Dhikuli Village which is also known as Virat Nagar. Virat nagar is the place where according to Mahabharata Pandavas spent their one year of ‘Agyatvaas’. During this period they took shelter in the kingdom of raja Virat in false identity. One can still find many remains of that period. The temple is of God Shiva and it is believed to have been built by the Pandavas. This place comes under the Archaeological Survey of India. It is located at a distance of 2 km. from the hotel.
Dhangari museum & Interpretation Centre
These places are situated eight kilometres from the hotel, this museum is located at the Dhangari gate which is the entry to the Dhikala tourism zone. It is an interpretation centre where one can see stuffed animals that died due to natural causes and territorial fights inside as well as in the periphery of the Corbett National Park.
Leisure Hotels has its own chain of the hotel here by the name of ‘The Bungalows Snow View’
Marchula
Thirty kilometres from the hotel, Marchula is known as the tip of Corbett National Park and is situated on the banks of the Ramganga river. It is surrounded by mountains and dense forests and is famous for its wildlife. It is a good spot for angling and catching the mighty Mahaseer.