Good news for all wildlife enthusiasts. The winter tourism season at Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) has recently kicked off, and saw a surge of wildlife enthusiasts flocking to the reserve.
Diganth Nayak, Deputy Director of CTR added that on Sunday, they witnessed the arrival of nearly 400 visitors, signifying the start of the winter tourism season at the reserve.
Currently, Bijrani, Jhirna, Dhela, and Garjia zones are open to tourists. CTR officials announced that the other four zones — Sonanadi, Pakhro, Dhikala, and Durga Devi — will open for day safaris next month. Reports add that you will be able to stay at the reserve's forest rest houses (FRHs) from November 15, the booking of which has already begun.
Officials also noted that visitors can anticipate an enhanced experience this season, which will be complemented with an upgraded reservation system and new amenities.
Nayak further added that they have introduced scanners at the entrance to prevent any fraudulent activities or the forgery of entry passes.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami during his visit to the reserve on October 13, discussed the establishment of a special tiger protection force (STPF) with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) on the lines of Karnataka and instructed the chief wildlife warden of the state to expedite the formation of this force.
A flag-off ceremony was conducted at the Bijrani gate on Sunday at 6 AM, with Pandey flagging off the gypsies. Zones like Bijrani, Dhikala, and Garjiya were closed during the rainy season due to the damage that monsoon causes to jungle roads. These roads needed repairs before the new season, as explained by forest officials.
Gypsies were dispatched in two phases, one in the morning, while the other in afternoon. Tourists not only relished their day visits, but loved every bit of it.
Pandey mentioned that the Dhikala zone would reopen on November 15 and that they have launched a new website for CTR bookings. With this, booking day safaris and night stays in CTR will become more convenient and hassle free
Tour operators, guides, gypsy drivers, along with other businesses associated with CTR, welcomed this move of reopening the reserve, as they depend heavily on CTR tourism. As per the reserve officials, there are 360 registered gypsies under the reserve administration, sent for safaris upon advance booking by tourists.
Corbett Tiger Reserve covers an expansive 1,288 sq km and stands as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state. The gates of Corbett traditionally open on November 15 each year and remain accessible for six months until mid-June. Corbett annually draws around 300,000 tourists.
Corbett Park is typically closed every year from June 15 due to the monsoon season. As forest roads get washed away during the rainy season, and pose risks to human life, the reserve usually remains closed till October 15.