To stay inside Jim Corbett National Park in the FRH is a totally different experience in itself. I have been to many of them in Corbett Tiger Reserve, and today I will be sharing my personal experience with you. Any Jim Corbett Forest Rest House, be it in Dhikala, Bijrani, Jhirna, or Dhela Zone of the National Park, not just offers proximity to wildlife like never before experienced, but also makes you realize what it’s like to experience nature and realize its true importance up close. It helps you understand the actual importance of wildlife conservation better than it would ever have been possible.
To stay in a Jim Corbett accommodation inside park premises not only lets you take a different approach to jungle safaris than mainstream day visiting audience, but also you get the opportunity to explore uncommon routes and pathways that normal visitors never get the chance to explore.
I have been to the following FRHs in Jim Corbett in the last couple of years, and everywhere I have had one of the best wildlife accommodation experiences.
- Dhikala Forest Rest House
- Sultan FRH
- Gairal FRH
- Sarpduli Forest House
- Bijrani FRH
- Malani Forest Rest House
- Dhela Forest House
- Jhirna FRH
These main ones in Bijrani, Dhikala, Dhela, and Jhirna zones are prime spots for visitors. All these FRHs offer a no-luxury and authentic wildlife stay in Corbett. I also post about my FRH experience in Jim Corbett on my YouTube Channel. You can check that out too.
In this blog, you will discover various aspects of the above forest houses and how to seamlessly book your FRH stay with Jungle Revives.
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More About My Previous Jim Corbett Forest Rest House Stay Visits
Inside jungle stay in Jim Corbett National Park is a completely different experience that you can never replicate anywhere else. The level of closeness you experience with wild animals is phenomenal. You can simply wake up in the morning and, while having your regular cup of chai see a group of elephants walking past the hills at a distance outside the campus perimeter. Or you can end up spotting numerous exotic birds that are rarely seen in daily city life. Jim Corbett FRHs offer the best Forest stay in Uttarakhand.
So let me walk you through my experience staying at each of the major Forest Lodges in the last couple of years when I went for wildlife trips with my family and friends, and returned with innumerable memories to cherish for a lifetime.
Dhikala Forest Rest House Stay in the Main Campus
The main Dhikala FRH offers unmatched experience staying inside the core region of Jim Corbett. You get 24/7 access to the Jungles where wild animals surround you, and you are cut-off from the hustling city life.
What is the history of Dhikala Forest Rest House?
It’s the oldest FRH in India that dates back to British colonial era of 1890s. It’s also famous because of its immense heritage value, as even the legendary Edward James Corbett has stayed here too.
Staying in the Dhikala Forest Rest House increases your chances of spotting a tiger as you get to go on morning and afternoon safaris before the day visitors even get into the Jim Corbett campus. This increases possibility of spotting the tiger with less disturbance by clearly following the alarm calls.
Best time to stay in Dhikala FRH is winter and summer, spanning November to June. Rooms are spacious, clean, and have access to cold and hot water. It also gets round-the-clock power supply. But you don’t get TV, AC, Wi-Fi, or room service. Rather, what you get is an immersive, and back-to-basics living experience.
As it gets dark, you feel the ambiance intimidating yet exciting. You may also hear tiger roar near rest house at night, and this thrill of feeling vulnerable makes the experience worth everything. Also, only those are allowed to stay in the FRH who have booked the Jeep Safari option for Dhikala exploration. Day visitors not allowed. So, decide accordingly between opting for Canter vs Jeep Safari in Jim Corbett Dhikala Zone.
Regarding food, you can avail the forest canteen & basic meals in FRH.
You can connect with the Jungle Revives team for your next Dhikala Forest Rest House booking. We will help you with the complete end-to-end process regarding everything.
More Jim Corbett Forest Rest House Campuses in Dhikala Zone
Apart from the main FRH campus, the Dhikala Forest Rest House stay includes lodges like:
Ram Ganga Riverside Stay called Gairal Forest Rest House
- Built around the early 1900s.
- One of the oldest FRHs in the Jim Corbett Premises.
- The architecture reflects colonial influence.
- Located strategically near the Ram Ganga River. Here, the river transitions from a clear, fast-flowing mountain stream into the park’s ecosystem.
- Located approximately 12+ kilometres from the Dhikala FRH. Acts as a buffer location between the Dhikala entrance gate and premier Dhikala Zone.
- Accommodation option gives you access to book the old FRH/new FRH/dormitory.
- It has an onsite canteen, solar powered electricity, and 24/7 water supply.
Sultan Forest Rest House
- Popularly named after the Sultan Sot, a seasonal stream that flows through the region during monsoon months.
- On the Dhikala Zone entry route, it’s the first FRH and is one of the smallest ones in the Dhikala Zone.
- Jim Corbett accommodation inside park premises at Sultan FRH consists of two rooms. It’s a unique and exclusive FRH in Dhikala.
- No restaurants and canteens. Operates on bring your own food model.
- Surrounded by dense Sal Trees.
- Perfect location for birdwatchers.
- Powered by solar panels, rooms are basic with essentials.
- No TV, AC or Wi-Fi.
Sarpduli Forest Rest House
- Built around 1908, few years after Gairal and Sultan FRH.
- Surrounded by Hilly Slopes.
- Made with British-era wooden materials and architecture.
- Most centrally located in Dhikala Zone, almost 18 Kilometres away from the entry gate.
- Acts as a strategic base for exploring diverse wildlife habitats.
- Has limited accommodation facilities comprising standard rooms and dormitories.
- Operates on the bring your own food model.
- One of the fewest FRHs for reliably sighting gorals.
- Operates on solar-powered infrastructure.
- You get 24/7 water supply.
Bijrani FRH Stay was Truly Remarkable
Many people ask me, What is forest rest house in Bijrani zone?
I say, it’s a peaceful and beautiful Jim Corbett Forest Rest House that is highly popular due to its vintage history and ability to deliver wildlife-rich experiences for the visitors. It’s in core Bijrani Zone and sits in between dense jungles surrounded by spring-water patches.
It was built in 1928 by the British and used to be a resting place for hunters. The rooms are made of wood and it keeps the interior cool and pleasant. My stay experience here in the past couple of years has been nothing short of extraordinary. Each room comes with basic amenities and attached washrooms. As usual, luxury facilities are not available, and the entire facility runs on solar energy.
Jim Corbett FRH availability in Bijrani Forest lodge purely depends on seasonal demand. During my last visit to Jim Corbett Bijrani Zone, I discovered about tiger Sharmeeli, and along with the Naturalist who accompanied me, I tried my best to spot her. You can read the full experience and get to know more about how my first-time visit to the Bijrani FRH resulted in one of the best wildlife safaris.
Jungle safaris starting from the Bijrani FRH are preferred by visitors as Bijrani Zone is popular for tiger spotting in Jim Corbett. Apart from that, you will also come across many elephants, deer, boar, and sightings of many exotic birds too. As compared to Dhikala FRH, staying inside Bijrani FRH means experiencing less crowd and a quieter, more peaceful stay. It’s truly a calming and therapeutic atmosphere.
With Jungle Revives, you can seamlessly do your upcoming Bijrani Forest Rest House booking, where our team will create the best travel itinerary and take care of everything end-to-end.
Jim Corbett Forest Rest House in Malani Located After Bijrani Zone
Malani FRH offers a remote and historical experience of Jim Corbett’s natural landscapes and wildlife that is very hard to find anywhere else. It is located deep inside Jim Corbett and is best suited for serious wildlife explorers who want to go on jeep safaris and have an immersive wildlife experience.
It’s situated 20 kilometres from the Bijrani Zone gate, and you can only reach here by a jeep. On the way, you will come across beautiful natural landscapes filled with hills and dense jungles. The route is rocky, secluded, and filled with diverse wildlife.
It’s a comparatively less-visited FRH in Jim Corbett. You will experience immense silence, bird calls, various types of forest scents, and beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
It was built during the British era, served forest officers patrolling Jim Corbett jungles, and is made up of wooden architecture. Common wildlife that you can spot in the surrounding areas include yellow-throated marten, elephants, sambar deer, barking deer, peacocks, hornbills, raptors like serpent eagle and black hawk-eagle, monitor lizard, and more.
It’s a completely family-friendly FRH, has all the basic amenities, has one cook that can prepare your food for you, and you will genuinely have an authentic forest stay experience here. Just like I did a few years back when I visited Malani FRH for the First time.
Jhirna Forest Rest House Stay was Nothing Short of Extra-ordinary
Jim Corbett FRH availability located in the Jhirna Zone campus spans all year round. Since Jhirna Zone is open throughout the year, even during the monsoon, you can come here and experience a jungle safari unlike anywhere else. It’s the best zone for off-season wildlife exploration.
The Jhirna FRH has about 4 rooms available and filled with basic amenities. No luxury facilities available. Also, the fooding option is convenient. You can bring your own food, and a cook is available to prepare it for you. Like all Jim Corbett FRHs, only vegetarian food is allowed.
It has a high-security solar electricity-based fencing. Also, when I stayed here, like 7 years back, I was delighted to have a peaceful stay. You can peacefully sit in the veranda and spot many wild animals that cross the surrounding areas. Occasionally, elephant, deer, and boar sightings happen outside the fencing areas. You may also hear rare tiger roars from distant places in the Jhirna zone, too.
Again, solar energy powers electricity, AC and TV is not available, and it is also recommended that you should carry your power charging essentials like power banks as in few cases electricity may not be available all the time.
The Jhirna Forest Rest House stay in Jim Corbett remains in high demand due to the limited availability of rooms. But partnering with Jungle Revives will enable you to secure a spot for your book through our meticulous process, where we start the booking process well in advance to ensure availability for your desired slots.
The FRH in Jhirna is also surrounded by lots of grasslands, which enables visitors to spot diverse wildlife throughout their stay.
Overall, you get to experience a basic stay in the middle of India’s oldest National Park.
Dhela Forest Rest House Stay Gave a Unique Birdwatching Experience
You can connect with Jungle Revives for your upcoming Dhela Forest Rest House Booking if you are a true birdwatcher and want to have a unique birdwatching experience in Jim Corbett.
Moreover, the Dhela Zone of Jim Corbett is a paradise for Birdwatchers, and the FRH in this zone dates back to the British era, even though the zone was created in 2014. Also, the architecture is wooden, and it has very limited rooms, making it exclusive and high in demand FRH in Jim Corbett who want to have a slightly off-beat wildlife sighting experience. Therefore, staying here feels like a private jungle retreat in a true sense.
It has a solar-energy powered campus, large electric fenced ground, and ability to walk freely in a large area inside the campus. Elephants and deer are frequently spotted outside the fencing area. Like Jhirna FRH, it works on bring your own food model, and a chef is there to cook it for you. Only vegetarian food is allowed.
Availability of both hot and cold water is there. Also, you will get all the basic amenities. Mobile network coverage is limited. Also, access to the Dhela FRH is through the Dhela gate, which is the same entry point for the Jhirna FRH. Guests often face confusion due to this, and you must ensure that your permit says DHELA FRH to avoid any confusion and being routed to the wrong zone.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which is the best Jim Corbett Forest Rest House in Popular Zones like Dhikala, Bijrani, Dhela and Jhirna?
Firstly, when anyone asks me, Which FRH is best in Jim Corbett National Park, I show them this list instantly:
- Dhikala Zone: Sultan, Gairal, Sarpduli, Main Dhikala FRH Campus
- Bijrani Zone:
- Bijrani Forest Rest House
- Malani Forest House located just after the Bijrani Zone.
- Jhirna Zone: Jhirna Forest House
- Dhela Zone: Dhela Forest Rest House
What is the entry gate for the Jhirna zone?
Dhela gate is the entry gate of Jhirna Zone, which is located approximately 15 KM from the town of Ramnagar. It is also the entry gate of Dhela zone.
Which zone is better in Jim Corbett?
Some of the popular zones of Jim Corbett include Dhikala, Bijrani, Jhirna, and Dhela. Moreover, these are mainstream locations and widely visited by nature enthusiasts for animal and bird spotting.
Is it better to book a morning or afternoon safari?
For a wildlife spotting experience filled with active animals and birds, choose the morning safari. Moreover, for a relaxed and peaceful wildlife experience, go for the afternoon safari option.
How is the experience of Dhikala Forest Rest House Stay?
It’s truly amazing and across all Dhikala FRHs, including main campus, Sultan, Gairal, and Sarpduli, you get to experience a stay from hustling city life like anything else. Only allowed for those who are going for jeep safari in Dhikala Zone and not permitted to stay if opting for day safari in canter vehicle.
How to do my upcoming Bijrani Forest Rest House Booking?
You can connect with the Jungle Revives team and Shishir, along with experienced travel experts will create the best itinerary for you. Get in Touch today.
Is the Jhirna Forest Rest House Stay open year around?
No, it’s not. It’s only open during summer and winter that spans from mid-October to June. It’s closed during the monsoon season that spans June to Mid-october. However Jhirna Jungle Jeep Safari remains operational throughout the year. Same thing goes for the Dhela zone too. Both these zones offer some of the best off-season wildlife safari experience.
How many days before should I do my Dhela Forest Rest House Booking?
If you are planning to stay in Dhela FRH to experience a unique Jungle Safari, then plan your stay at least 45 days in advance, as few rooms are available.
Can Jungle Revives ensure me confirmed Jim Corbett FRH Availability across my preferred zone?
Availability in any FRH in Jim Corbett depends on demand. Moreover, we will try our best to help you book a slot for your desired dates. Also, for that, we urge travellers to plan their trip in advance for a seamless process.
Is staying in a Jim Corbett Accommodation Inside Park premises worth it?
Yes, it’s totally worth it. Also, you get to experience nature and wildlife up close like never before. Moreover, you can see many wildlife animals right from your room’s veranda or from inside the room in many cases, and that creates a truly unique experience.
What To Pack For Jim Corbett FRH Stay?
Here’s my complete list of gear essentials that you must pack if you’re visiting the Jim Corbett National Park in India in the coming months. It covers everything you can think of to ensure the perfect wildlife safari experience in India.
What animals are in the Dhela zone?
Dhela zone is has animals like tigers, leopards, Asiatic elephants, bears, barking deer, chital, sambhar deer, wild boar, etc.
