Jim Corbett Dhikala Zone Safari (Spotted Paar Wali Tigress)

In this blog, I will take you on my journey to the afternoon Jim Corbett Dhikala Zone Safari on the 12th of May 2024. It was my wife’s birthday, and as a surprise gift to her, I wanted to take her for tiger spotting. So, in the morning, on the same day, we went for the morning Dhikala Safari, and then in the afternoon, on another one.

On this day, I had planned two safaris for my wife as a birthday gift, and it was one of the most memorable days that we spent together in the Jim Corbett National Park Dhikala Zone. The afternoon safari was more about searching and spotting the Paar Wali Tigress, who is kind of a sister to the Ped Wali Tigress.

Dhikala Zone in Jim Corbett is famous for highest number of tiger sightings across the National Park. Whether it’s jeep safaris or canter safaris, peak season sees immense influx of tourists who are passionate and keen to spot a tiger in India’s oldest wildlife park. It has to be on your bucket list because Jim Corbett presents a totally unique picture of Indian wildlife and also it’s famous for leading the wildlife conservation movement in the country.

Have a look at the video from my Dhikala Morning Safari, where we spotted the Ped Wali Tigress.

Jim Corbett Dhikala Zone Safari in the Afternoon

We started the afternoon Safari from our guest house and navigated rocky off-road pathways where a river stream was flowing in parallel. Locals have cited seeing the Paar Wali Tigress in these waters often, as we could grasp from the conversation with our Dhikala Jeep safari guide. 

In one of my previous trips to the Jim Corbett Dhikala Zone, I had sighted the Paar Wali Tigress, but from a very far-off distance. But this time, I was curious to spot her from up close. That’s why I decided to go for the afternoon safari. I also got to know this time that the Paar Wali Tigress has given birth to FOUR cubs, and that made me even happier. 

We moved further ahead and came onto the road that stretched on the opposite side of the Dhikala Jim Corbett Main campus. Although it was quite hot and sunny, but the overall ambiance of the jungle was quite amazing. We were enjoying our jeep safari as silence surrounded the jungles and grasslands of the Dhikala zone. It was very peaceful as we navigated the Dhikala grasslands. No alarm calls and only a wide stretch of jungle. It’s a bit challenging to spot tigers in this kind of environment. But we were motivated and continued with our jeep ride. Even many of the other jeep riders told us that they found nothing in the area. But we were adamant to continue our search for the Paar Wali Tigress.

Paar Wali Tigress Spotted in Dhikala Jim Corbett

Our jeep then stopped at a spot nearby as we moved forward and started looking into the wide jungles and grasslands of the Jim Corbett Dhikala zone. We were hopeful to see the Paar Wali Tigress. Then, something amazing happened, and out of nowhere we saw a tigress at a distance in the grasslands. And to our luck, it was the Paar Wali Tigress! 

What a luck!

We were surprised that we spotted her so quickly, even though previous jeeps were unable to see anything. Then we looked carefully and saw that three of her cubs were also walking beside the Paar Wali Tigress. We were so delighted that in the morning we saw the Ped Wali tigress and her cubs, and in the afternoon came across the Paar Wali Tigress and her cubs. Our jeep was the only one to spot this tigress and her cubs. There were no alarm calls in the vicinity, and our safari guide also switched the jeep engine off to prevent any unnecessary noise.

Then we decided to go a bit ahead on the Dhikala Forest Road so that we could get a closer look at the Paar Wali Tigress. She was also moving ahead, and her cubs were playing with each other. The tigress kept a close eye on her cubs, and we were waiting and hoping for her to come even closer to us. 

Slowly, after some time, the tigress started coming towards us, and we became excited. She walked for a bit, came and sat under a nearby tree’s shade. And her cubs continued playing amongst each other. It was my wife’s birthday, and it was turning out to be an amazing day. We spotted so my tigers in the entire day! What a rare sight!

Close Encounter with Famous Paar Wali Tigress in Corbett

The tigress was freely letting her cubs roam in the wild because no other animal was present nearby. It’s only because of this assurance that the tigress was confident to let her cubs roam freely. She was not just protecting her cubs but also teaching them the tricks to conduct themselves in the wild – when to play and when to remain calm by sensing the environment. The tigress seemed alert this time as some of her earlier cubs were killed by other male tigers, and she didn’t want to take any chances with the safety of her cubs. 

The tigress continued coming even closer to our jeep along with her cubs and didn’t seem bothered by our presence. She treats these jeeps as part of the jungle because the tourists never bother them. So, she was comfortable being around us. Also, the cubs continued playing and were enjoying amongst themselves. 

Then came the moment when the tigress and her cubs started coming even further closer to our jeep. At one point they were just a few feet away from us. But after some time, she sensed that it was getting crowded by people and it was no longer safe to stay in that region. So, she started moving away from us in the other direction. 

Another thing that our Dhikala Jeep Safari guide told us was that she might have killed an animal and kept it hidden somewhere safe. That could be the reason she brought her cubs with her today so that she could feed them. 

Jim Corbett Dhikala Zone Safari is a Must Have Experience

At this moment, we decided not to follow the tigress and her cubs further as it was getting darker and the road ahead was also closed and not favourable to continue. So, we decided to leave that region and continued towards our guest house. In my mind, I wished for the safety of the tigress and her cubs. I hoped that I would get a chance to see them again soon. 

We then stopped at a location where there was an open grassland area. The sun was about to set alongside the Ram Ganga River. All of us, stayed there for a while and enjoyed the evening silence and calmness. We could hear the birds chirping, and it was a really soothing place to be. Then, we started heading back to our guest house. On the way back, we saw a group of sambar deer while we stood over a small bridge built over the Ram Ganga River. 

This was the best Jim Corbett Dhikala Zone Safari experience to spot a tiger. We saw 14 tigers in one single day, which included Ped Wali Tigress, Paar Wali Tigress, their cubs, and some other male tigers. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who Should Visit the Jim Corbett Dhikala Zone?

Anyone who is a hardcore wildlife lover or want to have a great time amidst nature with family and friends must plan a tiger safari to the Dhikala zone of Jim Corbett National Park.

How many FRHs are there in Dhikala?

There are a total of 5 Forest Houses in Dhikala Zone of Corbett Tiger Reserve.

What is the Dhikala Zone Entry gate?

Dhangadi gate is the entry point of Dhikala Zone.

Where is Canter Safari offered in Jim Corbett?

Only Dhikala Zone has the option to avail a canter safari in Jim Corbett.

When is Dhikala Zone Open?

Mid November to Mid-June

When is Dhikala Zone Closed?

Dhikala zone is not operational for tiger safaris during monsoon season due to flooding and waterlogging.

When does Morning Safari starts in Dhikala?

• Summer Morning Safari Timings – 5:30 AM to 9:30 AM
• Winter Morning Safari Timings – 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM

When does Afternoon Safari Starts in Dhikala?

• Summer Afternoon Safari Timings – 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM
• Winter Afternoon Safari Timings – 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM