Jim Corbett National Park doesn’t have one main entrance, but several Jim Corbett gates. Each safari zone has its own entry gate, and your permit is only valid at the gate for the zone you booked. Turning up at the wrong gate is one of the most common first-timer mistakes, so it is worth knowing where yours is before the morning of your safari.
Jim Corbett gates and the zones they serve
- Amdanda Gate → Bijrani zone. The closest gate to Ramnagar, about 1–2 km from town.
- Dhangarhi Gate → Dhikala zone. About 18–20 km north of Ramnagar on the Ranikhet road; the start point for the Dhikala canter and for overnight guests driving to the Dhikala complex.
- Dhela Gate → Jhirna and Dhela zones. On the southern side of the reserve, roughly 16–20 km from Ramnagar.
- Durga Devi Gate → Durga Devi zone. In the north-east, about 26–28 km from Ramnagar.
- Garjia Gate → Garjia zone. Around 10 km north of Ramnagar near the Garjia Devi temple.
- Teda/Pawalgarh side → Sitabani zone. A buffer forest a few km from Ramnagar, run by the Ramnagar Forest Division; private vehicles are allowed.
- Phato Gate → Phato zone. Run by the Ramnagar Forest Division and further from town.
- Pakhro Gate → Pakhro. On the Kalagarh side of the reserve, in Pauri Garhwal district, reached from Kotdwar rather than Ramnagar.
Your permit confirmation names the gate, so always check it against this list.
Amdanda Gate (Bijrani)
Amdanda Gate is the gate most visitors use. It sits right on the edge of Ramnagar town, so you can be at the gate within minutes from most hotels. It serves Bijrani, one of the best zones for tiger sightings. Read our Bijrani zone guide for more.
Dhangarhi Gate (Dhikala)
Dhangarhi Gate is the gateway to Dhikala, the park’s largest zone. From the gate, the road runs deep into the reserve to the Dhikala forest complex beside the Ramganga reservoir. Day visitors join the shared canter here; guests with a Dhikala stay check in here. See our Dhikala zone guide.
Dhela Gate
This southern gate serves the two zones that stay open year-round, Jhirna and Dhela, which makes it the busiest gate in the monsoon. Allow 30–40 minutes from Ramnagar. Read our Jhirna zone guide.
Durga Devi Gate
Durga Devi Gate serves the hilly, riverine Durga Devi zone in the north-east of the reserve, the best zone for birdwatchers. It is a long drive from Ramnagar, so morning-shift visitors should leave very early or stay closer to the gate. See our birdwatcher’s guide.
Pakhro Gate
Pakhro Gate is on the Kalagarh (western Pauri Garhwal) side of Corbett Tiger Reserve, far from the Ramnagar gates. It is reached from Kotdwar, which is the nearest town and railway station on that side. Pakhro is one of the Kalagarh side’s tourism zones, which generally open from 15 November to 15 June. If your permit is for Pakhro, plan your stay around Kotdwar, not Ramnagar.
Tips for your day at the Jim Corbett gates
- Reach the gate 30 minutes before your shift. Late arrivals can be refused.
- Carry the original ID used for booking; names on the permit must match.
- Your jeep driver will normally know the gate, but confirm it the evening before.
- Most gates have basic facilities only. Use the toilet and buy water before you leave town.
Check current shift times on our Jim Corbett timings and entry fee page.
Jim Corbett gates: frequently asked questions
Corbett has a separate entry gate for each safari zone, including Amdanda (Bijrani), Dhangarhi (Dhikala), Dhela (Jhirna and Dhela), Durga Devi, Garjia, Sitabani, Phato and Pakhro. Your permit is valid only at the gate for your booked zone.
There is no single main gate. Amdanda Gate, for Bijrani zone, is the most used because it is right next to Ramnagar.
Amdanda Gate is on the edge of Ramnagar town, about 1–2 km from the town centre, and it is the entry point for Bijrani zone.
Pakhro Gate is on the Kalagarh side of Corbett Tiger Reserve in Pauri Garhwal, reached from Kotdwar rather than Ramnagar.
Source: Jim Corbett National Park (Wikipedia). Gate arrangements are set by the Uttarakhand Forest Department and can change.