Plan your visit

Choose a zone and reach out for availability. Peak season (December-March) fills up two to three weeks ahead. Mid-November to February is cooler and best for birdlife; March to mid-June gives the strongest tiger-sighting odds, since shrinking water sources concentrate wildlife. Indian nationals can book a permit up to 45 days ahead of the visit date, foreign nationals up to 90 days ahead; each permit covers one zone and one shift only.

Best time to visit

Mid-Nov - Feb: Winter - all 8 zones open
Mar - mid-Jun: Summer - all 8 zones open, best tiger odds
Jul - Oct: Monsoon - only Jhirna, Dhela & Sitabani open

How to reach

From	Distance	By road	By rail	By air
Delhi	~260-290 km	~6-7 hrs by road	Overnight train to Ramnagar (Ranikhet Express)	Nearest airport: Pantnagar (~80 km)
Nainital	~65 km	~2-2.5 hrs by road	None direct - connect via Kathgodam	-
Rishikesh	~200 km	~5-6 hrs by road	Connect via Moradabad/Ramnagar line	Nearest airport: Pantnagar (~110 km)

Ramnagar, the main gateway town, sits on the Kathgodam-Moradabad rail line and is the hub for all onward zone transfers.

Permits & booking window

Indian nationals can book up to 45 days ahead of the visit date; foreign nationals up to 90 days ahead, with passport details required at booking. Each permit is valid for one zone and one shift only, and is treated as non-refundable and non-transferable once paid.

Do

Book your zone permit as early as your booking window allows (45 days Indian / 90 days foreign).
Arrive at the gate at least 30 minutes before your shift - late arrival can mean denied entry.
Wear neutral colours and keep noise to a minimum inside the vehicle.
Carry a valid photo ID; foreign nationals should carry their passport.

Don't

Don't expect to reschedule or get a refund once a permit is booked - treat the date as fixed.
Don't bring single-use plastic bottles - they are not permitted inside the park.
Don't leave the vehicle inside the core zone, for your safety and the animals'.
Don't assume every zone is open year-round - five of the eight close for the monsoon.

Park spans 1,288 km² (core + buffer) across 8 tourism zones in Nainital district, Uttarakhand.