By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun/Ramnagar, 15 Jun: Tourism activities in the Dhikala zone of Jim Corbett National Park have been suspended from today onwards as part of the annual monsoon closure. The Corbett administration has taken this decision keeping in view the safety of visitors, and the zone will reopen on 15 November once conditions become favourable. The tourists who had stayed overnight on 14 June within the Dhikala Zone in the party, returned today, after which entry to the zone has been completely stopped. At the same time, the Bijrani Zone of the Corbett Park will close for the monsoon season on 30 June.
Dhikala is regarded as the most popular zone of Corbett Tiger Reserve and it attracts nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts from across the country and abroad. Vast grasslands, the scenic Ramganga River, dense forests and rich wildlife make this zone a prime destination for wildlife safari and night stay. However, during the monsoon season, forest streams and kutcha tracks often overflow, causing waterlogging and damage to routes, which can endanger the visitors.
Deputy Director Rahul Mishra stated that tourist safety is the top priority and that therefore night stay facilities in all the major zones have also been closed from 15 June. Dhikala alone offers around 30 rooms and 12 dormitory beds, while Garal has 6 rooms and 8 dormitory beds, Sultan and Malani 2 rooms each, Bijrani 7 rooms, Dhela 2 rooms, Jhirna 4 rooms, Pakhro 2 rooms and Sonanadi 2 rooms. All these facilities will remain shut till 15 November.
The administration explained that monsoon closures mainly affect zones where roads and forest tracks are prone to heavy damage. Dhikala, located deep inside the forest, requires crossing several streams and tracks, making access risky during heavy rains. Nevertheless, day safaris will continue in Jhirna, Dhela and Garjia zones, which remain open throughout the year under normal conditions. Bijrani will remain open till 30 June and then close for the monsoon. The officials added that in case, the rainfall intensifies and safety concerns arise, even the open zones may have to be temporarily closed. The annual closure is aimed at both protecting tourists and allowing the forest to rejuvenate naturally. For the next five months, silence will prevail in Dhikala and other closed zones, until 15 November when Corbett’s wilderness will once again welcome visitors.
