Now You'll Have To Spend Up To Rs 5000 To Get A Glimpse Of Tigers At Corbett National Park

Tourists to Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) will now have to shell out more to enjoy glimpses of wildlife on a safari and to stay in a rest house in the protected area.

The reserve, which boasts of over 200 tigers, is a huge draw for travellers looking for a budget-friendly holiday. But after a five-year lull, the Corbett administration has now hiked prices of safaris in the park and overnight vehicle rentals by as much as 38%. A day safari in Bijrani zone of CTR which cost Rs 1,600 for four hours will now set one back by Rs 2,000, while prices of safaris in Jhirna, Dhela and Durgadevi zones have increased from Rs 1,750 to Rs 2,200.

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The rise in Gypsy rentals will also make staying in rest houses inside the reserve a costly affair. This is because tourists who choose to stay the night in a rest house inside the reserve have to rent a Gypsy to travel to their accommodation as they are not allowed to walk or take a private vehicle inside. In Sona river area of the reserve, the cost of a night Gypsy has been hiked by 38% - from Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,830.

While the cost of hiring a Gypsy overnight in Dhikala zone of CTR has increased from Rs 3,800 to Rs 4,800, in Jhirna zone, the charges will be Rs 4,000 per night instead of Rs 3,000. In Fooltaal, it will be Rs 5,200, up from Rs 4,000.

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Amit Verma, deputy director of CTR, said, "The fare of the safaris had not been revised for five years. The rates have now been revised keeping several factors in mind, including inflation. The new rates have been implemented with immediate effect."

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Members of the Corbett Gypsy Welfare Association said that the increase in prices was long due. Virendra Singh Rawat, secretary of the association, said, "The revised fares are in accordance with our demands. Some drivers were overcharging customers as they were not making any profit due to low prices."

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