Bijrani Zone Safari

Bijrani landscape and safari route

Once you pass Amdanda gate, the track climbs gently through tall sal forest broken by dry stream beds (locally called sots). These sandy channels are worth watching closely: tigers and leopards use them as easy walkways, and fresh pugmarks are common in the mornings.

Deeper in, the forest gives way to open grassland around the Bijrani rest house. These meadows, one of the park’s well-known chaurs, are where you usually see big herds of chital and where elephants come out to feed in the evening. Mixed patches of haldu, rohini and bamboo add variety along the way.

Your driver follows a set circuit decided by the forest department, and routes can be closed at short notice for animal movement or maintenance. The Bijrani rest house is roughly 11 km from Ramnagar, so a shift gives you a good loop without long transfers.

Wildlife you can see in Bijrani

Bijrani’s mix of forest cover and open ground makes it one of the better zones for the Bengal tiger. Sightings are never guaranteed, but the grassland edges and stream beds give you a real chance, especially in the hotter months when animals move to water.

Asian elephants are frequent visitors, and you will almost certainly see spotted deer, sambar and barking deer. Wild boar, rhesus macaques and grey langurs are common along the tracks. Leopards are shyer here because of tiger presence but do turn up.

For birders, the zone is rich in woodpeckers, drongos, parakeets and raptors such as the crested serpent eagle. Watch for the red junglefowl, the wild ancestor of the domestic chicken, crossing the track.

When to go and which shift to book

Bijrani is usually open for day safaris from about 15 October to 30 June and closes during the monsoon, when heavy rain makes the tracks unsafe.

• October–November: lush and green after the rains, pleasant weather, but thick undergrowth can hide animals.
• December–February: cold, misty mornings and good birding. Pack layers for the open jeep.
• March–June: the best months for tiger sightings as grass is burnt or dries out and animals gather near water.

Morning shifts are cooler and give you the first look at overnight pugmarks. Afternoon shifts in April–June often produce sightings near water holes as the day cools. If you can, book one of each.

Permits, gate and how to get there

Your jeep enters through Amdanda gate, only about 1–2 km from Ramnagar, so most hotels are a short drive away. The zone allows roughly 30 jeeps per shift, and demand is high on weekends, long weekends and school holidays.

Online permits usually open 45 days ahead for Indian visitors and 90 days ahead for foreign nationals. Each permit carries the ID details of every passenger, so carry the same original photo ID to the gate. Read our permit booking rules before you book, and check current jeep costs in the safari price guide.

Only registered safari Gypsies with a forest-approved guide may enter. Private cars are not allowed inside.

Where to stay near Bijrani

Inside the zone there are two forest rest houses, Bijrani and the more remote Malani. Guests staying overnight at Bijrani can sometimes take an elephant ride in the grasslands, subject to availability. See our forest rest houses guide for rules and booking.

Most visitors stay in Ramnagar or along the Dhikuli road beside the Kosi river, which keeps the morning drive to Amdanda gate short. Browse our resorts and stays near the gates.