Phato Zone Safari

Phato landscape and safari route

Phato lies in the lower foothills, where the Shiwalik slopes meet the flatter bhabar belt. The route passes through sal forest, mixed deciduous woodland, grassy openings and seasonal streams.

Its link with Pawalgarh, an area Jim Corbett himself knew well, gives it a rich mix of forest and edge habitats. With few jeeps on the tracks, drives are calm and you rarely queue at a sighting.

The gate is roughly 20 km from Ramnagar on the road to Kaladhungi.

Phato, Pawalgarh and the Corbett connection

The forests between Ramnagar and Kaladhungi are closely tied to Jim Corbett’s life. He spent his winters at Kaladhungi, and one of his best-known stories, about the “Bachelor of Powalgarh”, a huge tiger, is set in these woods. Pawalgarh itself was declared a conservation reserve to protect this corridor, which links Corbett with forests further east.

For you as a visitor, that history means Phato is not an isolated patch of woodland but part of a working wildlife corridor, which explains why big cats turn up here more often than you might expect for a buffer zone.

Wildlife you can see in Phato

Phato has built a reputation for tiger and leopard sightings since it opened, helped by low disturbance. Elephants use the area, especially near water.

Chital, sambar, barking deer and wild boar are common, and you may see jackals and mongooses at the forest edge. The Pawalgarh side is well known for birds, including hornbills, woodpeckers, pittas in summer and a range of raptors.

When to go and which shift to book

Phato usually runs from about 15 October to 30 June and closes during the monsoon.

• October–February: pleasant weather and good birding, with winter migrants.
• March–June: the best time for big cats as cover thins and animals visit water.

Book the morning shift for predators and birds. An afternoon shift fits well if you are visiting the Corbett Museum at Kaladhungi the same day.

Permits, gate and how to get there

You enter through Phato gate on the Pawalgarh side, about 20 km from Ramnagar towards Kaladhungi. Only a limited number of jeeps are allowed per shift.

Because Phato is a buffer zone of the Ramnagar Forest Division, its permits are handled separately from the tiger reserve’s core-zone bookings, and the process can change. Check the current rules before you travel. For core-zone booking windows (usually 45 days for Indian visitors and 90 days for foreign nationals) see our permit booking rules, and compare jeep costs in the safari price guide.

Where to stay near Phato

There are no forest rest houses for tourists in Phato. You can stay in Ramnagar, along the Kaladhungi road or in the quieter villages near Pawalgarh, all within a reasonable drive of the gate.

Browse our resorts and stays near the gates.