The Hathi Dager Zone — also spelled Hathidagar — is a recently added gate distinguished by its dense forest canopy, glimpses of the mountains, and Kosi River bank drives. It offers a raw wilderness experience with frequent sightings of Bengal tigers, wild elephants and rare bird species.
“Hathi Dager” literally means Elephant Path, named after the traditional migratory route used by elephant herds for centuries. It’s a unique mix of stony riverbeds, hilly terrain and mixed deciduous forests.
While famous for Elephants, it is also a fantastic corridor for Tigers and Sloth Bears who use the riverbeds to travel between forest patches. It’s xcellent for spotting raptors like the Crested Serpent Eagle and ground birds like the Red Junglefowl.
This zone has a beatiful forest with the display of picturesque water holes and incredible sceneries. The “Dager” (path) is a tapestry of smooth, white river stones that crunch under the heavy, silent footsteps of the Asiatic Elephant. As the gypsy navigates the rugged terrain, you feel the sheer scale of the mountains rising beside you. It is a raw and unpolished beauty—where the wind whistles through the “Khair” trees and the golden grass ripples like a sea. Here, the wild feels ancient, untamed, and deeply powerful.
“Hathi Dager” literally means Elephant Path, named after a traditional migratory route used by elephant herds for centuries. The same stony riverbeds also serve as a corridor for tigers and sloth bears, and the zone is excellent for spotting raptors like the Crested Serpent Eagle.
Standard safari timings apply: 6:00 AM-10:00 AM and 2:00 PM-6:00 PM in summer, 6:30 AM-10:30 AM and 1:30 PM-5:30 PM in winter.
Jeep safaris in Hathi Dager start from Rs 6,000 per jeep.
Book through Bagh Travels’ safari booking page, combine it with a stay via our Corbett tour packages, or browse verified stays on the Corbett hotels page.
Hathi Dager is one of the newer eco-tourism zones in the Jim Corbett landscape, in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. Access and permits are arranged through Ramnagar, the gateway town where the Forest Department permit office is based and where our team has operated for over 25 years.
The name itself tells you what the zone is for — hathi means elephant, and the area follows a traditional elephant corridor along the riverbed. If elephants are your priority rather than tigers, this is the zone to ask about. Tell us your dates and where you are staying in Ramnagar and we will confirm gate timing and pickup.
“Elephant Path” – named after a traditional migratory route used by elephant herds for centuries.
Elephants, tigers, and sloth bears all travel through the zone’s riverbeds.
Yes – it’s excellent for spotting raptors, including the Crested Serpent Eagle.
A mix of stony riverbeds, hilly terrain, and mixed deciduous forest.
Jeep safaris start from Rs 6,000 per jeep.
Hathi Dager translates to “Path of the Elephant,” and it’s not just a poetic name — this riverbed corridor sees genuinely frequent elephant movement, especially in the early morning and late afternoon when herds move between feeding grounds along the Kosi. Being one of the newer zones opened to ease pressure on older gates, it also tends to have shorter queues at the entry checkpoint, which matters if you’re aiming for first-light entry.
Not sure which gate suits your dates and priorities? Each Jim Corbett zone has its own entry gate, terrain, permit quota and wildlife odds. Compare the others:
Still deciding? Tell us your travel dates and we will recommend the right zone — see all options on our Corbett tour packages page or book a safari online.
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Gas Godam Road, Board Office Road, Ramnagar, Nainital, Uttarakhand 244715