This zone serves as the gateway to “Sonanadi range“. Away from crowds and commercialisation, this zone offers a quieter and “off-the-beaten-path” experience to the travellers. Its gate is located in the Kotdwar range which makes it more accessible to the tourists coming from Dehradun and Delhi.
Pakhro zone is the ‘Secret Backdoor’ to the wild heart of Jim Corbett.
If you’re looking to skip the crowds of Ramnagar and dive straight into untouched wilderness, you’ve found it. Located in the Pauri Garhwal district, Pakhro is the primary entry point to the pristine Sonanadi Range. It’s just about 25 km from Kotdwar, making it the quickest and most scenic escape for anyone coming from Delhi or Dehradun.
The thing that makes it special is the silence. Unlike the busier zones, here the only ‘traffic’ you’ll encounter is the rustle of the Sal trees and the distant call of a barking deer. It spans a massive, rugged landscape of dense riverine forests and rolling hills, offering a raw, ‘old-school’ safari vibe that’s hard to find elsewhere.
To reach the Pakhro Zone, you must first head to the town of Kotdwar, which serves as the primary gateway to this region of the Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve. The Pakhro Gate is located approximately 23–25 km from Kotdwar.
From Delhi (Approx. 213–247 km)
The journey from Delhi typically takes 5 to 6 hours depending on your mode of transport.
By Road (Self-Drive/Taxi):Route: Delhi → Ghaziabad → Meerut (via Expressways) → Bijnor → Najibabad → Kotdwar.
From Kotdwar, take the Kotdwara-Kalagarh road (near the Siddhabali Mandir) for about 30–40 minutes to reach the Pakhro Gate.
By Train:The Siddhabali Jan Shatabdi Express and the Mussoorie Express are direct options from Old Delhi (DLI) to Kotdwar Railway Station.
By Bus:Regular buses (AC and Non-AC) operated by UTC and UPSRTC depart from ISBT Kashmiri Gate and Anand Vihar.
By Road:
Route: Dehradun → Rishikesh/Haridwar → Najibabad → Kotdwar.
You can reach the Pakhro Zone in less than 2 hours if starting from Jolly Grant Airport.
By Train:
There is no direct train; you usually have to change at Laksar Junction or Najibabad to reach Kotdwar.
By Bus:
Daily buses are available from the Dehradun ISBT (Hill Bus Stand), taking about 2.5 hours to reach Kotdwar.
The Final Leg: Kotdwar to Pakhro Gate
Once in Kotdwar, you can hire a local taxi or your pre-booked safari Gypsy to take you to the Pakhro Gate.
Note: Private vehicles are strictly prohibited inside the safari zone.
Pakhro is the primary gateway to the pristine Sonanadi Range – a quieter, off-the-beaten-path alternative to Corbett’s busier zones, ideal for travelers looking to skip the crowds around Ramnagar.
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. Pakhro is best planned as part of a Kotdwar-side itinerary rather than a Ramnagar-based trip.
Jeep safaris in Pakhro start from Rs 7,500 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.
It’s the gateway to the pristine Sonanadi Range – quieter and less commercialized than the zones closer to Ramnagar.
Via the town of Kotdwar; the Pakhro Gate is about 23-25 km from Kotdwar.
Approximately 213-247 km, roughly a 5-6 hour drive depending on traffic and route.
Pauri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand.
Jeep safaris start from Rs 7,500 per jeep.
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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