About Sonanadi
The region has FRHs in both the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary and the Domunda Tourism
Zone of the Corbett Tiger Reserve. Halduparao, the only FRH in the Sonanadi Sanctuary
and can be accessed from the Vatanvasa gate. The FRH at Kanda is in Corbett National
Park. The FRHs of Morghatti and Pakhro are on the periphery of the Sonanadi Sanctuary
and can be approached from Kalagarh and Kotdwar. The FRHs of Lohachaur, Rathuawadhab
and Mundiyapani are in the Domunda Tourism Zone of CTR accessed from the. Durgadevi
gate ahead of Ramnagar, The FRH of Kalagarh can be approached short of Ramnagar
while that of Mohaan is 30km ahead of Ramnagar. Sonanadi Sanctuary is spread over
301.18 sqkm of prime forests of the Shiwalik Terai biotic province. Sonanadi literally
means the river of gold. Gold panning used to be carried out in the river before
the area became a sanctuary.
The Palain and the Mandal are the perennial streams of the sanctuary. Historically,
it was carved out of Kalagarh Forest Division. It was brought under the umbrella
of Project Tiger and became a part of the Corbett Tiger Reserve in 1991 and also
a part of Project Elephant. There are no villages inside the sanctuary. The forests
of Sonanadi are remarkable for dense sal and rich bamboo clusters besides other
species and is teeming with wildlife. Sonanadi range is located in Sonanadi Wildlife
Sanctuary which is a part of Corbett National Park. Developed as a natural habitat
of wildlife animals and birds, Sonanadi range is blessed with amazing beauty of
flora and fauna. Situated in the north of Sonanadi river, this zone is favorite
place for Asiatic Elephant along with tiger, cheetal, sambhar, leopard and reptiles.
Visitors can also enjoy over 550 of birds in their natural habitat.
Lohachaur, Rithuadhab and Halduparao are some Forest Rest Houses
in Sonanadi range available for night stay. Safari options like Jeep and elephant
are available to enjoy wildlife at Sonanadi Range. Tourists are advised to pre-book
entry ticket for a Safari in Sonanadi Zone. One can pre-book entry tickets from
Ramnagar office. Sonanadi Zone is open for visitors from 15 October to 15 June and
closed for monsoon. There are several safaris operated during a day in Sonanadi
zone.
Jungle Safari
Sonanadi zone falls on Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary which is a part of Corbett Tiger
Reserve. This is the only zone in Jim Corbett where tourists can walk on foot but
richly housed by non-venomous snakes of different kinds. Popular mammals in the
region are tiger, leopards and elephants. Tourists can take wildlife safari on jeep
around Sonanadi zone observing the wild beings at proximity and enjoying the enchanting
beauty of greenery and nature.
Date
|
CTR entry Timing for Jungle Safari
|
Morning
|
Evening
|
Morning
|
Evening
|
Last entry
|
Last exit
|
Last entry
|
Last exit
|
1 Oct to
14 Nov
|
6.30 am
|
2.00 p.m.
|
8:00 a.m.
|
10:30 a.m.
|
3:30 p.m.
|
6:00 p.m.
|
15 Nov to
15 Feb
|
6.30 am
|
1.30 p.m.
|
8:00 a.m.
|
10:30 a.m.
|
3:00 p.m.
|
5:30 p.m.
|
16 Feb to
15 April
|
6.15 am
|
2.00 p.m
|
7:30 a.m.
|
10:15 a.m.
|
3:30 p.m.
|
6:00 p.m.
|
16 April
onwards
|
5.45 am
|
3.00 p.m
|
7:15 a.m.
|
9:45 a.m.
|
4:30 p.m.
|
7:00 p.m.
|
Accommodation at Sonanadai Wildlife Sanctuary
Forest Rest Houses are available a Halduparao at Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary located
between the rivers Palain and Sonanadi, Loha chaur and Rathuadhab.
How to Reach Sonanadi ?
Tourists can enjoy a wildlife safari to Sonanadi Zone by taking Elephant safari
and Jeep safari from Durga Devi Gate, Kalagarh Gate and Vatanvasa Gate.
All gates are well connected by road and visitors can book a Safari from Ramnagar
office of Park authorities of Corbett National Park.
By Road
Kotdwar to Pakhro - 20KM
Dehradun to Pakhro - 139KM
Delhi to Pakhro - 213KM
Pantnagr to Pakhro - 153KM
Distance from Other Places
Delhi to Meerut (Distance 99.5Kms) via Meerut-Pauri National Highway and Meerut
Road- Bijnor to Kotdwar (distance 61.1 Kms) via Nh24 and NH534
By Train
Nearest Railway Station from Sonanadi is Kotdwar. (The
distance from Railway Station from kotdwar is 1.4 Kms)
By Air
Nearest Airport from Kotdwar is Dehradun. (The distance
from Dehradun to kotdwar is 146.2 Kms)
The entry point of Sonanadi Zone (Kalagarh Tiger Reserve) is Vatanvasa which is
20 Kms from Kotdwar & Pakhro which is 25 Kms from Kotdwar

The Durga Devi Safari zone of Corbett Tiger Reserve remains open for tourists from
15th October to 15th June.
Durga Devi Ecotourism Zones remains closed for night halts and Day Visit from 16st
June to 14th October.
Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary is blessed with a surprise package loaded with various
faunas, when it comes to the fauna part. The sanctuary is match with the typical
North Indian tropical forests.
The plant life of the sanctuary is rich in different species of Sal, Sheesham, Semal,
Bakli, Aonla, Jamun, Kanthber, Figs and along with medicinal plants and some endangered
species of Herbs and Shrubs.
The Wildlife reserve is the shelter to about 600 types of resident and migratory
birds. The diversity of avifauna in Sonanadi Sanctuary represents approximately
6% of the total bird species in the world. The profuse gathering of bird species
in the sanctuary offers a prospect to view 150 species of birds in a limited visit
in
Sonanadi Sanctuary. The kinds of Birds normally seen here are, Thrushes, Pheasants,
Hornbills, Warblers, Flycatchers, Wall Creeper, Changeable Hawk Eagle, emerald Dove,
Himalayan Bearded Vulture, Falcon, Brown Fish Owls, etc.
Mammals found in the wildlife sanctuary are Leopard, Sambhar, Cheetal, Barking Deer,
Wild Boar, Goral, Otter, Porcupine, Yellow-Throated Marten and Sloth Bear. The giants
like Elephants and Tigers are favorites among the visitors. A large display of reptiles
like Python, Monitor Lizard, King Cobra, Different kind of Turtles, Gharials, Mugger,
Mahaseer, and Indian Trout etc.
Corbett National Park and Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary together comprise the Corbett
Tiger Reserve which hosts the second largest population of Tiger-Panther Tigris
in the world. The rare sightings of Himalayan Black Bear and Albino Cheetal are
also recorded in Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary.
Forest Rest Houses are available a Halduparao at Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary located
between the rivers Palain and Sonanadi, Loha chaur and Rathuadhab.
Halduparao FRH built in 1890 is located at a distance of 50km from Kotdwara. The
entry is through Vatanvasa gate followed by a 10 km drive on a forest road. It is
located on the right bank of Palain river at an elevation of 385m, giving visitors
a panoramic view for the river and the forests nearby. The FRH is over l00 years
old.
Halduparao(FRH)-Double Bed
Room Type:FRH(Double Bed)
Location:HALDUPARAO
Entry Gate:Vatanvasa Gate (Via Kotdwar)
Distance from Kotdwar:50 km
No. of Rooms:2
Kitchen Facility:Yes
Rathuwadhab is a modest FRH built in 1899 on the banks of the Mandal river. Overlooking
the suspension bridge and lime painted settlements with slate roof, it offers a
wonderful view of the river and the village nearby.
Rathuwadhab(FRH)-Double Bed
Room Type:FRH(Double Bed)
Location:RATHUADHAB
Entry Gate:Vatanvasa Gate (Via Kotdwar)
Distance from Kotdwar:65 km
No. of Rooms:2
Kitchen Facility:Yes
Mundiyapani FRH is situated amidst dense mixed forests. It was built in 1903 at
an elevation of 547m and is very good site for avid bird watchers. A drive to Halduparao
FRH in Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary is recommended for those staying here.
Mundiyapani(FRH)-Double Bed
Room Type:FRH(Double Bed)
Location:MUDIAPANI
Entry Gate:Vatanvasa Gate (Via Kotdwar)
Distance from Kotdwar:40 km
No. of Rooms:2
Kitchen Facility:Yes
Morghatti FRH is situated amidst dense mixed forests. It is very good site for avid
bird watchers. A drive to Morghatti FRH in Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary is recommended
for those staying here.
Morghatti (FRH)-Double Bed
Room Type:FRH(Double Bed)
Location:Morghatti
Entry Gate:Pakhro Gate (Via Kotdwar)
Distance from Kotdwar:40 km
No. of Rooms:2
Kitchen Facility:Yes
Date
|
CTR entry Timing for Night Stay
|
Morning
|
Last entry
|
Last exit
|
15 Oct to 14Nov
|
10:00 a.m.
|
3:30 p.m.
|
4:30 p.m
|
15 Nov to 15 Feb
|
10:00 a.m.
|
3:30 p.m.
|
4:30 p.m
|
16 Feb to 15 April
|
10:00 a.m.
|
4:00 p.m.
|
5:00 p.m.
|
16 April onwards
|
10:00 a.m.
|
4:30 p.m.
|
6:00 p.m.
|
Pakhro Double Bed
Pakhro Double Bed...
|
|
Aminities
Details are not available
|
Morghatti Double Bed
Morghatti Double Bed Room...
|
|
Aminities
Details are not available
|
Durga Devi Gate
Ramnagar is a small town and municipal board in the Nainital District of Uttarakhand,
India. Ramnagar is located approximately 65 Kms (40 miles) from Nainital, the headquarters
of the district. Ramnagar is the Gateway to the Corbett Tiger Reserve, the oldest
National park.
Rathuadhab FRH
Rathuwadhab is a modest FRH built in 1899 on the banks of the Mandal river. Overlooking
the suspension bridge and lime painted settlements with slate roof,it offers a wonderful
view.
Flora & Fauna
Trees like the Sheesam (Dalbergia sissoo), the Kanju (Holoptelea integrifolia),
the ber (Zizyphus mauritians), dhak (Butea monosperma), and bael (Aegle Marmelos).
A large number of tiger are said to be found here. Other mammals inhabiting Jim
Corbett National park includes deer species (Barking Deer, Sambar, Hog and Chital),
Sloth and Himalayan Black bears.
Tariff
Room Name
|
Indian
|
Foreigner
|
DORMITRY
|
₹ 250
|
₹ 500
|
FRH-Single Bed
|
₹ 500
|
₹ 1000
|
FRH-Double Bed
|
₹ 1250
|
₹ 2500
|
FRH-Four Bed
|
₹ 2000
|
₹ 4000
|
Mundiyapani FRH
Mundiyapani FRH is situated amidst dense mixed forests. It was built in 1903 at
an elevation of 547m and is very good for bird watching. A drive to Halduparao FRH
in Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary is recommended.
Flora & Fauna
Trees like the Sheesam (Dalbergia sissoo), the Kanju (Holoptelea integrifolia),
the ber (Zizyphus mauritians), dhak (Butea monosperma), and bael (Aegle Marmelos).
A large number of tiger are said to be found here. Other mammals inhabiting Jim
Corbett National park includes deer species (Barking Deer, Sambar, Hog and Chital),
Sloth and Himalayan Black bears.
Tariff
Room Name
|
Indian
|
Foreigner
|
DORMITRY
|
₹ 250
|
₹ 500
|
FRH-Single Bed
|
₹ 500
|
₹ 1000
|
FRH-Double Bed
|
₹ 1250
|
₹ 2500
|
FRH-Four Bed
|
₹ 2000
|
₹ 4000
|
Halduparao FRH
Halduparao FRH built in 1890 is 5o km from Kotdwara through Vatanvasa followed by
a 10 km drive on a forest road. It is located on the right bank of Palain river
at an elevation of 385m, giving visitors a panoramic view. The FRH is over loo years
old and is the remotest one in Sonanadi Sanctuary. The watch tower in the campus
of the FRH overlooking the Palain river and forest around is good for bird watching.
Apart from the FRH, new accommodation has been added a few years back.
Flora & Fauna
Trees like the Sheesam (Dalbergia sissoo), the Kanju (Holoptelea integrifolia),
the ber (Zizyphus mauritians), dhak (Butea monosperma), and bael (Aegle Marmelos).
A large number of tiger are said to be found here. Other mammals inhabiting Jim
Corbett National park includes deer species (Barking Deer, Sambar, Hog and Chital),
Sloth and Himalayan Black bears.
Tariff
Room Name
|
Indian
|
Foreigner
|
FRH-Double Bed
|
₹ 1250
|
₹ 2500
|
Vatanvasa Gate
Corbett Tiger Reserve is one of the richest bird regions of India. Nearly 600 species
of birds also make Corbett a special place. Sightings of birds species like the
Collared falconet, Great Hornbill, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo and white-tailed
Rubythroat are avid birdwatcher's delight.