Amangarh Tiger Reserve

1. Geography & History

Amangarh Tiger Reserve was declared in 2012 by the Uttar Pradesh State Forest Department to protect the contiguous forest tract that was formerly part of Jim Corbett National Park. When Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in November 2000, the main core of Corbett fell into Uttarakhand, while the southern 95 sq km forest area remained in Bijnor district of UP.

Recognizing its ecological significance as a high-density tiger nursery and elephant corridor, the Government of Uttar Pradesh notified it as an independent Project Tiger sanctuary.

2. Quick Facts & Official Metadata

3. Tigers & Terai Biodiversity

The dense canopy cover and perennial stream beds in Amangarh provide ideal breeding conditions for Bengal Tigers and wild Asian Elephants (*Elephas maximus*). Annual camera trap surveys conducted by the UP Forest Department consistently record active tiger breeding pairs and cub sightings in the reserve.

4. Safari & Visitor Information

Safaris in Amangarh are regulated by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department through designated entry gates near Rehar and Bijnor.

Best Time to Visit: November to June.

How to Reach: Nearest major railway head is Moradabad Junction (65 km). Road access via Delhi-Meerut-Bijnor highway.

5. Related Tiger Reserves & Guides

• Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve Guide
• Dudhwa Tiger Reserve Guide
• Pilibhit Tiger Reserve Guide
• Ranipur Tiger Reserve Guide
• Uttar Pradesh Travel & Wildlife Directory

4. Terai Foothills & The Corbett Southern Buffer Continuum

Amangarh Tiger Reserve encompasses 95 square kilometers of pristine Terai-bhabar forest in the northernmost sector of Bijnor district, Uttar Pradesh. Geographically, Amangarh forms the contiguous southern ecological extension of Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand. Following the reorganization of Uttar Pradesh in November 2000, the vast majority of Corbett fell within the newly formed state of Uttarakhand, leaving this strategic 95-square-kilometer forested tract within Uttar Pradesh.

Recognizing its paramount role in buffering Corbett's core breeding tiger and elephant populations from intense agricultural encroachment along the Gangetic plains, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) officially declared Amangarh an independent Tiger Reserve in 2012. Today, it serves as a critical bio-bridge connecting Corbett in the northwest with the Rajaji-Corbett elephant corridor and Dudhwa Tiger Reserve to the east.

The topography consists of gently undulating piedmont gravels (Bhabar) dissected by seasonal river torrents (locally termed Raus) descending from the southern slopes of the Shivalik Hills. The Peeli Dam reservoir and the perennial Chhoiya river provide vital wetland habitats that retain sweetwater pools even during the peak summer dry spell.

5. Terai Silviculture & Keystone Wildlife

The vegetation of Amangarh is dominated by dense moist deciduous Sal (Shorea robusta) forests, intermixed with Asna (Terminalia alata), Khair (Acacia catechu), Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo), and Semal (Bombax ceiba). Vast patches of moist alluvial savanna grasslands (dominated by Saccharum spontaneum and Narenga porphyrocoma) flourish along the Peeli reservoir catchment.

These rich grasslands sustain substantial populations of the Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), with migratory herds frequently crossing back and forth across the unfenced boundary between Corbett and Amangarh. The reserve supports a resident population of over 30 Royal Bengal Tigers, whose cubs frequently disperse into the adjoining social forestry ranges of Bijnor and Moradabad.

Other prominent mammals include the Indian Leopard, Spotted Deer (Chital), Sambar, Barking Deer (Muntjac), Hog Deer, Wild Boar, Sloth Bear, and the endangered Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) inhabiting the marshy banks of the Peeli Dam.

6. Avian Wealth & Migratory Wetland Hub

Amangarh is an exceptional birdwatching sanctuary, recording over 350 resident and migratory bird species. The shallow backwaters and reed beds of the Peeli Dam reservoir serve as a vital winter stopover along the Central Asian Flyway between November and March.

Ornithological highlights include breeding pairs of the Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis), Pallas's Fish Eagle, Lesser Fish Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Kalij Pheasant, Red Junglefowl, Black-necked Stork, Sarus Crane, and large winter flocks of Bar-headed Geese, Northern Pintails, and Ruddy Shelducks (Brahminy Ducks).

7. Safari Guidelines & Frequently Asked Questions

Eco-tourism in Amangarh is operated from the primary gateway at Khattra Gate near Rehar town in Bijnor. The UP Forest Department offers morning (6:00 AM to 9:30 AM) and afternoon (2:30 PM to 6:00 PM) open-top 4x4 gypsy safaris under certified naturalist accompaniment.

8. The Shivalik-Elephant Migration Highway & Grassland Dynamics

Amangarh is one of the most critical structural components of Project Elephant's Rajaji-Corbett Elephant Reserve. The continuous, unfenced landscape allows herds of wild Asian Elephants to traverse between the riverine grasslands of the Ramganga River basin in Corbett and the sugarcane-agriculture buffer fringes of Bijnor.

During the dry pre-monsoon summer (April to June), when natural water pools inside the Shivalik hills dry up, hundreds of elephants congregate around the perennial backwaters of the Peeli Dam reservoir. The presence of deep wallowing mud pools, natural mineral salt-licks, and succulent wetland grasses (Typha elephantina and Phragmites karka) provides indispensable nourishment for breeding elephant matriarchal clans.

Forest Hydrology & Soil Conservation

The seasonal riverbeds (Raus) descending from the Shivalik ridge bring massive torrents of boulders and silt during monsoon downpours. The Uttar Pradesh Forest Department has constructed check dams, gabion silt-traps, and earthen bunds across the catchments of the Chhoiya and Phika rivers, recharging the groundwater table across Bijnor and preventing seasonal flash-flooding in downstream agricultural settlements.

9. Cultural Geography & Historical Bijnor Heritage

The forested hinterland of Bijnor holds deep historical significance in ancient Indian literature. The ancient town of Kanva Ashram (located along the Malini River near Kotdwar, just north of Amangarh) is celebrated in Kalidasa's epic Abhijnanasakuntalam as the birthplace of Emperor Bharata, after whom India (Bharat) is named.

Visitors exploring Amangarh can also visit the historic 18th-century Daranagar Ghat on the River Ganges and the historic Ganj archaeological sites in Bijnor, providing a rich blend of wildlife exploration and cultural discovery.

10. Anti-Poaching Infrastructure & Modern Smart Patrol Systems

Due to its sensitive position along the interstate border between Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Amangarh Tiger Reserve is protected by a multi-tiered security grid. The Uttar Pradesh Forest Department has deployed M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers - Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) digital mobile tracking systems across all foot-patrol beats.

Solar-powered wireless camera traps, elevated fire-watch watchtowers, and thermal imaging drones are utilized during the dry season to monitor wildlife movement, detect illegal timber logging, and rapidly suppress forest fires before they can spread across the dry Sal leaf litter on the forest floor.

Wetland Rejuvenation & Water Security

The reserve management has desilted artificial waterholes and constructed earthen saucers fed by solar-powered borewells across the core zone. This ensures that wildlife does not need to cross into human-dominated agricultural fields during high summer, reducing human-elephant and human-tiger interactions to near-zero levels.

11. Local Community Stewardship & Eco-Tourism Impact

The villages bordering the reserve—primarily inhabited by agrarian communities in Bijnor—are integrated into conservation through local Eco-Development Committees. Revenue generated from safari vehicle entries and guide fees is reinvested into village development projects, solar street lighting, and crop-raiding compensation programs, transforming local villagers into active wildlife protectors.

12. Seasonal Climate & Wildlife Sighting Patterns

Understanding the seasonal weather cycle in Amangarh is vital for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. During the cool winter months from December to February, early morning mist blankets the Terai grasslands and Sal forest canopies, with temperatures dropping to 6°C. Tigers and leopards are frequently spotted sunning themselves on the sandy forest fire lines and canal banks between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM.

As temperatures rise during the summer months of April to June (reaching 38°C to 42°C), visibility improves significantly as deciduous trees shed their leaves. Massive herds of wild elephants congregate daily around the Peeli Dam reservoir and Chhoiya waterholes, providing exceptional photographic opportunities against the distant backdrop of the blue Shivalik hills.