Overview: The Corbett Frontier in Uttar Pradesh
Situated in the northern sector of Bijnor district along the state boundary between Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Amangarh Tiger Reserve encompasses 80.60 square kilometers of dense Terai Sal forests, swampy grasslands, and seasonal riverine streams.
Originally established as an integral part of the historic **Jim Corbett National Park** under British and post-independence administrations, Amangarh was separated administratively when Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in November 2000. In 2012, recognizing its vital ecological role as the primary southern buffer and breeding territory for Corbett's wildlife, the Government of Uttar Pradesh formally notified Amangarh as an independent Project Tiger Reserve.
Without any physical barriers or fences separating it from Corbett's southern boundary, Amangarh functions as a seamless trans-boundary wildlife corridor where **Royal Bengal Tigers** (Panthera tigris), large matriarch-led herds of **Asian Elephants** (Elephas maximus), **Gaurs** (Indian Bison), and **Swamp Deer** (Barasingha) roam freely.
Terai Arc Habitat Zonation & Corridor Ecology
Amangarh's landscape features a classic mosaic of low-lying Terai alluvial ecosystems:
Vegetation Structure of Amangarh Reserve
| Habitat Zone |
Dominant Flora |
Ecological Function |
| Moist Terai Sal Forest |
Sal (Shorea robusta), Asan, Semal, Haldu, Rohini, Kusum. |
High-canopy shelter and movement paths for tigers, leopards, and sambar deer. |
| Alluvial Grasslands (Chaurs) |
Elephant grass (Typha elephantina), Saccharum (Kans), Narkul. |
Primary grazing and wallowing habitat for wild elephants, gaurs, and swamp deer. |
| Riparian Stream Ravines |
Khair (Acacia catechu), Shisham, Jamun along Peeli Dam streams. |
Perennial waterholes and ambush points for big cats during summer dry months. |
| Swampy Wetland Pockets |
Freshwater marshes, sedges, water reeds, submerged weeds. |
Foraging ground for wetland birds, fishing cats, otters, and wild boars. |
The reserve serves as a vital genetic spillover zone for Corbett's tiger population, absorbing dispersing sub-adult tigers and providing rich prey density consisting of Cheetal, Sambar, Hog Deer, and Wild Boar.
Faunal Diversity & Megaherbivores
Amangarh sustains high concentrations of apex carnivores and herbivores:
Royal Bengal Tiger
Panthera tigris tigris • Apex Predator
Over 25 resident tigers patrol the Sal forests and grasslands, maintaining contiguous territories with Corbett's southern ranges.
Asian Elephant
Elephas maximus • Terai Giant
Herds of 20 to 50 elephants migrate through the reserve's tall grasslands and bathe in the backwaters of Peeli Dam.
Gaur (Indian Bison)
Bos gaurus • Heavy Bovine
Massive dark bovids grazing in the moist grassland clearings, frequently seen during dawn and dusk safari hours.
Swamp Deer (Barasingha)
Rucervus duvaucelii • Wetland Deer
Vulnerable twelve-antlered deer grazing in the marshy chaurs and reedbeds along seasonal streams.
Indian Leopard
Panthera pardus • Adaptable Stalker
Skulks along the outer buffer fringe and mixed woodlands, hunting cheetal fawns, monkeys, and wild boars.
Great Hornbill
Buceros bicornis • Canopy Giant
Magnificent bird with a large yellow casque flying across the tall Sal canopy with powerful rhythmic wingbeats.
Avian highlights include over **150 bird species**, featuring the **Kalij Pheasant**, **Crested Serpent Eagle**, **Pallas's Fish Eagle**, **Changeable Hawk-Eagle**, **Jungle Owlet**, and **Emerald Dove**.
Buffer Zone Management & Anti-Poaching Operations
Due to its proximity to human settlements along the southern border of Bijnor, the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department maintains intensive monitoring protocols across Amangarh. Solar-powered anti-poaching camps, 24/7 wireless networks, and camera-trap grids track tiger and elephant movements in real time.
Village Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) in surrounding villages like Rehar and Afzalgarh actively participate in forest fire prevention, corridor protection, and resolving human-elephant crop depredation through prompt compensation mechanisms.
The opening of regulated 4x4 Gypsy jungle safaris in Amangarh has created direct employment for local youth as certified nature guides, drivers, and hospitality staff, establishing a sustainable community ecotourism model in western Uttar Pradesh.
Dedicated elephant response squads (*Gajraj Teams*) patrol sensitive agricultural borders along the southern fringe at sunset, utilizing acoustic deterrents and solar-powered early warning fences to guide wild herds safely away from farmland back into the deep Sal forests of the reserve.
Safari Planning, Entry Gates & Practical Details
Amangarh provides an intimate, uncrowded tiger safari experience:
Safari Planning & Practical Details
- Best Visiting Months: November 15 through June 15. Winter offers pleasant cool weather, while summer months (March–May) provide optimal tiger sightings near waterholes.
- Safari Shifts & Gate: Morning (06:00 AM – 09:30 AM) and Afternoon (02:30 PM – 05:30 PM) safaris operate from the **Rehar Entry Gate**.
- Safari Booking: 4x4 Gypsy safaris can be booked online through the Uttar Pradesh Ecotourism portal or at the forest range office in Najibabad/Bijnor.
- Accommodation: Forest rest houses and private jungle resorts available near Rehar, Najibabad (35 km), and Kashipur (40 km).
How to Reach Amangarh Tiger Reserve
Easily accessible from Delhi NCR and Western UP:
Gateway Transit Routes
- From Najibabad: Approx. 35 km northeast via Afzalgarh road (approx. 45 minutes by car).
- From Bijnor (District HQ): Approx. 65 km northeast via Kotdwar/Najibabad highway (approx. 1.2 hours).
- From Kashipur (Uttarakhand): Approx. 40 km west via Jaspur (approx. 50 minutes).
- From Moradabad: Approx. 85 km north via Thakurdwara (approx. 2 hours).
- From New Delhi / NCR: Approx. 220 km northeast via Meerut and Bijnor (approx. 4.5 hours via Delhi-Meerut Expressway).
- By Train: Najibabad Junction (NBD) (~35 km) and Kashipur Junction (KPV) (~40 km) connect direct express trains to Delhi, Lucknow, and Kolkata.
- Nearest Airport: Pantnagar Airport (PGH) (~95 km) and Indira Gandhi International Airport Delhi (DEL) (~235 km).
Explore Bijnor District — Ganga Barrage, Historic Forts & Tiger Wilderness
Amangarh Tiger Reserve is the wild pride of Bijnor. Explore the historic Najibudaulah Fort in Najibabad, witness the holy River Ganga flowing through the Bijnor Barrage, and visit the sacred Kanva Ashram where ancient Sanskrit legends were born.
View Bijnor District Guide →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Amangarh Tiger Reserve famous for?
Amangarh Tiger Reserve is famous as Uttar Pradesh’s southern buffer to Jim Corbett National Park, harboring over 25 Royal Bengal Tigers, wild elephant herds, gaurs, and swamp deer across 80 sq km of Terai Sal forest.
Where is Amangarh Tiger Reserve located?
Amangarh Tiger Reserve is located in the northern tip of Bijnor district in western Uttar Pradesh, directly contiguous with the southern boundary of Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand.
When was Amangarh declared a Tiger Reserve?
Amangarh was formally notified as a Tiger Reserve in 2012 by the Government of Uttar Pradesh to protect Corbett's vital southern buffer and wildlife dispersal corridor.
What is the entry gate for Amangarh Tiger Reserve safari?
The primary entry gate for jungle Gypsy safaris is the Rehar Gate, located approximately 35 kilometers from Najibabad in Bijnor district.
