Why is it so difficult to book a Dhikala safari in Jim Corbett National Park?

For several wildlife tourists traveling to Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand, India, the ultimate aim is to go on a safari in the renowned Dhikala Zone of Corbett Tiger Reserve. This zone is generally referred to as the crown jewel of Corbett tourism, owing to its reputation for offering visitors expansive grasslands, panoramic views of the Ramganga floodplains, and opportunities for spotting elephant, deer, crocodile, and even the Bengal tiger in its open habitats, unlike other parts of Corbett.
Unlike several other wildlife tourism zones in Corbett Tiger Reserve, this zone is located very deep inside the park's core habitats, which are managed extremely conservatively by the forest department. This is why the overall number of visitors that are allowed into this zone at any given time is extremely small.
The following are some of the major reasons why obtaining a slot for a wildlife safari in this zone is considered one of the toughest in Indian wildlife tourism:

One of the biggest differences between Dhikala and other Corbett Zones is in terms of entry for jeep safari. In most of the tourism zones in Corbett, a person can easily book a gypsy safari for a morning or afternoon tour and then return to their hotel outside Corbett Forest. This is not, however, the case with Dhikala.
If you want to go on a gypsy safari in Dhikala, you are supposed to stay overnight in the forest in one of the government-run rest houses within the forest in Dhikala Zone. This rule is in place because, unlike most other zones in Corbett, Dhikala is deep in the core of Corbett Tiger Reserve, far away from most of the main entrance gates of Corbett National Park.
As a result, only those who are staying in the forest are allowed to go on a jeep safari in the Dhikala Zone, thus automatically limiting the number of visitors who can go on a jeep safari in the region. However, one can always go for a canter safari, as it is meant for day visitors.

The number of visitors permitted in Dhikala depends directly on the number of rooms available within the forest. The accommodations are limited to a handful of government forest rest houses within the Dhikala tourism range. The most popular among these is, of course, the legendary Dhikala Forest Rest House, situated on a ridge with a spectacular view of the Ramganga Reservoir and surrounding grasslands. In addition to Dhikala FRH, a few other smaller accommodations are available within the same range, namely Gairal Forest Rest House, Sarpduli Forest Rest House, and Sultan Forest Rest House.
It must be understood that these accommodations were originally designed decades ago for a handful of forest officers and a limited number of tourists. In fact, even today, the number of rooms and beds in dormitories is relatively limited, considering the enormous demand for visits from travelers within India and beyond its borders. Since overnight visitors are the only ones permitted for jeep safaris in Dhikala, they in turn determine the number of available jeep safari permits.

Another factor contributing to the difficulties involved in booking a stay in Dhikala is the booking system. Rooms inside the forest stay of Corbett are usually made available online a few weeks ahead of time. Seasoned wildlife travelers or tour operators are very aware of the booking periods. When the booking period is announced, the popular dates are usually taken immediately. If one is planning to visit casually or wishes to make bookings closer to the date of the visit, the chances of finding rooms are usually very low. This is due to the high number of bookings competing for a small number of rooms. This makes Dhikala one of the most difficult to book.

Another factor that reduces the availability of rooms is the seasonal closure. Just like the majority of the core areas of Jim Corbett National Park, the Dhikala zone is closed during the monsoon season. The rains during the period from mid-June to mid-November are intense, making the roads slippery, which makes them difficult to drive on. This period is used for the rejuvenation of the park's ecosystem from the effects of tourism. When the zone opens after the monsoon, the demand for rooms increases as many wildlife tourists are eager to book rooms for the upcoming season. The zone only opens for a limited period, making the demand for rooms even higher.

The last reason for the booking challenge is obvious: Dhikala is known to be the best spot for viewing wildlife in Corbett. Unlike many places in the forests, Dhikala has grasslands that allow the visitor to spot the wildlife from a distance. There are herds of spotted deer and hog deer grazing in the chaurs. Elephants are also known to pass through the floodplains. Crocodiles are basking on the banks of the reservoir created by the Ramganga River. Since deer are found in plenty in these places, tigers are also known to visit the region. While it is never a guarantee to spot the wild animals, the geography of the region offers some of the best experiences for a safari.