How to visit national parks (near Dealhi)

@bakka3

https://www.corbettnationalpark.in/

When do you plan to do this?

Is self-drive an option?

Nope.

Can we stay inside these (or other parks)?

Yep. Look for Forest Rest Houses on the link above.

Do we stay at the park gates, and hire jeeps for drives? Can we hire the whole jeep, if we pay for it?

You won't be driving, but if you want a private jeep that can be bought.

And you really need to book the safaris well in advance. To be clear, the easiest option is to make all arrangements through your accommodation. That may well come with a premium, but it is far and away the smartest way to make the arrangements.

If we (can) stay inside the park, I'm guessing that I can't just head off on a nice 3 hour walk.

Correct.

Our plans are fly in to Amritsar, out of Delhi. Can we feasibly get to these parks without first going in to Delhi?

Well, of course. Corbett is not actually that straightforward to get to, necessarily. There is no direct train from Amritsar, you'd need to change trains at either Moradabad Junction; or at Ambala Cantonmont Junction (or Delhi, but that probably defeats the purpose). Haridwar is another option, but it depends on what day of the week you plan to do this.

But, is you itinerary limited to Amritsar and Delhi?

Any other parks in the area which are better for tiger and other wildlife?

That depends. I'd probably suggest Ranthambore, near Jaipur.
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/rajasthan/ranthambore-national-park

But you really need to dispense the idea of seeing a tiger.

If birdlife counts, and if you're headed near Agra:
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/rajasthan/keoladeo-ghana-national-park

Thanks. We only have two weeks, and our arr/dep points are booked, as Amritsar/Delhi.
I'm not expecting to see a tiger, but that's what we'll be hoping for. Odds are we will have to be content with other wildlife, inc birds.
For booking safaris, how far in advance?

For booking safaris, how far in advance?

You haven't said when you are visiting, but since you have booked your flights, today would be a good choice.

If you expect to book the trains yourself, online, before travel (and you should if you need to take a particular train on a given date in a given class) then be aware that the General Quota typically opens 120 days in advance, and again, the advice is to book as close to that as you can manage.

That said, it depends on which train you want to take. For example, the #22430 Pathankott - Delhi Superfast Express (and I should point out that is neither "superfast" nor "express" by western standards) which would travel between Amritsar and Ambala Cant Jn - the bookings open only 30 days in advance.

As implied in my post above, Corbett may not be the best choice if you plan to visit Agra, (and Jaipur) say. Fourteen days would be enough for Amritsar / Delhi / Agra / Ranthambore and maybe Jaipur; and Ranthambore will be an easier fit with that itinerary. To maximise your tiger-sighting chances, you really need a couple of days in whichever park you choose, and to take safaris both in the morning and in the afternoon.

Sorry, departing Delhi end of March. Would be looking at two nights minimum.
Are you recommending Ranthambore for the logistics? Or is it a better choice in other respects as well, like crowds, sightings, etc?
thanks again.

Corbett is a dense / lush forest; Ranthambore a dry deciduous forest.

Ranthambore is a (much) better choice on the possibility of seeing tigers.

Ranthambore is logistically much (much) easier - there are even two daily direct trains between Amritsar and Sawai Madhopur (the train station nearest Ranthambore) if you wanted that option.
https://erail.in/trains-between-stations/amritsar-jn-ASR/sawai-madhopur-SWM

That said - and with reference to my comment about train bookings - the berths on that overnight train are already well into the waitlist for all of the second half of March; and the day train isn't much better. That doesn't mean that you won't get berths, but it's a level of uncertainty which, on a two weeks trip, you can do without.

This is where your itinerary matters. Are you going to Agra? If so, then Ranthambore is less problematic. There are three daily trains between Amritsar and Agra, and happily there are still berths in 1A on the overnight service.
https://erail.in/trains-between-stations/amritsar-jn-ASR/agra-cantt-AGC# And from Agra you could take a car+driver to your Ranthambore accommodation.

Creating an account on the IRCTC https://www.irctc.co.in/nget/ so you can book your trains is "too hard" for some people; and I think you're pushing it time wise. Another option, https://12go.asia/en does not have all the trains, and probably won't have the ones you need. Once you have your plan sorted, if you google for a "train ticket please" you'll probably find something to help.

EDIT: Let me reiterate that you really should have your skates on with bookings - trains, hotels, safaris - everything. Two weeks in-country doesn't offer you any flexibility - you'll be on a schedule if you expect to see 3 or 4 destinations inside that time.

Wow, thanks. That's some really good information. I didn't realized Ranthambore was that convenient. While I was hoping to maintain some flexibility, but if I can get a train direct to Ranthambore, I can play it by ear for Agra and Delhi.
I'll look at regsitering for IRCTC asap. Is there actually anything hard about it?
What does PQWL4/WL4 mean? 4 people on waitlist?
Yeah, Amritsar, Delhi, Agra and a park is going to be busy. Thanks again.

but if I can get a train direct to Ranthambore, I can play it by ear for Agra and Delhi.

As I suggested, you might have more luck getting a confirmed ticket on the train to Agra; and after seeing Agra, take a car to Ranthambore for convenience sake (or try your luck for a train ticket). You could still take train back to Delhi from SWM.

I'll look at regsitering for IRCTC asap. Is there actually anything hard about it?

Personally, I think not - but the forum is littered with those encountering all manner of problems. Given your circumstances you might find it easier (and quicker) to have a third party make the bookings for you.

What does PQWL4/WL4 mean? 4 people on waitlist?

Ah. The quota system. What that is: Pooled Quota Wait List 4 / Wait List 4.

The main quota for a train is called the General Quota, the General Quota is normally for passengers boarding at (or close to) the trains’ originating station, and travelling to the terminating station (or at least most of the route), when all the General Quota tickets are sold, a general waitlist is started. (GNWL or just WL)

Then along a train’s route a select few stations will have their own quota reserved on a train, these stations will be known as Remote Locations and their quota will be called a Remote location quota, these remote location quotas sometimes have a waitlist (if the quota’s big enough), this waitlist would be the RLWL.

Most of the remaining seats/berths (and there normally isn’t many) would be for the Pooled Quota. Pooled Quotas normally operate only from the originating station of a route, and there is only one Pooled Quota for the entire run.
The Pooled Quota is generally allocated for passengers travelling from the originating station to a station short of the terminating station, or from an intermediate station to the terminating station, or between two intermediate stations. When those tickets are sold, a pooled quota waitlist (PQWL) is started.

You might want to play with the system a little, and see if ticket availability is improved if you book to a station beyond SWM. It won't cost very much more; and obviously you can still get off at your preferred station.

For the sake of completeness, the Indian Railways holds a number of berths on most services in all manner of quotas - members of parliament, of the defence force, seniors, people with disabilities - and these will be released if not allocated to those cohorts.

PQWL4/WL4

There are always two numbers on your ticket - the first number is your position in the 'queue' when you buy the ticket, the second is your position in the queue at the time you check your ticket. The first number of your ticket will never change - the second number will change as you move through the queue. The current wait list is 4.

EDIT: I just checked https://12go.asia and they do have the #18238 CHHATISGARH EXP which would get you from Amritsar to Agra. And several other services also.

They also take bookings for the #12904 GOLDN TEMPLE ML which would get you from Amritsar to Sawai Madhopur; and also #12926 PASCHIM EXPRESS. The Golden Temple is preferable as an overnight train.

Buying the tickets (if there is availability) will be infinitely easier (under the circumstances) on 12GoAsia than on the IRCTC - however at a substantial mark-up on the price.

The third party option will be equally easy, without the mark-up.

The only problem I am having with the ITCTC site is payment. Is this common?
The payment (by cc) page does its usual hang, then instead of payment confirmed page, it returns to payment options page, with no explanation why. 1st attempt listed in my account is failed; 2nd pending. (These are for WL tix Amritsar-Sawai M')

Status now updated to "Not Booked" as opposed to pending. Sounds better. Is it?