Famous local food and must-try dishes in Jim Corbett?

Jim Corbett is set in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, and the local food here is hearty, earthy, and deeply rooted in Pahadi (hill) cuisine. Very different from what you'd find in the plains!

Traditional Kumaoni Dishes

Bhatt ki Churkani — a thick, flavourful curry made from black soybeans (bhatt), a Kumaon staple. Served with rice, it's deeply nutritious and has a unique, slightly smoky taste you won't find elsewhere.

Aloo Ke Gutke — spiced, pan-tossed potatoes with local herbs and mustard seeds. A beloved Kumaoni comfort dish, often served as a side or snack. Simple but incredibly satisfying.

Kafuli — a green leafy curry made from spinach or fenugreek, slow-cooked with minimal spices. Healthy, mild, and distinctly Pahadi in character.

Chainsoo — a thick dal-like preparation made from roasted black gram. Rich and earthy, it's typically eaten with rice or rotis during winter.

Ras — a simple but flavourful meat curry (usually mutton or chicken) cooked in a thin, spiced gravy with local masalas. Common in dhabas around Ramnagar.

Breads & Rice

Bal Mithai with Singori — technically desserts, but unmissable. Bal Mithai is a dark chocolate-brown fudge made from roasted khoya coated in white sugar balls — the most iconic sweet of Kumaon. Singori is a cone-shaped sweet of khoya wrapped in a maalu leaf (gives it a subtle fragrance). Both are widely available in Ramnagar and nearby towns.

Mandua ki Roti — flatbread made from finger millet (ragi), dark in colour and dense. Eaten with ghee and local chutneys. A staple across the Kumaon hills.

Around Ramnagar (the gateway town)

The town itself has good options for a quick meal before or after a safari:

• Dhabas on the Ramnagar highway — serve excellent dal-chawal, rajma-chawal, and mutton curry. Unpretentious and delicious.
• Rajma-Chawal — the Kumaoni version uses a smaller, more flavourful red kidney bean grown locally. Far superior to the plains version.
• Fresh river fish — the Kosi and Ramganga rivers run through the region, and local eateries sometimes serve fresh fish curries. Worth asking at your resort or a riverside dhaba.

At the resorts

Most Corbett resorts serve a mix of Kumaoni thalis, North Indian food, and continental options. The better ones make a point of featuring local dishes — ask specifically for a Kumaoni thali if it's not on the menu, many kitchens will oblige.

Don't leave without: Bal Mithai from a local sweet shop in Ramnagar — it travels well and makes a great gift too!