Dehradun: The Corbett Literature Festival, titled “3 Days in the Wild,” is set to bring writers, conservationists, wildlife photographers, historians and storytellers together across the Corbett landscape from October 6 to 8, 2026.
The inaugural three-day residential festival will feature more than 20 sessions built around four core themes — Nature & Wildlife, the Himalayas, Uttarakhand, and Culture & Heritage.
Set against the landscape of Jim Corbett National Park, the festival aims to create a literary gathering rooted in wildlife, conservation and the cultural heritage of Uttarakhand. The event will bring together a curated audience of readers, travellers, conservationists and thinkers for conversations connecting nature and literature.
Corbett to Host India’s First Wildlife-Focused Literature Festival
The Corbett Literature Festival is being positioned as India’s first national-level literature festival built entirely around the wild and the landscape that inspired generations of nature writers and photographers.
The festival will explore the relationship between literature, wildlife, conservation and the people who live alongside natural landscapes.
According to the organisers, the programme will bring together writers, conservationists, photographers, historians and people of the landscape in an intimate setting.
The event also marks another chapter in Corbett’s long association with India’s conservation history as the country’s first national park and the first landscape associated with the launch of Project Tiger.
Three-Day Festival to Feature 20 Sessions
The residential gathering will be hosted across three hospitality partners:
- The Golden Tusk
- The Riverview Retreat
- Aahana Resort & Spa
Across the three days, the programme will feature more than 20 sessions covering nature writing, wildlife, conservation, Himalayan ecology, culture and heritage.
The festival is expected to attract readers, conservationists, travellers and thinkers looking for a more immersive literary experience connected directly with the natural landscape.
Day One to Focus on Himalayan Memory and Uttarakhand’s Heritage
The opening day will feature conversations around Himalayan memory, wildlife photography, Uttarakhand’s folklore and cultural traditions.
Speakers featured in the programme include:
- Namita Gokhale, Sahitya Akademi award-winning author and co-founder of the Jaipur Literature Festival
- Dr Shekhar Pathak, historian and chronicler of the Chipko movement
- Stephen Alter, author and naturalist
- Anup Sah, Padma Shri photographer, mountaineer and environmentalist
The opening-day conversations will explore the relationship between landscape, memory, culture and the traditions that have shaped Uttarakhand.
Conservation Takes Centre Stage on Day Two
The second day will turn the focus towards wildlife conservation, ecological landscapes and the realities of protecting natural habitats.
The programme will feature several established voices from the conservation and wildlife community, including:
- Sanjay Gubbi, Whitley Award-winning conservationist and researcher
- Nirmal Ghosh, internationally acclaimed wildlife journalist and author
- Neha Sinha, author and naturalist
- Dhritiman Mukherjee, award-winning conservation photographer
The discussions are expected to examine contemporary conservation challenges and the relationship between wildlife, communities and changing landscapes.
Final Day to Explore Coexistence, Ecology and Responsible Tourism
The final day will feature conversations around Himalayan ecology, responsible tourism and coexistence with wildlife, before concluding with an evening of storytelling and poetry.
Speakers and contributors include:
- Prerna Singh Bindra, author and conservationist
- Vikramjit Singh Bal, author and filmmaker
- Janhavi Prasada, founder of Himalayan Echoes
- Akshay Shah, outdoor educator
The sessions will explore how literature, storytelling and outdoor experiences can contribute to a deeper understanding of the Himalayan and wildlife landscapes.
Masterclasses, Nature Walks and Cultural Evenings
Beyond the literary sessions, the Corbett Literature Festival will feature several activities designed to provide participants with a closer connection to the landscape.
The programme will include:
- Masterclasses led by wildlife photographers and filmmakers
- Guided nature walks
- Bird and wildlife observation
- Exploration of trees and local ecology
- Cultural evenings
- Uttarakhand music and food
- Local storytelling traditions
The organisers aim to make the festival more than a conventional literary event by placing participants directly within the natural and cultural environment that forms the central subject of the programme.
Corbett’s Role in India’s Conservation History
Corbett occupies a significant place in India’s conservation history as the country’s first national park and the first tiger reserve associated with the launch of Project Tiger.
The landscape has also influenced some of India’s enduring nature writing and wildlife photography, from Jim Corbett to F. W. Champion.
The festival seeks to build on this legacy by bringing contemporary writers, conservationists, photographers and people connected with the landscape together.
Field Director Highlights Festival’s Conservation Legacy
Dr Saket Badola, Field Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve, said Corbett has a prominent place in India’s conservation history.
He highlighted the landscape’s importance as the country’s first national park and as the place where Project Tiger was launched.
According to Badola, the festival aims to take this legacy forward by bringing writers, conservationists, photographers and people of the landscape into conversation. He said the organisers hope the exchanges will generate new ideas and encourage a shared responsibility for the future of the Corbett landscape.
Corbett Literature Festival 2026: Key Details
- Festival: Corbett Literature Festival
- Theme: “3 Days in the Wild”
- Dates: October 6–8, 2026
- Location: Corbett landscape, Uttarakhand
- Sessions: More than 20
- Core Themes: Nature & Wildlife, Himalayas, Uttarakhand, Culture & Heritage
- Format: Three-day residential gathering
- Venues: The Golden Tusk, The Riverview Retreat and Aahana Resort & Spa
- Participants: Writers, conservationists, photographers, historians, filmmakers and storytellers
- Additional Activities: Masterclasses, guided nature walks and cultural evenings
A New Literary Chapter for Corbett
The inaugural Corbett Literature Festival seeks to establish Corbett not only as a prominent wildlife destination but also as a literary and cultural destination.
By bringing together nature writing, conservation discussions, photography, storytelling and local traditions, the festival aims to create a slower and more immersive form of literary engagement.
The event will also mark another chapter in Corbett’s legacy as India’s first national park, with the organisers looking to connect its conservation history with contemporary conversations about wildlife, ecology and the future of the landscape.
