Leopard of Rudraprayag Memorial (Golabrai)
Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand · monument
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
The Leopard of Rudraprayag Memorial is an unassuming roadside sign-board near the hamlet of Golabrai, a short way south of the Alaknanda–Mandakini confluence on the Rishikesh–Badrinath road (NH 7) along the Alaknanda. It marks the spot where, on the night of 2 May 1926, the British hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett shot the man-eating leopard that had terrorised the Garhwal pilgrim country for the better part of eight years. There is no grand structure here — only a plaque-style board beside the highway — yet for readers of Corbett's writing and for natural-history travellers, few places on the Badrinath road carry so much quiet weight.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦GMVN Tourist Rest House, Rudraprayag – the government rest-house kitchen serves a dependable pure-vegetarian thali; convenient before or after the memorial (confirm meal timings on arrival).
- ✦Pilgrim-route veg dhabas near Rudraprayag bus stand – simple pure-vegetarian Garhwali and North-Indian fare (rajma-chawal, aloo-gutke, veg thali, chai); typically vegetarian on this Char Dham stretch, but confirm at the counter.
- ✦Highway veg bhojanalayas on the Rishikesh–Rudraprayag–Badrinath road – basic pure-veg thali and paratha stops for pilgrims; hygiene varies, so pick a busy, freshly-cooked one.
- ✦Local tea and snack stalls at the Rudraprayag sangam – chai, pakoras and packaged snacks; vegetarian, handy for a quick stop combined with the confluence view.
About
The Leopard of Rudraprayag Memorial is an unassuming roadside sign-board near the hamlet of Golabrai, a short way south of the Alaknanda–Mandakini confluence on the Rishikesh–Badrinath road (NH 7) along the Alaknanda.
- It marks the spot where, on the night of 2 May 1926, the British hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett shot the man-eating leopard that had terrorised the Garhwal pilgrim country for the better part of eight years.
- There is no grand structure here — only a plaque-style board beside the highway — yet for readers of Corbett's writing and for natural-history travellers, few places on the Badrinath road carry so much quiet weight.
- The story behind the sign is one of the most famous in Indian wildlife literature.
- Between 1918 and 1926 a single leopard is officially recorded to have killed more than 125 people along the roads to the shrines of Kedarnath and Badrinath, preying on pilgrims and villagers by night until fear emptied the trails after dark.
- Corbett, invited by the government to end the ordeal, spent gruelling weeks tracking the animal before finally sitting up over a tied goat in a mango tree beside the Golabrai pilgrim shelter (a chatti where wayfarers rested), where the leopard at last came within range.
- He recounted the whole episode in his 1948 book, The Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag, which remains in print and made this stretch of road internationally known.
- A visit is brief and reflective rather than sightseeing in the conventional sense: you read the board, take in the steep, forested Mandakini valley falling away toward the river, and picture the terror that once ruled these slopes after sunset.
- The memorial pairs naturally with a stop at the Rudraprayag sangam itself, roughly 1.5 km north, and with the town's temples.
- Photographers will find the valley light and the old pilgrim road more rewarding than the sign alone.
- For vegetarian travellers, Rudraprayag is a comfortable base: as a Garhwal pilgrim town on the Char Dham route, its dhabas and rest-house kitchens are overwhelmingly pure-vegetarian, serving simple Garhwali and North-Indian thalis, rajma-chawal, aloo-gutke and hot chai.
- There is no food at the memorial itself, so eat in Rudraprayag town before or after.
- Confirm exact positioning of the board locally, as roadwork and highway widening on NH 7 occasionally shift roadside markers.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Golabrai, on the Rishikesh–Rudraprayag–Badrinath road (the Alaknanda valley road) (NH 7), south of the Alaknanda–Mandakini sangam, Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand, 246171
How to Reach: Golabrai lies on the Rishikesh–Rudraprayag–Badrinath road (NH 7), roughly about 1.5 km south of the Rudraprayag bus stand and sangam. From Rudraprayag town a shared jeep or taxi reaches it in about 10 minutes; many drivers on the Kedarnath route will pause here on request. Rudraprayag is about 140 km up from Rishikesh by road (5–6 hours) via Devprayag and Srinagar (Garhwal). The nearest railhead is Rishikesh and the nearest airport is Jolly Grant (Dehradun); confirm the exact sign-board location with your driver as it sits directly beside the highway.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Leopard of Rudraprayag Memorial at Golabrai?
It is a modest roadside sign-board near the hamlet of Golabrai, just south of Rudraprayag, marking the spot where Jim Corbett shot the notorious man-eating leopard of Rudraprayag on the night of 2 May 1926. It commemorates a famous episode of Indian wildlife history rather than being a built monument — there is no structure, just the marker beside the pilgrim road.
Is there an entry fee or ticket for the memorial?
No. It is an open roadside marker with no gate, ticket or fixed hours — free to view any time in daylight. There are no facilities on-site, so plan food and rest stops in Rudraprayag town nearby.
How many people did the leopard of Rudraprayag kill?
Official records credit the leopard with more than 125 human kills between 1918 and 1926 along the roads to Kedarnath and Badrinath, though Corbett believed the true number was higher because many deaths went unreported. It preyed on pilgrims and villagers by night for roughly eight years before Corbett shot it.
How do I reach the Golabrai memorial from Rudraprayag?
Golabrai is on the Rishikesh–Rudraprayag–Badrinath road (NH 7), about about 1.5 km south of the Rudraprayag bus stand and sangam — roughly a 10-minute drive by shared jeep or taxi. Drivers on the Kedarnath route will usually pause here on request. Rudraprayag itself is about 140 km (5–6 hours) up from Rishikesh via Devprayag and Srinagar (Garhwal).
Where can I eat vegetarian food near the memorial?
There is no food at the memorial, but Rudraprayag town nearby is a Char Dham pilgrim stop where the dhabas and rest-house kitchens are overwhelmingly pure-vegetarian. Try the GMVN Tourist Rest House kitchen or the veg bhojanalayas near the bus stand for a simple Garhwali or North-Indian thali, rajma-chawal and chai. Confirm at the counter, and pick a busy, freshly-cooked stall.
Should I read anything before visiting?
Jim Corbett's 1948 book, The Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag, tells the full story of the hunt and the fear that gripped these hills, and it makes the visit far more meaningful. The memorial is a brief, reflective stop — pair it with the Rudraprayag sangam and take in the steep Mandakini valley that forms the backdrop.
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