Discover India's Wild Heritage
Explore the diverse ecosystems and magnificent wildlife across India's national parks
Explore ParksExplore the diverse ecosystems and magnificent wildlife across India's national parks
Explore ParksWhere the Hangul Roams
Jammu & Kashmir
Image: Nadeem Hassan / CC BY-SA 3.0Welcome to Dachigam National Park! Use the resources below to plan your adventure in one of India's most treasured wild spaces.
Safaris, bird watching, nature walks, and more
Safari timings, open seasons, and park schedules
Entry fees, safari charges, and camera fees
How to reach by air, rail, and road
Official booking links, permits, and offline reservation guidance
Nearby stays, forest rest houses, and booking resources
Dachigam visits require current wildlife permission; check the Jammu and Kashmir wildlife portal and local office instructions before travel.
This link opens Booking.com, a third-party site.
Lower Dachigam involves walking on forest trails (3-6 km round trip) with moderate elevation changes. Upper Dachigam requires serious trekking (2-3 days) at high altitude. The park gate is accessible by road from Srinagar. Not suitable for visitors with significant mobility challenges in the walking areas.
Dachigam National Park, meaning 'Ten Villages' in Kashmiri (referring to ten villages relocated to create the park), is a stunningly beautiful Himalayan park just 22 km from Srinagar. The park's primary claim to conservation significance is as the last home of the Hangul (Cervus hanglu hanglu) — the critically endangered Kashmir stag, a subspecies of the Central Asian red deer. The Hangul population has fluctuated between 150-250 animals, making it one of the most endangered large mammals in the world. The park's terrain rises dramatically from 1,700 m in Lower Dachigam to 4,300 m in Upper Dachigam, creating diverse habitats from broadleaf forests to alpine meadows.
| Season | Morning Safari | Evening Safari |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Dachigam (Oct - Mar) | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Day visits only |
| Upper Dachigam (May - Aug) | Dawn to Dusk | Multi-day treks |
Lower Dachigam: day visits with forest guard escort. Upper Dachigam: 2-3 day treks for Himalayan brown bear and alpine wildlife. Both require advance permits from Srinagar.
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Entry Fee (Indian) | INR 50 per person |
| Entry Fee (Foreigner) | INR 300 per person |
| Vehicle Fee | INR 500 per vehicle |
| Guide/Guard Fee | INR 300 per day (mandatory) |
Permits often take 1-2 days to process. Apply at the Wildlife Warden's office in Srinagar. The number of daily visitors is strictly limited. Photography permits may require separate clearance.
Dachigam National Park, Srinagar District, Jammu & Kashmir 191102
34.1417° N, 74.9056° E
Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport, Srinagar (25 km). Regular flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Jammu, and other cities.
No railway in the Kashmir Valley. Nearest station is Jammu Tawi (300 km). From Jammu, fly or drive to Srinagar (8-10 hours by road).
22 km from Srinagar on the road to Harwan. Easy taxi ride from Srinagar. The park gate is at Dachigam village near Harwan.
Taxis from Srinagar to the park gate. Inside Lower Dachigam: walking with forest guard. Upper Dachigam: trekking with guide and porters.
Broadleaf forests of walnut, chestnut, oak, and willow at lower elevations. Coniferous forests of deodar, blue pine, and fir at mid-elevations. Alpine meadows with wildflowers above the treeline.
The park's raison d'etre is the Hangul — with only 200-250 individuals remaining, it is one of the world's most endangered deer. Upper Dachigam hosts Himalayan brown bears (about 30-40), Himalayan black bears, leopards, musk deer, and golden eagles.
Dachigam was established as a game reserve in 1910 by the Maharaja of Kashmir to protect the Hangul and its habitat. Ten villages were relocated (hence the name). It became a national park in 1981. The Hangul population declined from an estimated 5,000 in the early 1900s to fewer than 150 by the 1970s due to habitat loss, poaching, and militancy-related disturbance. Despite intensive conservation efforts, recovery has been slow — the population now hovers around 200-250, making the Hangul critically endangered.
