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City Forest National Park | Srinagar Wetland Edge

Salim Ali National Park

Urban-Edge Forest and Birding Landscape Near Srinagar

Jammu & Kashmir

Image: NeerajKumar2019 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Urban-Edge Protected Area
Expect a city-adjacent birding and forest landscape rather than a large wilderness park.
Current On-Ground Access Can Vary
Use up-to-date J&K guidance before treating the site like a routine public national-park visit.

Plan Your Visit

Welcome to Salim Ali National Park! Use the resources below to plan your adventure in one of India's most treasured wild spaces.

Reservations

Use current J&K wildlife guidance before visiting because this Srinagar-side protected area does not operate like a standard safari-booking park.

Lodging

Srinagar Stays
Use Srinagar as the obvious base for lodging, transport, and same-day planning.

Book your stay

Browse stays in Srinagar Booking.com

This link opens Booking.com, a third-party site.

Visitor Centers

J&K Wildlife / Srinagar Contacts
Srinagar • Office hours
Current visitor and access guidance for City Forest / Salim Ali National Park.

Rules & Regulations

  • Check current access status before visiting
  • Do not disturb birds or woodland wildlife
  • Stay on approved routes
  • Carry back litter
  • Follow all local and wildlife department instructions

Accessibility

Among Jammu and Kashmir's protected areas it is one of the easiest to approach geographically, though practical access still depends on current local conditions.

Basic Information

About This Park

Salim Ali National Park, also referred to in official J&K records as City Forest National Park, sits in the Srinagar landscape and is best understood as an urban-edge protected forest and birding area. It is not a conventional safari destination; instead, its value comes from proximity to wetlands, woodland, and bird-rich habitat near the city.

Operating Hours & Seasons

SeasonMorning SafariEvening Safari
Pleasant Season (Mar - Oct)Daylight entry where permittedReturn before closing or dark

Confirm present-day visitor access and interpretation options locally because the site behaves differently from a classic destination park.

Closure PeriodWinter weather or local management changes can affect visitor movement.

Fees & Passes

CategoryAmount
EntryAs notified locally
Guide / InterpretationVaries if available

Use current Srinagar-side information rather than assuming a standard safari booking process.

Weather

☀️ Summer
May - July
14°C - 31°C
Pleasant urban-valley weather for birding and short nature visits.
🌧️ Monsoon
August - September
15°C - 28°C
Intermittent rain and lush greenery around the Srinagar basin.
❄️ Winter
October - April
-1°C - 12°C
Cold weather with occasional snow or frost in the valley.

Contact Information

Website
Authority
Department of Wildlife Protection J&K

Directions & Transportation

Physical Address

Salim Ali National Park, Srinagar district, Jammu & Kashmir

34.0870° N, 74.8610° E

✈️

By Air

Srinagar International Airport is the obvious gateway.

🚂

By Train

Use Srinagar's current rail access points within the Kashmir Valley.

🚗

By Road

Reach the park area from Srinagar by city roads according to current local guidance.

🚐

Local Transport

Use taxis, app-based cabs, or private vehicles from Srinagar.

Things to Do

🐦
Bird Watching
Look for valley birds and woodland species associated with the Srinagar landscape.
🚶
Nature Walk
Explore urban-edge forest surroundings where public movement is currently permitted.
📸
Photography
Photograph wetland-edge habitat, seasonal foliage, and birdlife.
🧭
Urban Ecology Interpretation
Understand the role of a protected green pocket inside the broader Srinagar basin.

Nature & Wildlife

Key Wildlife

Himalayan BirdsKashmir Grey LangurLeopardBlack BearSerowWetland Birds

Flora

Fir, spruce, blue pine, broad-leaved forest species, scrub, and urban-edge valley vegetation linked to wetland habitats.

Fauna

The park supports birding interest and a mix of Kashmir forest fauna in a relatively small protected footprint near Srinagar.

Learn About the Park

History

Salim Ali National Park was notified in 1986 and named for the celebrated ornithologist, reflecting the area's long birding importance in the Srinagar landscape.

Quick Facts

Established
1986
Area
8.69 sq km
State
Jammu & Kashmir
Designation
City Forest National Park

References

  1. Salim Ali National Park official visitor information Department of Wildlife Protection J&K
  2. Wildlife Protected Area Network Atlas of J&K (UT) Department of Wildlife Protection J&K
  3. Protected Area of Jammu and Kashmir (Area as per notifications) Department of Wildlife Protection J&K
  4. Check Srinagar lodging and local travel resources Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation
  5. Salim Ali National Park location map OpenStreetMap contributors
  6. Salim Ali National Park thumbnail image source Wikimedia Commons