Dachigam is one of most popular National Park as called the habitat of God and it is called so because when this park is in its full flourish with beautiful animals and trees full of fruits.  One cannot surprise, if one can say that God is also jealous of this place on the earth.  This is a place when one can get sceninc beauty beyond the imagination with wild trees full of pear,plum, apple, peach, chestnut, walnut, etc all growing wild on the trees.

This reserve is situated about 22 km far from the Srinagar, which is the capital of state of Jammu and Kashmir.  One can find national scenic beauty in this area and it covers about area of 141 square kilometers.  The altitude ranges from 5500 ft to 14000 ft with variation above the sea level.  This park is demarcated in the lower and upper region due to this vast variation.  The season of summer and winter is the best time to visit this place.  The months of May and August are best time to visit this park due to most harsh winter in the upper areas. The months of September to December are the best time to visit the lower region as same in the summer months.

General Information

History

Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir delineated the Dachigam National Park as a game preserve in 1910. They shifted the 10 villages in the forest limit.

Maharaja desires to hunt along with his guests in this park and also he wants to turned this forest into a catchment zone for the reservoir of Harwan so that water can to be supplied to the Srinagar.  He orders to develop the forest and increase the fodder in winter for the wild animals and various tree species were planted here in this park.

Dachigam park was later on look after by the State Forest Department after the Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India.  Government of Jammu and Kashmir turned this area into a sanctuary in 1951 and later on as a national park in year 1981.

Best Time To Visit

The minimum temperature is 100 degrees Celcius in the season winter and in the season summer, the temperature rises up to 32 degree Celcius.  The best time to visit and see the trees at the full flourish is October.

In winter the upper regions become snow bound, so the best time to visit the upper region is the month of May and August. To visit the lower region, the best time is the month of May-August and September-December.

Distance From – Dachigam National Park

How To Get There

Air : Srinagar is one of the good access point and the airport is situated about a distance of 22km.

Rail :The nearest rail junction from the Dachigam National Park is at Jammu at a distance of 200 kms.

Road : The metaled road is the best way to reach the lower region of Dachigam, but Higher Dachigam areas are reachable by foot only.

Buses runs from regions of Srinagar and Kargil to the Dachigam National Park. Buses are ofState Government and charges are less than Srinagar fares.  One can take the bus from Srinagar to reach Dachigan through the bus then. The charges fares of buses are around Rs 150 to 160 for the basic travel mode.

Things To Do In – Dachigam National Park

Dachigam National Park has variety of flora and fauna with its unspoiled natural beauty that attracts the tourists all over the world. The area of this park is about 141 sq km.  Hangul and Kashmir stag is the main attraction of this park, which involves the rare species of Red deer in India.  This red deer is one of the magnificent animal found in this park with its red coats and head of antlers. This sanctuary also involves recovery center for animals undergoing care and also called as rehab area. Near the entrance of the Dachigam park, one can also visit the trout farm.

Accommodation

In Dachigam, accommodation is very limited. There are only 2 rest houses in the lower region of Dachigam.  Srinagar offers various variety of accommodation and is just 22 km far from the Dachigam.

Location Map

Weather

Dachigam National Park has a very pleasant climate throughout the year and temperature not rises mostly. In the summer, weather is cold and in winters there is heavy snowfall throughout the area. So summer time is the best time to visit the Dachigam National Park.  One can also visit this park during the early time if winters before the starting of snowfall.

The months of April, May, and June are the summer time in Dachigam National Park.  There is limited shower in the month of July and August not much significantly.  The region has maximum of 14 degree Celsius temperature during summers and minimum temperature is about 8 degree Celsius.

The maximum temperature rises up to only 4 degree Celsius in winters and minimum temperature of about -2 degree Celsius.  One can visit the Dachigam National Park before the snowfall starts in the upper region.  The months of October, November, December, January, and February are the months of winters. Starting of snowfall occurs at the month of December.  So this time is not the best time to visit this place.

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