Dachigam National Park – complete detail – updated

Dachigam National Park – complete detail – updated. Dominant flora and fauna of Dachigam National Park. Geography of Dachigam National Park. How to reach Dachigam National Park. The Park is located in two different zones, Upper and Lower Dachigam. Both zones containing some major distinction in terms of terrain, flora and fauna……….

Dachigam National Park is a beautiful place, located about 22 Kilometers from Srinagar District of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Total area of the park is about 141 Km². In 1981, the Dachigam wildlife sanctuary was declared as a National Park. 

The Park is famous for its unique and diverse wildlife and bird species. The park contains the last viable Hangul population in the world. Related to the red Deer of Europe, this breed is characterized by its white rump patch and impressive spread of antlers. The rich wildlife includes Leopard, Common Palm Civet, Jackal, Red Fox, Musk der, Black bear, Brown bear, Yellow-throated Marten and Himalayan Weasel.

National park is an area which is strictly reserved for the betterment of the wildlife & biodiversity, and where activities like developmental, forestry, poaching, hunting and grazing on cultivation are not permitted. Their boundaries are well marked and circumscribed.

Dachigam National Park

Dachigam National Park is a beautiful place, located about 22 Kilometers from Srinagar District of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

In past, the park was the exclusive hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Kashmir. Dachigam was initially established to ensure the supply of clean drinking water to Srinagar city.

It was declared as wildlife sanctuary in the year of 1951. In 1981, the Dachigam wildlife sanctuary declared as a National Park. Total area of the park is about 141 Km².

Click here to view state wise list of Indian national parks – updated

The name (Dachigam) literally stands for ‘ten villages’, which could be in memory of the ten villages that were relocated outside the park, giving the place its name Dachigam, which means ‘ten villages’.

The Park is located in two different zones, Upper and Lower Dachigam. Both zones containing some major distinction in terms of terrain, flora and fauna.

The Park is famous for its unique and diverse wildlife and bird species. The park contains the last viable Hangul population in the world. Related to the red Deer of Europe, this breed is characterized by its white rump patch and impressive spread of antlers.

The rich wildlife includes Leopard, Common Palm Civet, Jackal, Red Fox, Musk der, Black bear, Brown bear, Yellow-throated Marten and Himalayan Weasel. Over 145 different bird species including the Lammergeier, colorful species like Monal Pheasant and Blue Magpie are seen.

The floral wealth of the park is extremely diverse and a significant part of its ecosystem. Some of the commonly found tree species include Walnut, Apricot, Apple, Pear, and Wild Cherry, Plum, Chestnut, Willow, Oak and Birch trees.

Dachigam Wildlife Sanctuary comprises of several lakes, rivers, flowery meadows, waterfalls and dense coniferous forests. The Dagwan River that flows from the Marsar Lake is a famous fishing spot and is known for its population of trout.

History

In past, the park was the exclusive hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Kashmir. The park has been a protected area since 1910, first under the care of the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir and later under the observation of the concerned government authorities. Dachigam was initially established to ensure the supply of clean drinking water to Srinagar city.

After Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India, responsibility for managing Dachigam went to the State Government and it was administered at different times by the State Fisheries Department, Tawaza Entertainment Department and the Forest Department. It was declared as wildlife sanctuary in the year of 1951.

From 1978 it has been under the purview of the Directorate of Game Preservation of the Forest Department and in 1982 the Directorate was upgraded to an independent department and is now known as the Department of Wildlife Protection.

In 1981, the Dachigam wildlife sanctuary declared as a National Park. Total area of the park is about 141 Km².

The name literally stands for ‘ten villages’, which could be in memory of the ten villages that were relocated outside the park, giving the place its name Dachigam, which means ‘ten villages’.

The Maharaja planted a number of tree species preferred by the wild denizens, such as oak and horse chestnut and supplemented the limited winter fodder available to the wild animals. He also introduced Wild Boar to the area, a small population of which survived into the early 1990s but which have now died out.

Geography

Dachigam National Park is located about 22 Kilometers from Srinagar District of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The park is located in the Zabarwan Range of the western Himalayas.

Dachigam National Park of India is situated amidst the western Himalayas. The landscape of the park ranges from gently sloping grasslands to sharp rocky outcrops and cliffs. The mountainsides are covered with coniferous forests, dotted with alpine pastures, surging meadows, waterfalls and scrub vegetation.

The Park is located in two different zones, Upper and Lower Dachigam. Both zones containing some major distinction in terms of terrain, flora and fauna. Lower Dachigam, in the west, comprises approximately a third of the total area and is the area most accessible to a visitor. Upper Dachigam in the east extends over the higher reaches and is a good day’s trek from the nearest road head.

The grasslands and meadows stand covered with beautiful flowers throughout the year, except the winter season.

Coniferous forests cover a large area in Dachigam National Park. The mountainsides of the forest are thickly covered with wild trees.

State wise list of Wildlife Sanctuaries of India – updated 

Dachigam National Park has great topographical diversity and is full of thick woods, steep rocky ridges, gentle grassy slopes and deep gullies. The National Park occupies almost half of the catchment zone of the famous Dal Lake and still plays a crucial role is supplying clean drinking water to the inhabitants of Srinagar.

Marsar Lake lies between ridges that stand 4,000 m. high and is fed by perennial springs as well as the streams and rivulets that flow down the ridges. The Daghwan stream arrives at the park from the Marsar Lake carrying waters as clean and fresh as the source

Altitude – 5500 to 14000 ft above mean sea level.

Dominant flora

Wild Cherry, Pear, Plum, Peach, Apple, Apricot, Walnut, Chestnut, Oak, Willow, Poplar, Chinar, Birch, Pine, Elm, Chestnut, Poplars etc.

Dominant fauna

Mammals – Kashmiri Stag, Musk Deer, leopards, Himalayan Gray Langurs, Leopard Cats, Himalayan black bear, Jackals, Hill Fox, Himalayan Weasel, Yellow-throated Martens, Jungle Cat, Long Tailed Marmots, Himalayan Brown Bear, The Otter, Yellow-throated Marten, Jungle-cat, Himalayan Fox, Serow etc.

Birds – Monal Pheasant, Crimson Tragopan, Golden Eagle, Bearded Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Lammergeier Vulture, Blood Pheasant, Cinnamon Sparrow, Woodpeckers, Himalayan Ruby throat, Pygmy Owlet, Babblers, Orange Bullfinch, Golden Oriole, Black Bulbul, Koklass Pheasant, Peregrine Falcon, Paradise Flycatcher, Western Yellow-Billed Blue Magpie, Golden Oriole, Grey Heron etc.

Attractions

Jeep Safari

Elephant Safari

Accommodation

Two rest houses in lower Dachigam (Forest Department).

Best time to visit

Dachigam is open throughout the year, but the best time of the year to visit the Dachigam National Park is between the months of April to October (lower part till December).

How to Reach

By Air – Nearest airport is Srinagar airport, about 22 Km from the Dachigam National Park.

By Rail – Nearest railway station is Jammu railway station, about 310 Km from the Dachigam National Park.

By Road – Srinagar is (Nearest town) well connected to Major Cities and Places by road network. There is only one road that runs about 10 km. within the park through the Numbal Beat in Lower Dachigam. Higher Dachigam areas are accessible only on foot.

Distance from Nearby and Major Cities

Srinagar – about 22 kilometers

Jammu – about 300 kilometers

Shimla – about 400 kilometers

Chandigarh – about 420 kilometers

Pune – about 1740 kilometers

Lucknow – about 990 kilometers

Delhi – about 650 kilometers

Mumbai – about 1687 kilometers

Kolkata – about 1827 kilometers

Bangalore – about 2366 kilometers

Jaipur – about 800 kilometers

Amritsar – about 278 kilometers

 Hyderabad – about 1893 kilometers

Useful contacts

The Chief Wildlife Warden, Tourist Reception Centre, Srinagar –190006. Tel.: 0194-75411.

Indian Society for Himalayan Studies, Rengco Campus, Hazratbal, Srinagar – 190006. Tel.:0194-77280.

Jammu and Kashmir Environment and Wasteland Development Society, 14, Ranbir Market, Indira Chowk, Jammu – 180 001. Tel.: 0191-42903.

Other National Parks in Jammu and Kashmir. Name of National Parks, Year of Notification and Total Area is as follows……….