Rajaji National Park complete detail – updated

Rajaji National Park complete detail – updated. Geography of Rajaji National Park. Dominant flora and fauna of Rajaji National Park. How to Reach Rajaji National Park. Total area of the park is 820.00 Km². 

It was declared as a National Park (by amalgamation of three sanctuaries- Rajaji sanctuary, Motichur sanctuary and Chilla sanctuary) in the year of 1983. The majestic Ganges flows through the National Park for a distance of 24km, besides the innumerable streams and brooks making it rich and diverse. It offers ample opportunities to nature lovers to enjoy the captivating landscape and wildlife………..

Rajaji National Park is distinct for its pristine scenic beauty and rich bio-diversity. The park is home to the Tiger, Leopard, Himalayan Bear, Cheetal, Hog deer, Barking deer, Goral, Jackal, Hyena, Jungle Cat and Leopard Cat etc. This park is the first staging ground for the migratory birds when they cross Himalayas to enter India. The Himalayan Pied Kingfisher, fire tailed sunbird & Great Pied Hornbill is some of the residents of this park. The park is also provide suitable habitat to species like Pythons, King Cobra, Common Krait, Indian Cobra and the Monitor Lizard……………

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.

Rajaji National Park is a beautiful place, located in the Dehradun, Pauri Garhwal and Haridwar districts of the state of Uttarakhand. Rajaji National Park is also known as Rajaji Tiger Reserve.

It was established as a National Park (by amalgamation of three sanctuaries- Rajaji sanctuary, Motichur sanctuary and Chilla sanctuary) in the year of 1983. Total area of the park is 820.00 Km².

Rajaji National Park has been named after C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji), a prominent leader of the Freedom Struggle, the second and last Governor-General of independent India and one of the first recipients of India’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna.

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

Final approval was accorded to Rajaji (Uttarakhand) for declaring as a tiger reserve in April, 2015. Rajaji became the second tiger reserve in Uttarakhand.

The Park has got the largest area representing Shiwalik Eco-system. The Shivalik trail is 10 million year old and very rich in fossils. Its fossils faunal remains include about 50 species of elephant, one of them is present today.

The majestic Ganges flows through the National Park for a distance of 24km, besides the innumerable streams and brooks making it rich and diverse. It offers ample opportunities to nature lovers to enjoy the captivating landscape and wildlife.

Rajaji National Park is distinct for its pristine scenic beauty and rich bio-diversity. The park is home to the Tiger, Leopard, Himalayan Bear, Cheetal, Hog deer, Barking deer, Goral, Jackal, Hyena, Jungle Cat, and Leopard Cat etc. Rajaji National Park has highest number of elephants than all other national parks of Uttarakhand.

The park is also an ideal place for birds like Scaly Thrush, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Rusty-flanked Tree creeper, Pale-footed Bush Warbler, Tytler’s Leaf Warbler, Green Avadavat and Reed Bunting, Northern Goshawk, Black-necked Stork, Yellow-billed Blue Magpie Greater Scaup, White-naped Woodpecker etc.

This park is the first staging ground for the migratory birds when they cross Himalayas to enter India. The Himalayan Pied Kingfisher, fire tailed sunbird & Great Pied Hornbill is some of the residents of this park.

The park is also provide suitable habitat to species like Pythons, King Cobra, Common Krait, Indian Cobra and the Monitor Lizard.

Rajaji National Park is a beautiful reserve to the east of Haridwar. It is famous as an elephant habitat and also harbours the mountain goat, goral. Part of the awe-inspiring Shivalik ranges in Uttarakhand, these forests at the foothills that comprise Rajaji are endowed with Sal trees and bamboo shoots.

History

In 1964, 90 sq. km. of the Dehradun forests became the Motichur wildlife sanctuary. The Rajaji (1948) and Chilla wildlife sanctuaries (1977) were set up in the forest divisions of the Shivalik and the Landsowne.

It was established as a National Park (by amalgamation of three sanctuaries- Rajaji sanctuary, Motichur sanctuary and Chilla sanctuary) in the year of 1983. Total area of the park is 820.00 Km².

Rajaji National Park has been named after C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji), a prominent leader of the Freedom Struggle, the second and last Governor-General of independent India and one of the first recipients of India’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna.

Final approval was accorded to Rajaji (Uttarakhand) for declaring as a tiger reserve in April, 2015. Rajaji became the second tiger reserve in Uttarakhand.

Geography

Rajaji National Park is located in the Dehradun, Pauri Garhwal and Haridwar districts of the state of Uttarakhand. It was established as a National Park (by amalgamation of three sanctuaries- Rajaji sanctuary, Motichur sanctuary and Chilla sanctuary) in the year of 1983. Total area of the park is 820.00 Km².

The majestic Ganges flows through the National Park for a distance of 24km, besides the innumerable streams and brooks making it rich and diverse. It offers ample opportunities to nature lovers to enjoy the captivating landscape and wildlife.

The park is thickly foliated predominantly by the Sal Forest and a number of other forest types which include the Western Gangetic Moist and Northern dry Deciduous and Khair-Sissoo forests. Low Alluvial Savannah Woodlands cover the drier southern margins of the park, in contrast to the Shiwalik Chir-Pine on the high reaches of the hills.

State wise list of Wildlife Sanctuaries of India – updated 

Rajaji is a magnificent ecosystem nestled in the Shivalik ranges and the beginning of the vast Indo–Gangetic plains, thus representing vegetation of several distinct zones and forest types like sal forests, riverine forests, board–leaved mixed forests, scrubland and grassy.

Seasons

Winter – October to February

Spring – March to April

Summer – May to June

Monsoon – July to September

Dominant flora

Catamixis bracharoides, Eremostachys superba, Anogeissue latifolia,  Terminalia tomentosa, Adina cordifolia, Terminalia ballerica, Lannea coromandelica, Garuga pinnata, Lagerstromia parviflora, Kydia calycina, Stereospermum chelonoides, Albizzia procera, Cadrela tonna, Trewia nudiflora, Ficus glomerata, Sterculia villosa, Carissa opaca, Murraya koenigil, Helicteres isora, Cyryspogon fuivus, Heteropogon contortus, Lantana camara, Adhatoda vasica, Colebrookia oppositifolia, Cassia tora, Parthenium histerophorus, Zizyphus mauritiana, Phyllanthes emblica, Ficus religiosa etc.

Dominant fauna

Mammals – Elephants, Tiger, Mountain goat, Goral, Sambar, Barking deer, Hog deer, Nilgai, Wild pigs, Sloth bears, Leopard cat, Jungle cat, Civet, Yellow-throated marten, Hyena, Jackal, Bengal fox, Indian hare, Himalayan black bear, Rhesus macaque etc.

Reptiles – Pythons, King cobras, Indian monitor lizard etc.

Birds – Chestnut-headed, Blue tailed, Green and Blue-bearded Bee-eaters, Himalayan Pied kingfisher, Lesser Pied kingfisher, Small Blue kingfisher, Stork-billed kingfisher, White-throated kingfisher, Hornbills, Jungle fowls, Water birds,  Cormorants, Crows, Drongo, Egrets, Lapwings, Owlets, Partridges, Pheasants, Pond herons, Treepies, Barbets etc.

Scolid wasps are the main insects and as many as 13 species have been recorded, five of which are new to all of Uttarakhand. 60 different species of butterflies in vivid colors flutter around in the park.

Elephant Safari

Timing

15 November to 31 December – 06.30 AM to 03.30 PM

01 January to 31 March – 06.30 AM to 04.30 PM

01 April to 15 June – 06.00 AM to 05.00 PM

Fee – Rs. 200/- per person (per trip)

Best time to visit

The best time of the year to visit the Rajaji National Park is between the months of Mid-November to Mid-June.

Fees

Entry fees (Indians) – Rs. 40/- per person for 03 days (Rs. 25/- for every additional day)

Entry fees (Foreigners) – Rs. 350/- per person for 03 days (Rs. 150/- for every additional day)

Road fee for vehicles (Indians) – Rs. 0/- for light vehicle, Rs. 500/- for heavy vehicle

Road fee for vehicles (Foreigners) – Rs. 100/- for light vehicle, Rs. 500/- for heavy vehicle

Camera fee (Indians) – Still – Rs. 0/- , Movie/video – Rs. 50/-

Camera fee (Foreigners) – Still – Rs. 2500/- , Movie/video – Rs. 5000/-

Feature film charges – Rs. 20,000 for both Indians and foreigners.

Security for the film – Rs. 25,000 (Indians) and Rs. 40,000 (foreigners).

Documentary charges (per day) – Rs. 2,500 (Indians) and Rs. 5,000 (foreigners).

Security for the film – Rs. 15,000 (Indians) and Rs. 40,000 (foreigners).

How to Reach

By Air – Nearest airport is Jolly grant airport, about 24 Km from the Rajaji National Park. Jolly grant airport is well connected by road network to Rajaji National Park.

By Rail – Nearest railway station is Dehradun railway station, about 21 Km from the Rajaji National Park. Dehradun railway station is well connected by road network to Rajaji National Park.

By Road – Rajaji National Park is well connected to Major Cities and Places by road network. There are a number of government and privately operated vehicles that go to Rajaji National Park at frequent intervals.

Accommodations

There are ten Forest Rest Houses within and around the Park. Besides these, there are also many private hotels and tourists complexes around Rajaji National Park and at Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun and Mussoorie.

Useful Contacts

Director, Rajaji National Park, 5/1, Ansari Marg, Dehradun, Uttarakhand – 248001. Tel.: +91-135621669.

The Friends of the Doon, C/o EBD Business Centre, 49, Rajpur Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand – 248001. Tel.:0135-27748/ 24487/ 28730; Fax: 0135-28392.

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