North India Wildlife Parks

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Dudhwa National Park

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Located very close to Srinagar (22km), Dachigam National park with its splendid forests and magnificent scenery is easily accessible. The two sectors of the park -Upper and Lower Dachigam are spread over an area of 141 sq. km. And altitudes vary between 1700 and 4300 meters. Two steep ridges enclose the Park with its great topographical variety - deep ravines, rocky outcrops, steep wooded slopes and rolling alpine pastures.

Tumbling down from the Masrar Lake (4300m), up in the high ranges, the Dachigam River winds through Lower Dachigam.

The Park is the habitat of the endangered hangul or the Kashmir stag - the only species of red deer to be found in India. Winter is the best time to view the hangul, when they congregate in the shelter of the lower valleys.

Other inhabitants include the Himalayan black bear, species of wild goat like the markhor and ibex and varieties of exotic Himalayan birds. Colourful pheasants include the crimson tragopan, the iridescent monal pheasant with its glittering plumage, the blood pheasant and the koklass pheasant.

The golden eagle and the bearded vulture or lammergeier are seen circling the brilliant blue skies. The leopard, which is the only predator in this paradise, is rarely seen as also the elusive snow leopard, which is found in the higher altitudes. Other animals include the rare musk deer and the Himalayan marmot. A metallic road takes visitors from Srinagar into Lower Dachigam. Upper Dachigam can only be explored on foot.

General Information :

Best Time to Visit :
May- August, Upper Dachigam & September to December for Lower Dachigam

Nearest Town :
Srinagar (22 Km)

How to Get Here :
Air:Srinagar (22 Km)
Rail: Jammu. Further east along the Terai, the Dudhwa National Park, which is also a Tiger Reserve, is located in the district of Lakhimpur - Kheri, very close to the Nepal border.

The 498.29 sq. km. Park has fine sal forests and extensive grasslands. Tall coarse grass sometimes forming impenetrable thickets, swampy depressions and lakes characterize the wetlands of the Park. These are the habitat of large numbers of barasingha, the magnificent swamp deer, noted for their multi-fined antlers (bara-12, singha-horn). These in turn support the predators - the tiger and leopard. Though the Park has a fair population of tigers, they are rarely seen owing to the nature of the forest cover.

The grasslands are also ideal terrain for the Indian one horned rhinoceros. In an exciting project undertaken in 1984, a number of rhinos were translocated here from Assam and Nepal, in an attempt to extend their habitats and to exclude the possibility of wiping out entire populations through disease and Epidemics. Presently, 13 rhinos car be seen in Dudhwa.

Other inhabitants include the sloth bear, jackal, wild pig and the lesser cats - the fishing cat, leopard cat, jungle cat and civet. Dudhwa has also an abundance of birds. Its marshes are home to a range of water birds both local and migratory. There are spectacular painted storks black and white necked storks, sarus cranes and varied night birds of prey, ranging from the great Indian horned owl to the jungle owlet.

Colourful woodpeckers, barbels, kingfishers. minivets, bee eaters, and bulbuls flit through the forest canopy. A fragile natural paradise, Dudhwa endeavors to protect its wild haven from the depredations of an expanding human population.

General Information :

Best Time to Visit :
November to May.

Nearest Town :
Palia (10 Km)

How to Get Here :
Air: Lucknow (250 Km)
Rail: Dudhwa