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Dachigam National Park

Dachigam National Park

wildlife park · Jammu & Kashmir

Dachigam National Park, in the mountains just outside Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, is the last stronghold of the endangered Kashmir stag, or hangul, the state animal.

State
Jammu & Kashmir
Type
Wildlife Park

Dachigam National Park, in the mountains just outside Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, is the last stronghold of the endangered Kashmir stag, or hangul, the state animal. Rising from riverine valley to alpine meadow, it also shelters Himalayan black bears, leopards, musk deer and a wealth of Himalayan birds.

When to go

The lower park is pleasant from spring to autumn; upper Dachigam and its alpine meadows are best in summer, while winter brings snow.

Why visit

Look for the rare hangul and Himalayan wildlife in a beautiful valley-to-alpine landscape, an easy nature escape from Srinagar and Dal Lake.

Cultural notes

Dachigam once served as a protected game reserve for the rulers of Kashmir and is now vital to saving the hangul from extinction.

How to reach

By Road: Dachigam is about 22 km from Srinagar, an easy drive. By Air and Train: Srinagar has the nearest airport, and Jammu is the major railhead.

Dachigam National Park guide & itineraries

Shopping

Srinagar nearby is famous for Pashmina, carpets, walnut wood and papier-mache.

Frequently asked questions

What is Dachigam National Park famous for?

It is the last refuge of the endangered Kashmir stag (hangul), along with black bears, leopards and Himalayan birds, just outside Srinagar.

Do I need a permit for Dachigam?

Yes, entry requires permits from the wildlife department; it is about 22 km from Srinagar.

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Srinagar is a lake city, and the difference between a good stay and a mediocre one is which part of the lake you sleep on. Take a houseboat, but ask where it is moored. The boats near the Boulevard are convenient and noisy with traffic; the ones further out towards Nagin lake are quieter and give you the mornings the place is famous for. Shikara rides are priced by the hour and by negotiation — agree the route and the price before you get in, or you will be taken to a floating handicraft shop instead. The Mughal gardens — Shalimar, Nishat, Chashme Shahi — are terraced up the eastern hillside and are best in the first hour after opening. The vegetable market on the water at dawn is the real thing, and it means being up before five. Papier-mâché and Kashmiri walnut wood are genuine crafts here and worth buying properly rather than roadside. Check current advisories before you book, and do that close to your travel date rather than months out. April and May for the blossom, and June to August is the season most Indians come. Winter is cold, beautiful and quiet.

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Mahamaya is the name the Goddess carries here, and Trisandhyeshwar is the Bhairava who guards her. The cave opens for only a few weeks around Shravan, in July and August, and you will need a registration and a medical certificate before you set out — from Pahalgam it is three or four days in, while Baltal is fourteen kilometres and very steep. Neither way in is a stroll.

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Dal Lake is an urban lake in Srinagar covering about 18 square kilometres (21.2 sq km including floating gardens), with a maximum depth of 6 metres and average depth of 1.42 metres, at an elevation of 1,583 metres. Known as the "Jewel in the crown of Kashmir," it is ringed by Mughal gardens and houseboats.

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