Dachigam National Park

Dachigam National Park is located 22 km from Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir. The name literally stands for ‘ten villages’, which could be in memory of the ten villages that were relocated in order to create the park. The Park is only 141 sq. kms. and roughly rectangular in shape, approximately 23.5km by 6km. It is best considered as two sections – Upper and Lower Dachigam. 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 roadhead.

Dachigam was initially established to ensure the supply of clean drinking water to Srinagar city. A protected area since 1910, it was declared as a national park in 1981. The park is best known as the home of the hangul, or Kashmir stag.

The Park harbors the last viable population of the endangered Hangul or Kashmir Stag. Himalayan Black Bear are visible in the lower reaches from spring to autumn and hibernate in winter. Long-Tailed Marmots are very conspicuous during summer in the upper reaches while Mouse Hare are active throughout the year. Other wildlife includes Leopard, Common Palm Civet, Jackal, Red Fox, Yellow-throated Marten and Himalayan Weasel.

Over 145 different bird species including the Lammergeier, colourful species like Monal Pheasant and Blue Magpie are seen.

Just 21kms north-east of Srinagar, and beyond the Mughal Gardens of Nishat and Shalimar, Dachigam is best considered as two parts. Lower Dachigam is more accessible to a visitor while Upper Dachigam is a day’s trek. Good time to visit is in September-October which is also the Hangul rutting season. Forest Department accommodation is available in the Park and may be reserved through the Chief Wildlife Warden at the office in the Tourist Reception Centre in Srinagar.

The area now known as the Dachigam National Park was first given protection by the Maharaja of Kashmir in 1910 when he delineated the valley as a game preserve and relocated the ten villages that were present within its precincts. From this comes its name Dachigam, translating as ‘ten villages’. The Maharaja was motivated not only by the desire for sport for himself and his guests but also to ensure an undisturbed catchment zone for the Harwan reservoir which supplied water to his summer capital, Srinagar. 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. 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.