|
| |
| Home>>National
Parks>> Dachigam National Park |
| |
Dachigam National Park
|
| The Dachigam National Park: |
| |
| Truly
a paradise on earth, the Dachigam National
Park is located just 22 km from Srinagar,
the capital city of Jammu and Kashmir. Spread
over an area of 141 sq km, the beauty of the
national park has to be experienced to be
believed. With every change in season, the
park becomes more beautiful than ever, making
it the best place to experience the beauty
of each passing season.
The variation
in the altitudes of the park is so vast that
the park in itself is divided into two –
the upper sector and the lower sector. The
Masrar Lake is the water source for the flora
and fauna in this park as it plummets down
from the upper sector to the lower sector
of Dachigam.
|
|
|
Declared as a National
Park in 1981, Dachigam is named after the
ten villages which were relocated for its
formation (Dachigam literally means 10 villages).
Under protection from 1910 itself, it was
first under the care of the Maharaja of Jammu
and Kashmir and then under the governments
care. |
|
|
| |
| THE FAUNA OF DACHIGAM NATIONAL
PARK: |
| |
| Animals in Dachigam National Park: |
Habitat of many unique Himalayan animals and birds,
the Dachigam National Park is the only home to the
Hangul. Hangul, an endangered animal, is the only
red deer species found in India. The Hanguls can be
spotted in the lower valleys during the winter season.
Another rare species of the deer, the Musk Deer inhabits
the park.
The only predators in this park – the Leopard
and its cousin the Snow Leopard are elusive. So
if you spot them consider yourself very lucky. Different
species of Wild Goats like the Ibex and the Markhor
also roam the park.
The winters are very cold, and the lower sector
of the park can get as cold as “-10 degree
celcius”. During this season, the animals
you can include the Himalayan Grey Langur, the Himalayan
Griffon, Jackals, Jungle Cat, Hill Fox, yellow Thrated
Marten and the Himalayan Weasel.
The summers bring along with it the Himalayan Black
Bear and the Himalayan Brown Boar.
|
| |
| Birds in Dachigam National Park: |
| |
The Dachigam also hosts birds unique to the Himalayas.
Different species of Colorful Pheasants like the
Crimson Tragopan, the Blood Phasant, the Monal Pheasant
with its sparkling plumage and the Koklass Pheasant
adorn the park. The summers attract various species
of birds. Birds like the Himalayan Ruby Throat,
Red-Browed Finch and wag tails can be seen in the
Upper reaches during this season. The predatory
birds like the bearded vulture and the Golden Eagle
can be seen circling the skies as they search for
their prey.
The winters in the Dachigam Park may be cold, but
they are
Some birds and animals found during this time of
the year include the cinnamon sparrows, black and
yellow grosbeak, black bulbuls, monal pheasant and
long tailed blue magpie. Birdlife also becomes active
and the birds which appear are the golden orioles,
pygmy owlets, Himalayan pied woodpeckers, warblers,
babblers, buntings and laughing thrushes.
A metal road takes visitors from Srinagar into
Lower Dachigam. Upper Dachigam can only be explored
on foot.
During winters, the upper reaches of Dachigam become
inaccessible to the visitors and the temperature
in lower Dachigam dips as low as -10 degree celsius.
|
| |
| The Flora of Dachigam National Park: |
|
|
The Dachigam Wildlife Sanctuary has over fifty species
of trees, twenty of shrubs and five hundred species
of herbs. The principal tree species are pinus griffithii,
Abies pindrow, Juglans regia, Morus alba, Betula utilis,
Prunus armeniaca, Corylus colurna, Quercus robur etc. |
| |
| Tourist Information On Dachigam National
Park: |
-
The Best time to explore Upper
Dachigam is from May to August.
-
The upper sector of Dachigam
cannot be accessed during winters due to the harsh
weather conditions.
-
The best time to visit the
Lower sector of the park is from September to
December, but can also be explored in the summers.
-
The lower Dachigam can get
as cold as -10 degree Celsius, so it is advisable
to wear sufficient protective clothing.
-
Lower sector of the park is
connected with Srinagar by a metal road.
-
The upper sector can be toured
only on foot.
-
The nearest town is Srinagar
and is 22 km away.
|
| |
| |
|
