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Dachigam National Park
Location of Dahigam National Park :In the valleys of Kashmir, Western Himalayas. Park is relatively close to Srinagar ( the nearest airport), 22 k.m. (14 miles) away. Jammu ( 200 km; 125 miles) is the nearest railhead.
Climate of Dahigam National Park : In Upper Dachigam, minimum winter temperature are -10°C (39°F). Lower D
achigam experiences winter lows of 10°C (50°F) and summer highs of 20°C (68°F). When to go ( Dahigam National Park ): Best time to visit Upper Dachigam is April to June (summer), Lower Dachigam between September and December (autumn/winter).
Getting to Dachigam National Park : Bus services very irregular; visitors should hire a car in Srinagar and take the metalled (asphalt) road from Srinagar ( Take Wildindiaguid.com help ) into Lower Dachigam. Upper Dachigam is best explored on foot, via several good trekking trails.Facilities at Dahigam National Park : Srinagar has many good houseboats on the Dal and Nagin lakes. Deluxe hotels include Grand Palace intercontinental, Broadway, Green View, Mount View, New White House and Shah Abbas and more... No camping huts along Upper Dachigam's trekking routes; it is advisable to carry a portable tent. (Take Wildindiaguid.com help)
Wildlife in Dachigam National Park : Kashmir Stag (winter), Leopard, Himalayan Black Bear, Brown Bear, Serow and Mjusk Deer, Extremely varied bird life.
Precautions : Blankets and woolen clothes essential in winter.
Permits and Reservations for Dachigam National Park: For permits: contact Chief Wildlife Warden in Srinagar. (Take Wildindiaguid.com help) For accommodation : The Tourist Office of Jammu and Kashmir, Tourist Reception Centre, Srinagar-190001.
Special precautions : In recent years political militancy has spread through Kashmir and it is advisable to seek local advice before visiting.
The National Park: The National Park is roughly rectangular in shape. With a length of 23 kilometers (14miles) and a width of 8 kilometers (5 miles), its total area is 142 square kilometers (55 square miles). Dachigam was proclaimed a sanctuary in 1951, and it was upgraded to national park status in 1981.
The park consists of two sectors: Upper Dachigam, which lies in the higher reaches on the eastern side and makes up tow thirds of the entire area, and Lower Dachigam in the west. The beautiful Daghawna River flows across Lower Dachigam through a shrub-covered rocky ravine. Mulberry trees, willows and oaks are predominant in Dachigam's lower reaches, an area of thick undergrowth, while Blue Pine, juniper and birch and thinning undergrowth exists in the upper region. Several fire lines exist, and these are cleared every March, helping increase visibility of wildlife in the park.
