Fast Facts
Location : Shivalik foothills, Uttaranchal.
Area : 820 sq. km
Major Attractions : Tigers, Elephants, Leopards, Sloth
Bears, Wild Boars etc.
Best Time To Visit : December to March.
Timings : Summer - 5.30 am to 5.00 pm, Winter - 6.00 am to
4.30 pm.
Entry Fee : Indians Rs. 40, Foreigners Rs. 350.
Camera Charges : Still Camera - Rs 50, Video Camera Rs.
250.
Vehicle Entry : Rs. 100.
Introducing Rajaji National Park
A
perfect combination of pristine natural beauty and rich diversity, Rajaji
National Park is a virtual paradise for nature lovers and wildlife
enthusiasts as well. Spread across an area of 820 sq. kms, Rajaji National
Park consists of three components namely - Rajaji established in 1948,
Motichur founded in 1936 and Chilla founded in 1977. In the year 1983, these
three parks were together named as Rajaji National Park.
Situated in the foothills of picturesque Shivalik range, most of the park
area is covered with Sal forests. Besides, the park has several distinct
vegetation zones, which include broadleaved deciduous forests, riverine
vegetation, grasslands and pine forests. Within the dense green jungles of
the Rajaji National Park, you can see a wide variety of wild animals and
avian species. Rajaji National Park possesses about 23 species of mammals,
315 species of birds and several reptile as well as fish species such as
trout and mahseer.
Flora of the Park
Bestowed with a varied topography, Rajaji National Park is home to a
variety of floral species as well as mixed vegetation. Major portion of the
park area is covered with Sal forests, Riverine forests, Mixed forests,
Scrubland,Grassland etc. Some of the main plant speicies found in the park
are Sal (Shorea robusta), Baki (Anogeissue latifolia), Bachera (Terminalia
ballerica), Gular (Ficus glomerata) etc.
The under-wood is light and consists of Amaltas (Cassia fistula), Ber
(Ziziphus mauritiana), Bel (Aegle marmelos), Chilla (Casearia tomentosa),
Rohini (Liollotus philippinensis) etc.
The undergrowth species include Gandhala (Murraya koenigil), Karaunda
(Carissa opaca), Marorphali (Helicteres isora), etc. Grasses found in the
park include Gorla (Cyryspogon fuivus), Kummeeria (Heteropogon contortus)
etc.
Fauna of the Park
While you visit the Rajaji National Park, you may have the adventure of
lifetime. You can watch the herds of mighty elephants roaming freely in
jungle or even see a tiger making its way through the tall grasses. In
addition to Tigers and Elephant, you can watch a number of other animals
like Leopards, Jungle Cat, Sloth Bears, Wild Boars, Jackals, Hyenas, Wild
Dogs, Sambar, Barking Deer, Cheetal, Himalayan yellow throated marten,
Langoor, Ghoral, Monitor Lizard, Python, Civet and King Cobra.
Rajaji National Park is also known for housing a wide variety of avian
species, like Chestnut-headed bee-eaters, Woodpecker, Pied Hornbills,
Hornbil, Rollers, Parakeets, Wagtails, Kingfishers, Storks, Fly Catchers,
Pea Fowl, Jungle Fowl, Kaleej Pheasant, Thrushes, Warbler, Oriola, Barbet,
Finch etc. In winters, you can see a large variety of migratory birds
playing in the azure waters of the river Ganga.
Activities You Can Take Part In
Elephant
Safari : An Elephant Safari is the most exciting way to explore the
Rajaji National Park. At the park's Chilla Gate, there are elephants which
will take you on a pleasant ride. The park authorities organize elephant
safari from the check post twice at 9 am and 3 pm during the winters and
5.30 am and 5 pm in summers, each lasts for about 2.5 hours. Elephant safari
charges are Rs.200 for Indians and Rs.400 for foreigners. Always remember to
book your safari in advance as there are only two safaris a day.
Jeep Safari : Jeep Safari is another fine way to see the
Park. Jeeps are available on rent at Haridwar or Rishikesh and it will cost
you around 600 rupees. Whether you visit the park by your own vehicle or on
a rented vehicle, a guide will always accompany you.
Bird Watching : Apart from its elephant and jeep safari,
the park has much to offer for birdwatcher's too. In this veritable avian
paradise, you can see a number of birds such as Pied Hornbills,
Chestnut-Headed Bee-Eaters, Rollers, Kingfishers, Flycathers, Storks, Yellow
and Pied Wagtails. Besides, if you visit the park in winters, you will be
well rewarded with a fantastic view of a number of migratory birds.
Nearby Attractions
Haridwar : Situated
9 kms away from the park, Haridwar will strike you with its religious
atmosphere. Haridwar's main attraction are Har-ki-Pauri and the picturesque
Ghats, where the evening Aarti will amaze you.
Rishikesh
: One of the four dhams of Hindus, Rishikesh is located at a distance of
40 kms from Rajaji National Park. Some visit the town seeking Nirvana, while
some for white-water rafting or conquering the challenging treks of the
region, whatever the reason, you will surely find solace here.
Dehradun : 50
kms away, Dehradun is another lovely tourist spot, which deserves a visit.
From scenic locales to pleasant atmosphere, from adventurous cycling tours
to fascinating nature walks, to enjoying picnics by natural hot springs,
Dehradun has everything and much more to offer.
Where to Stay
Plenty of good accommodation is available both within the park as well as
outside the park. Within the park, there are about 10 forest rest houses,
while outside the park there are several hotels and tourist complexes in
Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun. You can stay in one of the many
accommodation options available in and around the park, such as GMVN Tourise
Rest House (Chilla), Wildbrook Retreat, Forest Rest Houses, Tourist
Bungalow, Best Western Madhuban (Dehradun), Great Value Hotel (Dehradun),
GMVN Rahi Motel (Haridwar), Bharat Bhoomi Tourist Guesthouse (Dehradun) etc.
How to Reach
Jolly Grant airport (50 kms) at Dehradun is the nearest airport from the
park. From national capital Delhi, flights are available to Dehradun.
Haridwar (9 kms) and Dehradun (50 kms), are the two most convenient
railheads from Rajaji National Park. Both these railway stations have
several trains from rest of the country. There are daily overnight trains
from Delhi to Haridwar and Dehradun. From these railway stations you have to
take buses to reach the park.
Rajaji National Park is located at a straight route from Delhi along NH 58
via Meerut and Haridwar. Before reaching Haridwar, take the right turn at
the roundabout and cross the river Ganga to reach the park gate at Chilla.
Frequent bus service are available to Haridwar from Delhi.
