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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.
History
The present area of the park was earlier outlined by Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir in the year 1910 as a game preserve. He also wanted to develop this forest into a catchment zone for Harwan reservoir for supplying water to Srinagar. Some tree species were also planted in order to provide winter fodder to several wild animals. The State Forest Department then managed Dachigam when Jammu and Kashmir was acceded to India. In the year 1951, the government of Jammu and Kashmir notified this area as a sanctuary. This sanctuary then got the status of a national park in the year 1981.
Jammu and Kashmir has been a symbol of eternal natural beauty since time immemorial. Few places in the subcontinent come close to the tummy-flipping beauty of the Himalayan mountain system. Like a pretty young girl, magnanimously voted by all as the beauty of her family, Jammu and Kashmir (often referred to simply, as J&K) has always been enveloped in an aura of mystery and elusiveness. J&K consist of 3 main regions: religiously oriented Jammu (the winter capital of the state), the pretty, flowery valleys of Kashmir and the cold. Whichever area you choose to start with, try completing the entire circuit to do full justice to these spellbinding lands of the North. The tourist places to visit in Jammu and Kashmir include Srinagar, Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Leh among others.