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The Rajaji National Park is named after the first Indian Governor General of India and well-known freedom fighter, C. Rajagopalachari or Rajaji, as he was popularly known. The park was established in 1983 after amalgamating three wildlife sanctuaries, namely, Rajaji, Motichur, and Chilla in the southern foothills of the Himalayas. Today, the park boasts of the highest concentration of wild elephants in the entire Uttaranchal.
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As the park runs along several major cities of Uttaranchal like Dehradun, Haridwar, and Mussoorie, the number of visitors to the park has always been high. There are excellent lodging, eating, and access facilities. The park also offers some breathtaking views of Himalayan mountain range and an option to move into other wildlife sanctuaries of the region. LOCATION Rajaji National Park is located in the Western Himalayan state of Uttaranchal. The park extends from latitudes 29°52'-30°15' N to longitude 77°55'-78°19' E. CLIMATE The climate of the region is tropical with hot summers and cold winters. In summers (mid-April to July), the maximum temperature reaches a high of around 40°C and relative humidity is at its peak at hovering around 90%. Winters (October to February) can be chilly as the temperature during the night can dip below 5°C on a normal day. It is essential to carry warm clothes if you visit the park in the winters. |
Vegetation: The park is rich in floral species and its vegetation consists of plants, under-wood, and undergrowth species. The main species of plants in the park are the sal (Shorea robusta), baki (Anogeissue latifolia), sain (Terminalia tomentosa), haldu (Adina cordifolia), bachera (Terminalia ballerica), jhingan (Lannea coromandelica), kharpat (Garuga pinnata), phauri (Lagerstroemia parviflora), bula (Kydia calycina), badal (Stereospermum chelonoides), tun (Cadrela tonna), gutel (Trewia nudiflora), gular (Ficus glomerata), etc
The under-wood is light and often absent. It consists of rohini (Liollotus philippinensis), amaltas (Cassia fistula), sandan (Ougeinia oojeinensis), pipal (Bauhienia lazan), mahal (Pyrus pashla), chamaror (Ehretia laevis), aonia (Emblica officinalis), kachnar (Bauhienia variegata), ber (Ziziphus mauritiana), chilla (Casearia tomentosa), bel (Aegle marmelos), etc.The undergrowth consists of karaunda (Carissa opaca), gandhala (Murraya koenigil), marorphali (Helicteres isora), etc. While the grasses include gorla (Cyryspogon fuivus), kummeeria (Heteropogon contortus), etc.
Fauna: Rajaji National Park is also rich in faunal wealth. The main groups of animals are mammals, birds, reptiles (snakes and lizards), amphibians (frogs and toads) and fishes, and scorpions, centipedes, odonata (dragon and damselflies), hymenoptera (wasps, bees, etc.), isoptera (termites) and lepidoptera, which comprises more than 60 species. India's national bird peacock is found here in abundance.
In all, the entire park has around 49 species of mammals, 315 species of birds, 49 species of reptiles, 10 species of amphibians, and 49 of fish fauna.
ACTIVITIES
Elephant ride is a popular way of exploring the wildlife in this national park. Forest authorities can be requested for making necessary arrangements. Elephants are capable of taking tourists to the nearest point from where they can have a good view of the wildlife.
For those who want to study the activities of the wild animals in their leisure time, there are various machans (watchtowers) constructed near the waterholes, the place where the animals come to quench their thirst.
FEE & TARIFF:
| Indian (in Rs.) | Foreigner (in Rs.) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Entrance free (per person for first 3 days) | 30.00 | 350.00 |
| 2. Entrance free for every additional day | 20.00 | 175.00 |
| 3. Road fee for vehicle, light heavy | 500.00 | 500.00 |
| 4. Camera Fee | (a) Still 50.00 (b) Movie/ Video 2,500.00 | (a) Still 50.00 (b) Movie/ Video 5,000.00 |
| 5. Filming charges | (a) Feature film 20,000.00 (b) Documentary per day 2,500.00 | (a) Feature film 20,000.00 (b) Documentary per day 5,000.00 |
| 6. Security for above | (a) Feature film 25,000.00 (b) Documentary film 15,000.00 | (a) Feature film 40,000.00 (b) Documentary film 40,000.00 |
| 7. Elephant ride | 50.00 | 100.00 |
PLACES NEARBY
Haridwar: Haridwar or 'the Gateway to the Gods' is one of the seven holiest places according to Hindu mythology, as the Gods are believed to have left their footprints in Haridwar. The main attractions in the city are Har-Ki-Pauri, Chandi Devi, Bilwa Parvat, Vaishno Devi temple, Gurukul Kangadi University, Bharat Mata Temple, Maya Devi Temple, Bhimgoda, and Shanti Kunj.
Rishikesh: Crowded with sadhus with long matted hair and pilgrims from all over the globe, Rishikesh is the birthplace of yoga and holiest of Hindu pilgrimage sites. The main attractions here are Triveni Ghat, Bharat Mandir, Chandreshwar temple, Swarg Ashram, Lakshman Jhula, Kailashananda Ashram, and Jaisamand Lake.
Dehradun: Dehradun is one of the oldest cities in India and the capital of the newly formed state of Uttaranchal. The major tourist attractions here are Tapkeshwar, Robbers' Cave, Tapovan, Malsi Deer Park, Forest Research Institute, and Kalsi. A number of important institutions are located in Dehradun.
Mussoorie: Mussoorie, like other hill resorts in India, came into existence in the 1820s or thereabouts, when the families of British officials began making for the hills in order to escape the scorching heat of the plains. The main attractions in and around the city are the Mall, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Wynberg Allen School, Gun Hill, Surkhanda Devi Temple, Nag Tibba, Dhanaulti, Chamba, Camel's Back Road, Kempty Fall, Hawa Ghar, and Colonel George Everest Estate.
REACHING THERE
The park is easily accessible from Haridwar, Dehradun, Rishikesh, and Mussoorie. Dehradun (where the headquarter of the park is located) can be reached from most of the important places in India by rail or road. The city is also on the air network and connected to Delhi. The park has seven entry points accessible from all of the four cities mentioned above by road.
STAYING THERE
The park has excellent lodging facility with 10 forest rest houses run by the park authorities. Catering facilities are not available, but visitors are allowed to cook their own food. The Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam also runs a tourist complex in Chilla.
LINKS TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD
All communication facilities are available in Dehradun, Rishikesh, and Haridwar.
TRAVEL TIPS
For further details, tourists may contact:
Director,
Rajaji National Park
5/1 Ansari Marg, Dehradun 248 001
Phone: 00 91-135-621669, 744225
