RAJAJI NATIONAL PARK
Established In: 1983
Area: 820 sq. kms.
Best Time: Mid-November To Mid-June
Rajaji
National Park is distinct for its pristine scenic beauty and rich
bio-diversity. Situated at the edge of the sprawling Dehradun valley, the
park was founded in 1966 and spreads over an area of about 820-sq-km.
Nestled in a lush valley of the Shivalik Range, the park is an ideal
holiday resort with its many picnic spots and excursion sites for the
nature lover.
Three sanctuaries in the Western U.P., Shivaliks-Rajaji, Motichur and
Chilla were amalgamated into a large protected area and named Rajaji
National Park in the year 1983 after the famous freedom fighter late Shri
Rajgopalachari; Popularly known as "Rajaji". This area is the
northwestern limit of Asian elephants.
FLORA
The forest in the park is deciduous, with Sal (Shorea Robusta) as the
principal constituent contributing to nearly 75% of the trees. Due to
abundant rainfall, favourable conditions are created for diverse forest
types like (i) Moist Shiwalik Sal, (ii) Moist Bhabar Dun Sal, (iii)
Western Gangetic Moist Mixed Deciduous, (iv) Low Alluvial Sevannah
Woodland, (v) Dry Shiwalik Sal, (vi) Northern Dry Mixed Deciduous, (vii)
Khair Sissoo Forest, and (viii) Lower Shiwalik Chir Pineforest.
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 (Lagerstromia
Parviflora), Bula (Kydia Calycina), Badal (Stereospermum chelonoides),
Sofed Sirus (Albizzia Procera), 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 under-growth consists of Karaunda (Carissa Opaca), Gandhala (Murraya
Koenigil), Marorphali (Helicteres Isora), etc. While the grasses include
Gorla (Cyryspogon Fuivus), Kummeeria (Heteropogon Contortus), etc.
FAUNAL WEALTH OF THE PARK 
The
Rajaji National Park is rich in faunal wealth because of the varied types
of ecological niches existing in the reserve. The main groups found in the
park are mammals, birds, reptiles (snakes and lizards), amphibians (frogs
& toads) butterflies and fishes, and chiefly the invertebrate groups
are, the Scorpions, Centipedes, Odonata (dragon & 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.
Several important herbivores like Asian Elephants, Spotted Deer, Sambhar,
Barking Deer, Goral, Blue Bull (Neel Gai), Hog Deer, Wild Boar, Rhesus
Monkey and common Langur occur in the park. Among the important carnivores
are Tiger and Leopard, the smaller carnivores as predators are Leopard
Cat, Jungle Cat , Civet Cat and Yellow Throated Martin.
Besides, other mammals like Hyena, Jackal and Bengal Fox are not an
uncommon sight and work as scavengers in the park. In all 49 species of
mammals belonging to 42 genera, in 21 families and nine orders have been
recorded. According to census done in 1999 there are 445 Elephants, 32
Tigers and 177 Leopards, besides thousands of other wild animals in the
park.
AVIFAUNA
315 species of birds are reported to occur in the park. Birds like Ducks,
Teals, Cormorants, Egrets, Lapwing, Pond Herons, Pea Fowl, Jungle Fowl,
various species of Partridges and Pheasants, Drongo, Crows, Owlets and
Nightjars, Birds Of Prey, etc, are quite common.
REPTILES
Twenty eight species of snakes, 12 species of turtles & tortoises and
9 species of lizards among Reptilia are being recorded from the park. Ten
species under six genera and four families belonging to order Anura (toads
& frogs) with their developmental stages have been recorded from the
Park. Uperodon Systoma, Polypedates maculatus and Rana crassa are recorded
for the first time from the park.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS
Besides, an interesting phenomenon of breeding of Bufonids
was observed, which showed that B. Stomaticus & B. Melanostictus
breeds during July-August on the northern slope of Shiwalik, whereas the
same species breeds up to November on the southern slope. Polypedates
maculatus, which inhabits the live tree-holes, breeds only in July.
As many as 49 species of fish fauna have been recorded from the wetlands
of the Park, including a small loach Nemacheilus Doonensis as new to the
park, and another species Berilius Dimorphicus as new to science (ZSI,
1995). Hymenopterous insects mainly refer to the Scolid wasps of the Park
and as many as 13 species have been recorded. Out of these, five species
are not only new to the area, but to the whole of the U. P.
The butterfly fauna of the Park is very rich and represented by as many
as 60 species under eight families, out of the known nine families of the
Butterflies known from the adjoining areas chiefly Garhwal And Kumaon
hills of the Himalayas.
HOW TO GET THERE
Air: Jolly Grant Airport, which is only a few
kilometers away from the Northern Boundary of the Park has a daily 50
minutes flight from Delhi. Following are the main roads by which one can
go to the different areas of Rajaji Park.
Rail: Overnight trains are available for Dehradun and Haridwar
from Delhi and Lucknow.
Road: It is very well connected by road from Saharanpur, which in
turn is very well connected by rail to Delhi, Lucknow, Amritsar, Jammu
Tawi and Calcutta.
1. Dehradun Delhi State Highway: It almost forms the western
boundary of Rajaji Park. Mohand is the important station on this road
where a forest road goes inside the park.
2. Dehradun Doiwala, Rishikesh, Haridwar State Highway: This is
the most convenient road. By this road one can go to the Ramgarh,
Motichur, Kunao and Chilla Forests of Rajaji Park.
3. Moradabad, Haridwar State Highway: This is a connecting road
between Lucknow-Delhi highway and Haridwar. By this road one can go to the
Chilla, Gohri, Ranipur forest and forest areas adjoining Haridwar of the
Rajaji Park.
For easy approach and access, there are several entry gates to the park.
| Name of Entry Gate | Approach Town | Distance to Gate |
| Ramgarh Gate | From Dehradun | 14-km Delhi-Dehradun Highway via Clement Town. |
| Mohand Gate | From Dehradun | 25-km Delhi-Dehradun Highway. |
| Ranipur Gate | From Haridwar | 9-km Haridwar-BHEL Mohand Road |
| Motichur Gate | From Haridwar | 9-km Haridwar-Rishikesh or Dehradun Haridwar Highway |
| Chilla Gate | From Haridwar | 9-km via private bus route to Rishikesh |
| Kunao Gate | From Rishikesh | 6-km via private bus route on Rishikesh-Pashulok Route. |
| Laldhang Gate | From Kotdwara | 25-km via private bus route to Kotdwara Chilla. |
PLACES TO STAY
Rajaji National park takes pride in offering its guests a
peaceful and tranquil heaven. There are 10 Forest Rest Houses, where
visitors can stay and enjoy the beauty and splendour of the park. Each
Forest Rest House is adequately furnished for a comfortable stay. They
offer perfect retreat for visitors and nature lovers and adventure
enthusiasts alike.
In addition there are many hotels and tourist complexes around Rajaji
National Park at Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun and Mussoorie, which make
it very convenient to visit the Park. A tourist complex of Garhwal Mandal
Vikas Nigam is also available at Chilla.
For More Information, Contact:
Director, Rajaji National Park, Dehradun. Tourist Officer, Haridwar.
(Check all that apply)
Know more about this Package !!!
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