Rajaji National Park is an Indian national park and Tiger reserve, situated along the Shivalik ranges near the Himalayan foothills in the Uttarakhand state of India. Rajaji National Park has been named after C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji), a freedom fighter and the first governor-general of India. The three wildlife sanctuaries namely, Chilla, Motichur, and Rajaji sanctuaries were merged into one, and Rajaji National park was formed in 1983. Rajaji National Park of India spreads over an area of 820.42 sq km and is open to visitors only from Mid-November to Mid-June. It is the second tiger reserve in Uttarakhand after the Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve.
Broadleaved deciduous forests, riverine vegetation, scrubland, grasslands, and pine forests form the range of flora in this park. The dense jungles here are home to vivacious wildlife. The park is most renowned for its elephants and tigers. The mountain goat, chital, Sambar, barking deer, hog deer, nilgai, wild pigs, and sloth bears also inhabit these forests though you may not always catch a glimpse of these. Tigers and leopards are the prime predators at Rajaji. The leopard cat, jungle cat, civet, and yellow-throated marten come next. Other wild animal species found in the Park include the Asian elephant, Bengal tiger, Leopard, Jungle cat, Striped hyena, Goral, Indian hare, Sloth bear, Himalayan black bear, King cobra, Jackal, Barking deer, Sambhar, Wild boar, Rhesus macaque, Indian langur, Indian porcupine, Monitor lizard, Python.
The Park is also home to over 315 species of birds. The most prominent avian species include pea fowl, vultures, woodpeckers, pheasants, kingfishers and barbets, great pied hornbill, pied kingfisher, and the fire-tailed sunbird. This area is the first staging ground after the migratory birds cross over the Himalayas into the Indian subcontinent. Visitors need entry permits in order to be allowed into the park. Permits are available at each of the gates to the park. The entry timings are Morning - 6 am to 9 am & Evening - 3 pm to 6 pm. The Park has several gates and is accessible from Dehradun, Kotdwar, Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Saharanpur, which are linked by train to other major cities of India.
Explore & Experience in Rajaji National Park-
- Morning & Afternoon Jungle Safaris
- Rafting on Ganges
- Bird Watching
- Chilla Barrage
- Jhilmil Jheel
