The park's name translates to 'ten villages,' referring to the ten villages displaced during its establishment as a game preserve.
The Hangul stag is the state animal of Jammu and Kashmir and is exclusively found within this park.
Lower Dachigam is characterized by deciduous and coniferous forests, while Upper Dachigam features high-altitude alpine meadows that are snow-covered during winter.
The park provides critical watershed protection for the Dal Lake through the Dagwan River.
It is one of the few places where you can observe both the Himalayan black bear and the brown bear in their natural mountainous habitat.
The park encompasses a massive elevational gradient, resulting in distinct ecological zones within a short horizontal distance.
Leopard sightings are frequent in the lower forest tiers, especially during the colder months when they follow prey to lower altitudes.
Dachigam National Park is the world's only natural habitat for the Hangul, or Kashmir stag, a critically endangered subspecies of elk. Located in the Zabarwan Range of the Himalayas, the park covers 141 square kilometers with altitudes ranging from 1,700 to 4,300 meters. The topography transitions from dense coniferous forests and alpine pastures to rocky cliffs. The park is divided into two sectors: the Lower Dachigam, accessible via the Harwan road, and the Upper Dachigam, which remains largely restricted and requires high-altitude trekking. Beyond the Hangul, the park serves as a refuge for Himalayan black bears, brown bears, leopards, and musk deer. Water sources are primarily fed by the Dagwan River, which flows through the center of the park. It was originally established in 1910 as a protected area to provide a clean water supply for Srinagar before being designated a national park in 1981.
The lower valley grasslands, which provide clear, unobstructed views of the Hangul against the backdrop of the rugged mountains.
Secure permits from the Department of Wildlife Protection well in advance, as access is strictly regulated.
Wear layered, neutral-colored clothing to blend into the environment and remain quiet to increase wildlife spotting chances.
Bring high-quality binoculars, as the rugged terrain often forces animals to keep a significant distance from designated paths.
Attempting to enter restricted zones of Upper Dachigam without a specialized guide and prior written authorization.
Upper Dachigam is often restricted during peak winter months due to heavy snowfall and wildlife migration patterns.
Strictly no littering, no noise pollution, and do not feed the wildlife; maintain a respectful distance from all animals.
