Dachigam National Park covers about 141 square kilometres of the Zabarwan range 22 km from Srinagar and shelters the last population of the hangul, the Kashmir stag. Entry needs written permission from the Wildlife Protection Department, so it is planned in advance rather than dropped into a sightseeing day. Ground rises from about 5,500 to 14,000 feet across the park.
Duke Kashmir Travels arranges the paperwork and the vehicle for park visits. The agency has held J&K Department of Tourism registration JKTA00003978 since 2011; Kashmir packages start near ₹6,350 per person, twin sharing.
By Duke Kashmir Travels Team · Reviewed by Rayies Ahmad Zargar, Founder · Published · Updated
Key takeaways
- About 141 sq km, declared a national park in 1981 after decades as a protected water catchment for Srinagar.
- The hangul, or Kashmir stag, survives here and almost nowhere else.
- Leopard, Himalayan black bear and musk deer also range through the park.
- Altitude runs roughly 5,500 to 14,000 feet, so the park splits into lower and upper Dachigam.
- A permit from the Wildlife Protection Department is compulsory.
- The gate is reached through Harwan, about 22 km from the city.
What lives in Dachigam?
The hangul above all, along with leopard, Himalayan black bear, musk deer, marmot and a long list of Himalayan birds.
The hangul is the only surviving race of red deer in the subcontinent and its numbers are small enough that the park's management is built around it. Autumn and early winter push the herds into lower Dachigam, which is when sightings are most likely.
How do you get permission to visit?
Through the Wildlife Protection Department, which issues written permits; there is no walk-up entry.
We apply on behalf of guests, but the department decides, and upper Dachigam is often closed even when the lower park is open. Ask for it at least a few days before your dates, and treat the visit as conditional until the permit is in hand.
What is the terrain like?
Wooded slopes and cliffs at the bottom, alpine pastures, meadows and waterfalls higher up, with the Dagwan stream running through.
Lower Dachigam can be seen by vehicle and short walks. Upper Dachigam is trekking country and needs a full day, fitness and separate permission.
When should you go?
Autumn and early winter for the hangul in the lower park; late spring and summer for the meadows and the birdlife.
Combine it with Harwan Garden at the gate, or with a day around the lakeside gardens on the way out. The Srinagar page lists the alternatives if the permit does not come through.
Booking this with us
Duke Kashmir Travels has held Department of Tourism registration JKTA00003978 since March 2011 and has been an IATO allied member since 2016. The full list of registrations sits on our About Us page.
Send your dates and traveller count and we will build the itinerary around it. Call +91 9018 44 0000, email info@dukekashmirtravels.com or use the contact page.
About the founder
Rayies Ahmad Zargar founded Duke Kashmir Travels in Srinagar in 2011 and still runs it. He co-founded the JK Tourism Council and reviews the guides published here, including this one. Profile on LinkedIn.