Rajaji National Park

Rajaji covers around eight hundred and twenty square kilometres of sal forest, riverbed and grassland where the Himalaya meet the Gangetic plain, and it forms the northwestern limit of the Asian elephant's range in India, with a population of several hundred. Tigers, leopards, sloth bears, gharial in the Ganges stretch and over three hundred bird species share it. The park is crossed by the Ganges at Chilla, where the canal road gives good elephant sightings. Van Gujjar buffalo herders traditionally used the forest seasonally, and their movement in and out of the park has shaped its management debates.

History

The area was made the Rajaji Sanctuary in 1948, and in 1983 the Rajaji, Motichur and Chilla sanctuaries were merged into Rajaji National Park. In 2015 the government approved making it a tiger reserve (Wikipedia, Rajaji National Park).

What's there

• The elephants - the northwestern limit of the species in India.
• The sal forest - tall broadleaf woodland at the Himalayan foot.
• The Chilla canal road - a reliable stretch for elephant and deer sightings.
• The birdlife - over three hundred species including hornbills and raptors.

When to go

November to June; the park closes in the monsoon from mid-June to mid-November. March to June gives the best sightings as water concentrates, though heat is severe.

Practical notes

Tiger sightings are rare here compared with the central Indian parks. Elephants can be aggressive and safaris keep distance. Zones open and close separately and should be checked before booking.

Nearby

Haridwar and Rishikesh lie alongside; Dehradun is northwest.

Key facts