Dachigam, Kashmir
Dachigam comes from the Kashmiri words dah which means 'ten', chi denotes 'are', and gam refers to 'village', roughly translating to "ten villages". Before the existence of the park, the area was occupied by 10 villages which were later translocated from the area due to the formation of this hunting reserve. The name of the national park was eventually monikered to commemorate those ten villages.
Dachigam National Park is known for its scenic locales. The park predominantly has a steep mountainous terrain, and is one of the most significantly protected areas of Kashmir since 1910, first under the care of the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, and later under the observation of the concerned government authorities. Dachigam National Park now holds rich faunal and floristic diversity, and is bedecked with precious trees such as wild cherry, apple, pear, peach, plum, apricot, chestnut, willow, walnut, oak, pine, birch, poplar, chinar and elm.
Dachigam National Park stands today as a treasure trove of some of the rarest species of animals. The high montane forests of Dachigam hold the last viable population of the vulnerable Kashmir stag (also called Hangul) in the world, and have one of the largest populations of the Asiatic black bear. Some other mammals that call Dachigam home include the Musk deer, Himalayan Brown bear, Snow leopard, Himalayan gray langur, Himalayan weasel, Himalayan wolf, Himalayan red fox, Leopard cat, Yellow-throated marten and Himalayan serow to name a few. The varied avifauna also makes it a birdwatcher's delight with a plethora of birds found here. The Dachigam National Park is renowned for its stunning landscapes & rich biodiversity, and serves as a sanctuary for various other wildlife species.
The best time to visit Dachigam National Park is during the summer months, from May to September, when the weather is pleasant and wildlife sightings are more common. The Park welcomes visitors to explore its natural beauty and wildlife through guided tours, nature walks and safaris, providing opportunities for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers to immerse themselves in the park's wilderness.
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