Image Source: Nadeem Hassan
About Dachigam National Park
When travelers hear about Dachigam, they usually think of the Hangul (Kashmir stag). Yet Dachigam National Park is far more than a single-species sanctuary. Hidden within its forests and valleys are stories of royal hunting grounds, secret alpine meadows, forgotten water systems, and ecological experiments that most visitors never hear about. Located just east of Srinagar, Dachigam is one of the rare national parks in India that sits so close to a capital city, yet still feels remote and mysterious.
Origins: A Park That Began as a Royal Water Source
From Hunting Reserve to Lifeline
Long before Dachigam became a national park, it was a protected area for Kashmir’s rulers. The word “Dachigam” literally means “ten villages,” referring to the settlements relocated when the area was reserved. What is less known is that the park was originally protected not for animals, but for water. The forests and streams of Dachigam supplied clean drinking water to Srinagar through stone channels built during the Dogra period. In many ways, the park functioned as an early ecological buffer zone—guarded to protect springs rather than wildlife.
Two Worlds in One Park
Lower Dachigam vs Upper Dachigam
Dachigam is split into Lower and Upper zones, and they feel like two different parks. Lower Dachigam has mixed deciduous forests and gentler slopes, while Upper Dachigam rises into alpine terrain with open grasslands and birch forests. What most tourists don’t realize is that altitude here varies dramatically within a short distance, creating multiple climate zones inside one park. This is why Dachigam supports such unusual biodiversity for its size—species from temperate forests and high mountains coexist in close proximity.
Unknown Biodiversity: More Than the Hangul
The Park’s Secret Residents
While the Hangul is the symbol of Dachigam, the park quietly shelters Himalayan black bears, leopards, musk deer, and Himalayan serow. Lesser-known inhabitants include the Himalayan yellow-throated marten and several species of flying squirrels. Birdlife is another hidden treasure: golden eagles, koklass pheasants, and colourful flycatchers appear in different seasons. Botanically, Dachigam contains rare medicinal plants and wild fruit trees once used by nearby villages for traditional remedies.
Human History Buried in the Forest
Ghost Villages and Old Trails
Few visitors know that Dachigam still holds traces of the ten villages that once existed inside it. Stone foundations, terraced fields, and abandoned footpaths can still be found if one walks deep enough with forest guides. These ruins tell the story of how human life once blended with the mountains long before conservation boundaries were drawn. Old migration routes used by shepherds also cut across parts of the park, showing that Dachigam has always been a corridor between highland pastures and valley settlements.
Dachigam’s Role in Srinagar’s Climate
The Park as a Green Lung
Another overlooked fact is Dachigam’s influence on Srinagar’s weather and air quality. The forests of the park act as a carbon sink and temperature regulator for the city. In summer, cool air flows down from Upper Dachigam into the valley at night, slightly lowering urban temperatures. In winter, the snow cover helps regulate water release into streams, preventing sudden flooding. In this way, Dachigam quietly functions as Srinagar’s natural climate shield.
Traveler’s View: Experiencing the Hidden Side of Dachigam
Beyond Safari Tourism
For travelers, Dachigam offers more than jeep safaris. Silent forest walks, birdwatching in early morning mist, and studying alpine flowers in Upper Dachigam reveal a softer, slower face of the park. Unlike crowded wildlife reserves, sightings here are unpredictable and subtle—often just a rustle in the undergrowth or a distant silhouette on a ridge. This unpredictability is part of Dachigam’s charm, reminding visitors that this is still a living ecosystem, not a zoo.
Why Dachigam Matters in the Story of the Zabarwan Range
A Wild Heart Within Urban Reach
Dachigam forms the southern extension of the Zabarwan Range and represents its wildest expression. While the lower slopes of the range hold gardens and temples, Dachigam preserves its raw mountain character. It shows how the Zabarwan Range transitions from cultural landscape to untouched wilderness. In the story of Srinagar’s tourism, Dachigam stands as a reminder that the city’s beauty is not only built by humans but sustained by forests, animals, and ancient mountain systems working quietly in the background.