Dachigam National Park is a protected area located 22 kilometres (14 miles) from Srinagar city in the Srinagar district of Kashmir, on the east side of Dal Lake. It covers an area of about 141 square kilometres (54 square miles). The name of the park means "ten villages," which honors the ten villages that were moved to make room for the park. These villages lived in the area before World War I, at the start of the 20th century. The main entrance to the park is near the New Theed general bus stand, on both sides of Darul Uloom Kousaria.
The park has been protected since 1910. At first, it was managed by the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, and later by government officials. It was originally created to provide a reliable source of clean drinking water for Srinagar. In 1981, the park was upgraded and officially declared a National Park.
Geography
Dachigam National Park is located in the Zabarwan Range of the western Himalayas. The park’s altitude ranges from about 1,600 meters to 4,200 meters above mean sea level. This large range in altitude causes the park to have uneven land. The terrain includes gently sloping grasslands, sharp rocks, and cliffs.
High in the park is Marsar Lake, from which the Dagwan River flows. The river moves down through the lower areas and passes the only main road in the park. It supplies water to the Sarband reservoir, which provides drinking water to Srinagar. The Dagwan River eventually flows into the Jhelum River.
Flora
The areas on the mountainsides below the tree line are covered with trees. Most of this forest is made up of broadleaf tree species. Mixed in with these trees are alpine pastures, meadows, waterfalls, and areas with thick, low-growing plants. Deep channels, called Nars, run down the mountain sides. Most of the grasslands and meadows have colorful flowers, except during the harshest winters.
Fauna
Dachigam is famous for the hangul, also called the Kashmir stag. Other animals found there include:
- Musk deer (roose kat)
- Snow Leopard
- Himalayan serow
- Kashmir stag (hangul)
- Leopard cat (nt)
- Himalayan black bear (vu)
- Himalayan brown bear
- Jackal
- Hill fox
- Himalayan weasel
- Yellow-throated marten
- Jungle cat
- Long-tailed marmot
- Otter
- Cinnamon sparrow
- Black bulbul
- Himalayan monal
- Golden oriole
- Minivet
- Pygmy owlet
- Woodpecker
- Babbler
- Redstart
- Wagtail
- Koklass pheasant
- Chough
- Orange bullfinch
- Kashmir flycatcher
- Tytler's leaf warbler
- Streaked laughingthrush
- Himalayan rubythroat
- Wallcreeper
- Black-and-yellow grosbeak
- Himalayan griffon vulture
- Bearded vulture
- Red-billed blue magpie
- Titmouse
Trout, which are not native to the area, live in the Dagwan River.