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Wildlife Sanctuaries in Kashmir

Dachigam Wildlife Sanctuary
DACHIGAM is a wildlife sanctuary which is home to the endangered HANGUL species of the Deer in the country. dachigam is also host to other wildlife of the state viz Black/ Brown Bear, Musk Deer, leopards and migratory birds. There is a Trout fish farm also in Dachigam. It is big natural reserve which requires permissions from the Wildlife Authorities for excploration. The dense forests of Dachigam offer a brilliant view alongwith a Glacier fed rivulet flowing right through the middle.

General Information
Approach: Airport Srinagar (32 kms.)
Railhead Jammu (315 kms.)
Road Srinagar (21 kms.)
Area : 141 sq. kms.
Altitudinal Range : 1,700 to 4,000 metres M.S.L.
Accommodation : Lower Dachigam:
Panzgam 2 inspection huts 3 bedrooms = 6 beds.
Laribal 1 inspection hut 1 bedroom = 2 beds.
Laribal 2 dormitories 3 bedrooms = 20 beds.

Upper Dachigam:
Sangargulu 1 inspection hut 2 bedrooms = 4 beds.
Gratnar 1 inspection hut 6 bedrooms = 12 beds.
Flora : There are over fifty species of trees,twenty of shrubs and five hundred species of herbs. The principal tree species are Pinus griffithii,Abies pindrow,Juglans regia,Morus alba,Betula utilis,Salix spp.,Populus spp., Prunus armeniaca, Corylus colurna,Quercus robur,Ulmus wallichiana, Aesculus indica, etc.Shrubs include Berberis spp.,Desmodium tiliaefolium,Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana, Indigofera heterantha etc.
Fauna : There are twenty mammal species which include hangul,Himalayan brown bear,Himalayan black bear, langur,Himalayan marmot,leopard etc.
Avifauna : There are over 150 species of birds.The principal species are monal,koklas,bearded vulture, griffon vulture,golden eagle,grey heron,starling,golden oriole,paradise flycatcher,western yellow-billed blue magpie,kestrel,peregrine falcon,black bulbul, etc.
Visit : Upper Dachigam Mammal/Bird viewing
Lower Dachigam Mammal viewing
Bird viewing May to August.
September to March.
March to May.

Dress :
Summer : Trekking shoes,raincoat and light clothing.
Winter : Trekking shoes,heavy woolens and waterproof windcheater.
Spring : Trekking shoes,raincoat and light woollens.


Nature impressions of Dal Lake
Dal Lake much visited and less understood provides us with classic example of how little we appreciate the good things provided to us by Nature. This once pure lake could turn into a polluted pond , if we unthinkingly allow soil erosion and untreated effluents to damage it. Thousands of residents of Srinagar and millions of tourists are depandent upon the lake either for livelihood or for enjoyment. The lake of course is popular for its Houseboats ,Shikaras and promenades and it is undoubtedly a bird watchers paradise.

Slowly as the Shikara passes through the channels in Srinagar the houseboats pass by which are handled by even the children with great dexterity. The birds in this lake are very approachable. The kingfishers sit on the tops of houseboats nonchalantly almost within the touching distance of humans who seem to be equally unmindful of the birds. The kingfishers apparently use walls, steps and piles as fixed perches from which they directly dive into water to catch little fish.In Europe these birds are very elusive but in the happy valley of Kashmir they fear no danger from humans. Man and Nature seem to exist happly together in the Valley. Sitting on low boats i.e. Shikaras we can manoeuvre close to waders,raptors and divers.

While giding on Shikara we can often observe white breasted Kingfishers(Halycon smyrnensis), large striking birds with robust bills perched on the branches of willow trees. These birds concentrate their efforts to hunting on the floating Gardens. These man made islands comprise of reeds, willow rods, aquatic vegetations and and held together with humus consisting of mud from the lake bottom. This is extremely fertile and provide rich source of food in the form of frogs,lizards,mice, grasshoppers and other insects to the Kingfisher.

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