Jammu and Kashmir is still called ‘heaven on earth’; it has become a paradise for nature lovers and youth involved in adventurous activities. Pristine Lakes, snowy peaks, green blends, and valleys make the region gifted with natural beauty, and this area of India also has some of the most amazing national parks. The parks considered in this report are not only those endowed with incredible bio-diversity but also other attractions, including adrenalin, photographic, and wildlife value.
So, in this particular blog, we will provide more information about the top 5 national parks of Jammu & Kashmir.
List of The Top 5 National Parks in Jammu and Kashmir
1. Hemis National Park
Hemis National Park is one of Kashmir’s most significant national parks because no place on the planet is home to more snow leopards than this park. A bonus to the beauty is its richest natural features, such as its distinct borderline, the Indus River, and the Zanskar ranges scattered here and there. This is India’s biggest park and includes the famous Hemis Monastery and some amazing Tibetan Gompas.
Apart from snow leopards, this high-altitude natural reserve has the Tibetan wolf, red fox, mountain weasel, Himalayan mouse hare, Himalayan marmot, and brown bear, not to mention the birds. For the adventurous type, you can hike along the exciting trekking trails available in the park between June and October. You can also go on a snow leopard spotting safari that is conducted in the late winter since this park has become snowy.
Location: Leh, Jammu and Kashmir 194101
Timings: Open on all days
Entry fee: INR 20 (Indian nationals), INR 100 (foreigners), and INR 50 (Monastery).
Best time to visit Hemis National Park: June to October
Nearby Attractions: Pangong Lake, Leh Town, Thiksey Monastery, and Khardung La Pass
How to Reach Hemis National Park.
- Nearest railway station: Jammu Tawi Railway Station (690 km)
- Nearest airport: Leh Airport (47 km)
- Distance from Leh: 49 km
2. Dachigam National Park
Situated about 22 km from Srinagar, it is one of Kashmir’s most scenic national parks. Notably, the term Dachigam, when translated in local parlance, means’ ten villages,’ it is evident that in the construction of this particular nature sanctuary, it was necessary to relocate some ten villages. It was first declared a protected park in 1910 but became a national park only in 1981.
The common animals found here are leopards, musk deer, Himalayan black bears, marmots, jackals, weasels, and the rarely seen hill fox. Besides this, the extraordinary park of Dachigam is the only habitat of the state animal Hangul (Kashmir Stag ). This park also attracts bird lovers, where one can see several beautiful birds, such as black bulbs, cinnamon sparrows, etc.
Location: Adjacent to Harwan Mughal Garden, Dachigam Road, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, Pin: 191-202
Timings: 8 AM – 6 PM
Entry fee: Nil
Best time to visit Dachigam National Park: June and August
Nearby Attractions: Mughal Gardens, Dal Lake, Shankaracharya Temple and Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden
How to Reach Dachigam National Park –
- The nearest railway station is Srinagar Railway Station, which is about 15 km away from the city.
- Nearest airport: Srinagar Airport (22 km)
3. Salim Ali National Park
The Salim Ali National Park is one of India’s best nature reserves and was named after the famous ornithologist Salim Ali. Like any other national park and wildlife sanctuary in Kashmir, the Salim Ali Park was officially developed to prevent harm to the endangered or rare bio-diversity and wildlife by banning activities such as poaching, hunting, cultivation, and grazing. This park enjoys a large population of birds and boasts more than seventy various types of avian inhabitants, temporary and permanent.
Apart from birds, it has many other animals such as Hangul, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan serow, and many plants ranging from mangrove shrubbery. It is one of the most popular sites for leisure, family, picnic purposes, and adventurous sites, particularly for tourists visiting Srinagar and Jammu.
Location: Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
Timings: Open on all days
Entry fee: Rs 10 (Indian nationals) | Rs 100 (Foreigners)
Best time to visit Salim Ali National Park: April to November
Nearby Attractions: Dal Lake, Nigeen Lake, Hazratbal Shrine and Pangong Lake
How to reach Salim Ali National Park –
- Nearest railway station: Srinagar Railway Station at a distance of 80 km.
- Nearest airport: Sonamarg Airport (80 km)
4. Kishtwar National Park
The Kishtwar Park was set up to conserve the fast-vanishing snow leopards. Besides Snow leopards, other animals found in the park are brown bears, Ibex, Himalayan black bears, Markhor, musk deer, wild boar, bharal, Indian muntijal, serow, and Rhesus macaque. Hangul stag comes to this place from Dachigam in winter. It is also possible to see familiar birds such as the musk deer, Himalayan Monal, koklass, Himalayan snowcock, Himalayan jungle crow, paradise flycatcher, golden oriole, bearded vulture, griffon vulture, Indian Mynah, and white-cheeked bulbul.
Regardless of the rich spectrum of wildlife and avifauna, people are interested in natural resources and attractions. This park has diverse vegetation of coniferous, alpine, meadows, and shrubs and is covered by snowy Himalayan peaks. Other natural assets are waterfalls, the Rinnay River, the narrow valley, the high rock heights of the well-known Sapphire mines of Paddar, and the well-known Sapphire mines. It also has sites for camping and other trekking reasons for those interested in the outdoors.
Location: Forest Block, Tusm, Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir, Pin 182204
Timings: Open on all days
Entry fee: Nil
Best time to visit Kishtwar National Park: March to October
Nearby attractions: Sinthan Top, Paddar Valley, and Pari Mahal.
How to Reach the Kishtwar National Park –
- Nearest railway station: Jammu Railway Station (248 Km)
- Nearest airport: Jammu Airport (250 km)
- Distance from Srinagar: 216 km
5. Kazinag National Park
Yet another national park, ‘Qazinad,’ was created as a spin-off from an initiative to work out a trans-Karakoram peace park deal with Pakistan following the ceasefire after the Kargil War. It was set up with the primary intention to save only the Markhor wild goat, Pakistan’s national animal. Besides the above, the park has numerous other animals, such as the Musk deer, brown bear, Himalayan marmot, snow leopard, and even the KF flying squirrel.
Housing near 17 different and stunning species of butterflies, this is one of the most exotic national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in Jammu and Kashmir. It is a hilarious package for adventure and nature lovers because it allows them to stay in tents in the forest area and witness Kashmir’s colorful bio-diversity during the night. The park is a few kilometers from Uri near the Line Of Control.
Location: The Baramulla is the district in Jammu & Kashmir.
Timings: Open on all days
Entry fee: Nil
Best time to visit Kazinag National Park: May to September
Nearby attractions: Baramulla Town, Gulmarg, Wular Lake, and Kupwara Valley.
How to Reach Kazinag National Park –
- Nearest railway station: Srinagar Railway Station (54 km)
- Nearest airport: Srinagar Airport (62 km)
- Distance from Srinagar: 70 km
Conclusion
To sum up, National parks in Jammu and Kashmir are not just places; they are adventures that bring you up and close with nature’s marvels. Whether it will be strolling through the greens of Dachigam, sighting a snow leopard in Hemis, or you name it, exploring the parks of Kishtwar will never leave you disappointed and unimpressed. Thus, grab your luggage and get ready to embrace the place’s natural beauty, Jammu and Kashmir.
Yes, accommodations range from luxury resorts to low-cost hotels and guesthouses near most parks. Remote parks such as Hemis and Kishtwar have homestays and campsites.
A one-week trip to Jammu and Kashmir can cost anywhere from INR 20,000 to INR 50,000 per person, depending on your preferred accommodations, transportation, and activities.
Jammu and Kashmir has five national parks: Dachigam, Kazinag, Hemis, Salim Ali, and Kishtwar.
The best time to visit varies by park:
- Summer (April to June) is ideal for Dachigam, Kazinag, and Salim Ali.
- Winter (October–February) is the best time to see snow leopards in Hemis National Park.
- Autumn (September-November) is an excellent time for trekking and photography in most parks.
Absolutely! Trekking, bird watching, and wildlife photography are popular activities. Dachigam and Hemis have some of the best trekking trails, and Kazinag is ideal for birdwatching.
