Rajaji National Park

Location: Spread across Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri Garhwal of Uttarakhand.
Area: 820.42 sq km
Famous For: Asian Elephants
Activities: Nature Walks, Elephant safari, Wildlife Photography,

Introduction:
Rajaji National Park is a pristine and scenic place to admire the rich bio-diversity of the India. It encompasses the Shivaliks, near the foothills of Himalayas. Spreads to an area of 820.42 sq km in three districts of Uttarakhand namely Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri-Garwhal.

Rajaji National Park is an amalgamation of three wildlife sanctuaries namely Chilla, Motichur and Rajaji. It was established in 1983 in memory of C. Rajagopalachari(Rajaji), a renowned freedom fighter and the second and last Governor-General of Independent India.

Rajaji National Park is blessed with a magnificent ecosystem. The varied topography of the park represents vegetation of several distinct zones and forest types like Sal forests, Reverine forests, Board-leaved mixed forests, scrubland and grassland. It is also one of the finest abode of Asiatic Elephants. Apart from Elephants, Rajaji also possesses almost 23 species of mammals and 315 species of bird. Some of the species that are available here are Indian Tigers, Sambhar, Leopards, Deer, Jungle cats etc and some bird species are Kingfishers, Peafowls, Woodpeckers, Pheasants and Barbets etc.

In and Around:
Nearby places to Rajaji National Park is dotted with some beautiful tourist destinations namely Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun.

Haridwar: Positioned on the right bank of the Ganges river, Haridwar is a famous pilgrimage destination of Hindus. It is just 8 km from the park and famous for Har ki Pauri, Chandidevi Temple, Mansa Temple etc.

Rishikesh: Another tourist spot, very close to Rajaji National Park is Rishikesh. It lies at a distance of 14 km from the park. Some of the famous tourist spots of the place are Laxman Jhula bridge and Muni ki Reti(sands of the sages).

Dehradun: The capital of Uttarakhand is located at a distance of 38 km from Rajaji National Park. It is one of the famous hill resorts of the state and attracts thousands of tourists due to its salubrious climate. Clock Tower, Tapkeshwar Temple, Tapovan are some famous tourist spots of Dehradun.

Best Time To Visit:
The climate in this region remains pleasant throughout the year. Still, the best season to visit Rajaji National Park is from mid November to mid June.

Activities To Do:
Rajaji National Park is a dream destination for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. Its place to view wildlife at its best. Here, in this park tourists can indulge themselves in various forms of activities. Some of the popular activities are:

Nature Walks: Rajaji National Park is an ideal place for nature walks. The park has some well defined to paths, which will help the tourists to peep into the world of wild animals.

Elephant Safari: An elephant ride is an excellent way to move around the Rajaji National Park. Elephant rides are conducted in morning and evening. From Chilla and Dholkand gate, elephants are available for wildlife viewing.

Wildlife Photography: Wildlife photography is another nice option to involve oneself. Don't forget to bring your photographic lenses while your trip to this park as because it will aid you to click some beautiful snaps of the inhabitants of the park.

Fishing and Angling: Rivers that meanders through the park are excellent site for fishing and angling. These rivers houses large number of trouts and mahseer.

Hotels and Wildlife Resorts:
Rajaji Natiomal Park also has some excellent staying options to suit the budget of each and every traveler. There are some well-furnished accommodations near Rajaji National Park, such as

Mid-Range Hotels: Camp King Elephant

Budget Hotels and Rest Houses:
Dholkhand Forest Rest House (Mohand & Ranipur)
Beribara Forest Rest House (Ranipur) 
Chilla Forest Rest House (Chilla) 
Kansrao Forest Rest House (Asharori & Motichur) 
Motichur Forest Rest House (Motichur) 
GMVN Tourists Rest House Chilla

How To Reach There:
By Road: Rajaji National Park can be easily accessible by bus from nearby towns like Dehradun, Haridwar and Kotdwar.

By Rail: Tourists can also board on trains to reach Rajaji National Park. Overnight trains are available for Dehradun and Haridwar from Delhi and Lucknow. Chilla Gate is 8km from Haridwar Railway Station and 14 km from Rishikesh through Canal Road.

By Air: Rajaji National Park can also be easily accessible by air. Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport is just 38 km from Chilla Gate of Rajaji National park. Daily flights are there from Delhi to Dehradun.