Kashmir-Wildlife

Kashmir Travel Guide > Wildlife in Kashmir

Situated only 6 km.away from Jammu city, this sanctuary occupies an area of 31 sq.km. The area sustains 8 mammal species including nilgai and barking deer and 15 species of birds. The best season for mammal viewing is September to March and for bird viewing March to May. Within the sanctuary is a two bed roomed hut. For passes contact the Regional Wildlife Warden, Jammu.

Approach : Airport Jammu (8 Kms)
Railhead Jammu (6 Kms)
Area : 31.50 sq kms
Altitudinal Range: 430 to 611 mtrs above m.s.l.
Accommodation : 1 Inspection hut = 2 bed rooms = 4 beds.
Fauna : This area sustains more than eight mammal species , the most common being nilgai, barking deer, wild boar, rhesus monkey etc.
Avi fauna : The sanctuary supports Indian Mynah, blue rock pigeon, peafowl, red jungle fowl, jungle crow, golden oriole, white cheeked bulbul.
Visit : Mammal viewing
Bird Viewing September to March, March to May
Dress : Spring/Summer Trekking Shoes , Raincoat, and light clothing
Winter Trekking shoes, Heavy woolens, waterproof wind cheaters.

Dachigam
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.

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.
Avi fauna : 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.

For Reservations contact :
The Chief Wildlife Warden,
Jammu & Kashmir State,
Tourist Reception Centre,
Srinagar 190001, (Kashmir.)

Dachigam lies in Srinagar District and it is 20 Kms from the Distt Headquarters.The nearest Airport is approx. 25 Kms away in Badgam Distt.This Airport is connected with major cities of country. The nearest Rail Head is at Jammu which is 300 Kms away and from there National Highway NH1A connects the Kashmir valley with India. Every sort of transport to suit every budget from Buses to Taxis ply on this Highway. It Takes around 10 to 12 hours to cross this mountaineous road which crosses some beautiful spots and the famous Jawahar Tunnel linking Kashmir Valley with country. Selected Transport is available from anywhere in the Srinagar City with nominal costs to the Gates of sanctuary. From there on you have to trudge on foot.Taxis, Buses can be chartered from anywhere in the Srinagar city to this place.

Overa Wildlife Sanctuary
The Sanctuary is situated about 76 kms.from Srinagar in the south-east and located near Pahalgam.The area is home to a number of rare,threatend and protected species of birds and mammals.It sustains 13 species of mammals and over 80 species of birds.It has acquired an outstanding position for its varied and magnificent species of pheasants.

General Information
Approach: Airport Srinagar (87 kms.)
Railhead Jammu (280 kms.)
Road Srinagar (76 kms.)
Anantnagh (40 kms.)
Pahalgam (11 kms.)
Area : 32.27 sq.kms.
Accommodation : 1 inspection hut......... 2 bedrooms = 4 beds.
Flora : The Overa Willife Sanctuary is richly covered with a variety of floral complexes which comprise mainly of conifers; the principal species being Pinus griffithii, Abies pindrow, aesculus indica, Morus alba, Juglans regia, etc. Major shrub associates are Indigofera heterantha, Desmodium tiliaefolium, Isdon spp., etc, while the main ground layer is dominated by dicotlydonous herbs comprising of Taraxacum officinale, Artemisia vulgaris, Anemone spp., Primula spp., etc.
Fauna : This area houses a variety of mammals most of which are faced with the serious threat of extinction.They are the hangul, musk deer, serow, rhesus macaque, langur, leopard, leopard cat, etc.
Avifauna : The area as distinct from the other wildlife reserves of the valley holds a rich assemblage of pheasants like the chukar, koklas, monal and Himalayan snow cock.Other avifauna include the jungle crow, red billed chough, griffon vulture, bearded vulture, Himalayan whistling thrush, rufous-backed shrike, Indian mynah, etc.
Visit : Mammal viewing
Bird viewing: September to April, March to August
Dress : Summer/Spring : Trekking shoes,raincoat and light clothing.
Winter : Trekking shoes, Heavy woolens and windcheater.

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Special thanks to Karoki Lewis, Aditya Singh and Outlook for use of their photographs.
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