List of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in Jammu & Kashmir

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The three regions beautifully divided into the state of Jammu & Kashmir. The Wildlife of Jammu & Kashmir is famous all over the world that has marked natural beauty and wild forest with different animals found here.

The wilderness of Himalayas has not been untouched by mankind and their cruel hands have spoiled the life of the Jungle. The government and with the help and effort of local people of the ranges are still in existence with the same natural beauty. The best sanctuary among all is the Dachigam, which is popular among many people. When one goes around the huge forest of Conifer and Silver Birch, the red deer or Hangul will definitely attract you and will catch your attention. There are many campaign sites where there are two valleys mixing in the Hemis which is a high altitude park. The other high altitude park in Jammu is Kishtwar which is famous for the vegetation and the difference in topography.

Jammu falls in the most northern part of India with the three main and important regions that include Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. There are different languages spoken here due to different religion of people who live here since many years. The languages spoken here include Hindi, English, Kashmiri, Dogri and Ladakhi. The best time one can enjoy this place with the beauty of nature and to view the picturesque sites is from the month of October to February.

Table of Contents

Dachigam National Park

Dachigam National Park is located in Srinagar just 22 kms away in Kashmir Region. The National park is spread over an area of around 141 SqKms. The attractions of this National Park here is Kashmir stag, Markhor, Himalayan Black Bear, exotic birds and Ibex. The Best time to visit this place is around May to August. Maharaja of Kashmir used to hunt here earlier. In 1951 it was announced as a National Park where conservation programme was strictly enforced. Earlier the population of the National Park was around 150 but now it has more than 400 animals in the Park.

Established: 1981
Area coverage: 141 km2
Location: Dachigam Road, near Harwan Mughal Garden (District- Srinagar (191202))
Timings: 9am–5pm
Entry fee: ₹-25
Best time to visit: April and October
What to see: Musk deer, Snow Leopard, Himalayan brown bear, Himalayan black bear, Kashmir stag, Kashmir grey langur, Leopard cat etc.
How to reach: Nearest airport- Srinagar airport (22 km), nearest railhead- Srinagar railway station (15 km).

Also Read: 20 Must Visit Places in Jammu & Kashmir

Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve

Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve is located in Srinagar towards the Southwest just 48 kms away. It falls in the Kashmir Region of Jammu & Kashmir. The National Park is widely spread on an area of around 180 sqkms. The people are attracted here mostly by the Musk Deer. The best time one can view the Mammal is from the month of September to March. There are many endangered and rare species found here that includes varied and rich avifauna and Musk Deer.

Established: 1987
Area coverage: 180 sq km.
Location: Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir (District- Baramulla (193403))
Timings: 10am–4pm
Entry fee: ₹-500
Best time to visit: March – June
What to see: Griffon Vulture, Kashmir Roller, Jungle Crow, European Hoopoe, Blue Rock Pigeon Monal, Snow Cock, Sorbaria Tomentosa, Aesculus Indica, Monal, Deer, Serow, Brown Bear, Leopard, Black Bear etc.
How to reach: Nearest airport- Srinagar airport (57 km), nearest railhead- Srinagar railway station (62 km).

Also Read: Famous Lakes of Jammu Kashmir

Hemis National Park

Hemis National Park is situated close to Leh which falls in the Ladakh Region. The area covered by the National Park is around 600 sqkms. The Prime attraction of the park is the different and dangerous animals found here which include Bharal, Shapu and snow Leopard. The best time one can view the Mammal is from the month of September to March. The Hemis is a high altitude National Park which has the flow of two valleys and that goes and meets the Indus River. The condition of this Park is very desolate and bleak. The growth of vegetation is very poor due to the terrain that is rock with the cover of thin soil.

Established: 1981
Area coverage: 4,400 km²
Location: Leh, (P99Q+F7Q Jammu and Kashmir)
Timings: 9am–5pm
Entry fee: ₹-20 for Indians, ₹-200 for foreigners
Best time to visit: June – October
What to see: Tibetan wolf, Eurasian brown bear, Himalayan marmot, mountain weasel, Himalayan mouse, bleu sheep, Ladakhi Urial, Snow Leopards, Ibex and Goats etc.
How to reach: Nearest airport- Leh airport (50 km), nearest railhead- Srinagar railway station (431 km).

Also Read: Most Popular Places to Visit in Ladakh

Jasrota Wildlife Sanctuary

Jasrota Wild Life Sanctuary is located in Jammu just 63 kms away. The area covered by the National park is around 10.04 sqkms. The main attraction of the National park is famous among people for the Axis deer or Cheetal. There are different kinds of birds in the sanctuary which are worth watching. The area of the sanctuary is surrounded mainly by the Bamboo plantation. The best time for mammal viewing is from the month of September to March.

Established: 1987
Area coverage: 10.04 sq km.
Location: Banks of the River Ujh (District- Kathua (184144))
Timings: 9am–5pm
Entry fee: No entry fee
Best time to visit: March – May & September – November
What to see: Bamboo plantations, cheetal, wild boar, rhesus monkey, cheetal, axis deer, Dalbergia Sissoo, Acacia Catechu etc.
How to reach: Nearest airport- Jammu airport (70 km), nearest railhead- Jammu railway station (65 km).

Kishtwar National Park

Kishtwar National Park is a high altitude park which is located in Jammu Region. The National Park is widely spread with the area of around 400 sqkms. The people are attracted towards the park is because of the 15 different, rare and dangerous species found here that includes Musk deer, Himalayan Black and Brown Bear, Markhor, Langur, Hangul and Leopard. The best time to view the mammal is from the month of September to March.

Established: 1981
Area coverage: 2190.50 Sq. Km
Location: JX9V+F8J, Forest Block, Jammu and Kashmir 182204 (District- Kishtwar)
Timings: Day time
Entry fee: No entry fee
Best time to visit: March – October
What to see: Kashmiri stag, Musk Deer, Ibex, Markhor, Serow, Rhesus macaque, Indian Muntijal, Brown Bear, Himalayan Black bear, Snow Leopard, Wild boar, Bharal etc.
How to reach: Nearest airport- Jammu airport (250 km), nearest railhead- Udhampur Railway Station (180 km).

Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary

Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Jammu region just 28 kms away in Jammu. The sanctuary is spread over an area of around 33.24 sqkms. The population of Pheasants is pretty good. In and around the whole sanctuary there are about eight species found. The important species found here are Leopard, Rhesus, Wild boar, Monkey, Grey Langur, Garal, etc. There are some common birds found here that includes Mynah, Peafowl, Blue Rock pigeon, Cheer pheasants, Red Jungle Fowl, Chakor, etc. The best time to view these mammals is from the month of September to March.

Established: 1990
Area coverage: 33.24 sq km
Location: District- Jammu
Timings: 9am–5pm
Entry fee: ₹-15
Best time to visit: March to May
What to see: Leopard, grey langur, rhesus monkey, wild boar, bharal, goral, deer etc.
How to reach: Nearest airport- Jammu airport (26 km), nearest railhead- Jammu Railway Station (28 km).

Overa Wildlife Sanctuary

Overa Wild Life Sanctuary is located in Srinagar and is just 76 kms away. It is situated near Pahalgam that falls in the Kashmir Region. The Sanctuary is spread around an area of 32.27 sqkms. The sanctuary is a place which is home to many rare, protected and threatened mammals and birds. It has around 80 different species of birds and around 13 species of different animals. The best time to view these mammals is from the month of September to March.

The sanctuary is famous among the tourists and is mainly known for the magnificent and varied species of pheasants.Overa – Aru Biosphere Reserve is located in Srinagar, towards the Southeast 76 kms away. The area covered by the Reserve is around 32 sqkms. The famous reserve is a home for many endangered and rare species like Musk deer, Hangul, Brown Bear, Koklas, Leopard, Snow Cock and Monal. The altitude of this reserve is around 3, 000 to 5, 425 m above sea level. The best time to view these mammals is from the month of September to March.

Established: 1981
Area coverage: 511 km²
Location: 28R9+95J, Forest Block, Jammu and Kashmir 192126 (District- Pahalgam)
Timings: 9am–5pm
Entry fee: No entry fee
Best time to visit: May to August
What to see: Brown Bear, Hangul, Leopard, Musk Deer, Monal, Koklas, Snow Cock, Aesculus indica, Pinus griffithii, Abies pindrow, Cedrus deodara.
How to reach: Nearest airport- Jammu airport (93 km), nearest railhead- Srinagar Railway Station (87 km).

Also Read: Popular Gardens in Jammu & Kashmir

Ramnagar National Park

Ramnagar National Park is very close to Jammu that is around 6 kms away, it falls in the Jammu Region. The sanctuary has eight species of mammals that includes the Barking deer, Nilgai, Rhesus, Wild Boar, Monkey, etc. There are around 15 different species found in this sanctuary that includes Indian Mynah, Peafowl, and Blue rock Pigeon, Red Jungle Fowl, Golden Oriole, Jungle Crow and White Cheeked Bulbul. The best time to view these animals is from the month of September to March. The best time one can view most of the birds is from the month of March to May.

Established: 5 decades ago
Area coverage: 31 sq km
Location: District- Jammu
Timings: 9am–5pm
Entry fee: No entry fee
Best time to visit: March to October
What to see: jungle crow, Indian Mynah, golden oriole, white cheeked bulbul, mynah, blue rock pigeon, peafowl, red jungle fowl, musk deer, and leopards etc.
How to reach: Nearest airport- Jammu airport (18 km), nearest railhead- Jammu Railway Station (8 km).

Surinsar-Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary

Surinsar Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary

SurinsarMansar wildlife sanctuary is located in Jammu just 42 kms away, it falls in the Jammu region. The sanctuary is widely spread around an area of 97.82 sqkms. The corner of the sanctuary looks beautiful with the two lakes. The population of the sanctuary is pretty good with the 8 species of mammals found here which includes Red Jungle Fowl, Black Partridge, Peafowl, Green Pigeon, Grey Partridge, Rufus Turtle Dove and Blue Rock Pigeon. The best time one can view most of the birds is from the month of March to May.

Area coverage: 98 sq km
Location: District- Jammu
Timings: 7am–7pm
Entry fee: No entry fee
Best time to visit: March to October
What to see: Mallotus phillipensis, dalbergia sissii, Pinus gerardiana, leopard, goral, wild boar, barking deer, grey partridge, red jungle fowl, peafowl, black partridge, rufus turtle dove etc.
How to reach: Nearest airport- Jammu airport (58 km), nearest railhead- Jammu Railway Station (56 km).

Salim Ali National Park

City Forest National Park or Salim Ali National Park as it is commonly called, is situated in Srinagar. Named after Salim Moizuddin Abdul Ali –the famous naturalist and bird watcher of India, this tourist destination was designated as a National Park in 1992. Notified in 1996, the many bounties of this beautiful park recognize the works and efforts of the ornithologist. A part of the park was later converted into the Royal Springs Golf Course by Farooq Abdullah in 2001—the then Chief Minister of J & K.

With the onset of winters, the Park is flush with migratory birds coming in from all parts of the world. The most common bird species found in plenty at the Salim Ali National Park include Kingfishers, Pintails and Coots; they inhabit the area along with jackals, flying foxes, and crocodiles!

Established: 1986
Area coverage: 9.07 km2
Location: District- Jammu
Timings: 9am–5pm
Entry fee: ₹-10 for Indians, ₹-100 for foreigners
Best time to visit: April – November
What to see: Kashmiri stag, Snow Cock, Chakkar, Leopard, Serow, Hangul, Musk deer, Flying Fox, Greater Spotted Eagle, Swamp Francolin, Baya Weaver, Ring Dove,
How to reach: Nearest airport- Srinagar airport (12 km), nearest railhead- Srinagar Railway Station (80 km).