Rajaji National park

Introduction
Rajaji National Park is distinct for its pristine scenic beauty and rich bio-diversity. A paradise for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts, the wildlife of the park is blessed with elephants, tigers, leopards, deers and ghorals as its best known life forms. Three sancturies in the Uttaranchal, Shivaliks - Rajaji, Motichur and Chila were amalgamated into a large protected area and named Rajaji National Park in the year 1983 after the famous freedom fighter Late Sri C. Rajgopalachari; popularly known as "Rajaji". This area is the North Western Limit of Asian elephants. Spread over an area of 820.42 sq km, Rajaji is a magnificient ecosystem nestled in the Shivalik ranges and the beginning of the vast Indo–Gangetic plains, thus representing vegetation of several distinct zones and forest types like sal forests, reverine forests, board–leaved mixed forests, scrubland and grassy. It posseses as many as 23 species of mammals and 315 bird species.The abundance of nature’s bounties heaped in and around this park, are bound to attract a large number of wildlife conservationalists, nature lovers and eco-friends to visit this most breathtaking wilderness area.
Rajaji National Park is situated along the hills and foothills of Shivalik ranges in the Himalayan foothills and represents the Shivalik eco-system. On the map it is located between Haridwar (Latitude 290 56’ 40”) and Dehradun (Latitude 300 20’ North) and 790 80’ E Longitude (Dehradun 780 01’ 15” E (Ramgarh), Chillawali- 770 54’ 30” East).
Accessibility
Rajaji National park is accessible from many directions by road, rail and air. Bus services and overnight trains are available for Dehradun and Haridwar from Delhi and Lucknow. Chila is 8 km from Haridwar railway station which is well connected to major metropolitan cities and 14 km from Rishikesh through Canal Road, 38 km from Jolly Grant airport. Jolly Grant airport which is only a few kilometres away from the Northern boundary of the Park, has a daily 50 minutes flight from Delhi.
Following are the main roads by which one can go to the different areas of Rajaji Park : 
1. Dehradun Delhi State Highway: It almost forms the western boundary of Rajaji Park. Mohand is the important station on this road where a forest road goes inside the park.
2. Dehradun, Doiwala, Rishikesh, Haridwar State Highway: This is the most convenient road. By this road one can go to the Ramgarh, Motichur, Kunao and Chila Forests of Rajaji Park.
3. Moradabad, Haridwar State Highway: This is a connecting road between Lucknow-Delhi highway and Haridwar. By this road one can go to the Chila, Gohri, Ranipur forests and forest areas adjoining Haridwar of the Rajaji Park. For easy approach and access, there are several entry gates to the park. 
The details are being given below:

Name of Entry Gate	Approach Town and Distance Gate	Route
Ramgarh Gate Mohand Gate Ranipur Gate Motichur Gate Chila Gate Kunao Gate Laldhang Gate	From Dehradun 14 km From Dehradun 25 km From Haridwar 9 km From Haridwar 9 km From Haridwar 9 km From Rishikesh 6 km From Kotdwara 25 km	Delhi-Dehradun highway via Clement Town. Delhi-Dehradun highway. Haridwar-BHEL Mohand Road. Haridwar-Rishikesh or Dehradun Haridwar Highway. Via private bus route to Rishikesh. Via private bus route on Rishikesh-Pashulok route. Via private bus route to Kotdwara Chila.

Accomodation
Rajaji National park takes pride in offering its guests a peaceful and tranquil heaven. GMVN offers a Tourist Rest House with AC, Delux, Executive rooms and dormotary facilities alongwith 6 Gujjar Huts, there are also 10 Forest Rest Houses in park, where visitors can stay to enjoy the beauty and splendour of the park. Tourist Rest House is adequately furnished for a comfortable stay. They offer perfect retreat for visitors and nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts alike. In addition there are many hotels and tourist complexes around Rajaji National Park at Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun and Mussoorie which makes it very convenient to visit the Park.
Charges (Fee and Tariff)
This tariff is according to the Director Rajaji National Park.

Fee and Tariff	Indian (In Rs.)	Foreigner (In Rs.)
1. Entrance free (a) For first 3 days (b) For every additional day	40.00   25.00	350.00 150.00
2. Road Fee for vehicle (Light, Heavy)	100.00/500.00	100.00/500.00
3. Camera Fee (a) Still (b) Movie/Video	- 2500.00	50.00 5000.00
4. Filming Charges (a) Feature Film (b) Documentary	20000.00 2500.00/- per day	20000.00   5000.00/- per day
5. Security for above (a) Feature Film (b) Documentary	25000.00 15000.00	40000.00 40000.00
6. Elephant Ride (a) Per person per trip (2.5 hrs.) Minimum charges per trip (b) Per student in a group of 6 (1 hrs.) Minimum charges per trip	200.00 200.00 200.00 200.00	200.00 200.00 200.00 200.00

Park is open from 15^th November to 15^th June. It is closed during rainy season. 

Mussoorie Wild Life Sanctuary

Haimalayan Quail last sighted in 1876 and believed to be extinct now, might be spotted again in the picturesque Mussoorie hills. primates, repitles and avifauna are commonly met in this block. the Sanctuary is unique in having plant communities in various climax forms. Apart from this the area is rich in medicinal. the area forms the catchment of river. this falls in the catchment of the famous kempty fall.

Mussoorie or binog mountain Quail Wild Life Sanctuary is accessible from two directions, northwest and south by road from Mussoorie. Bus services and overnight trains are available for Dehradun. it is very well connected by road from dehradun to mussoorie. The entry point in binog block is from Dhobhi Ghat, Which is on the Mussoorie Kempty Road. there is also a motorable kuchha road from Hathipaon up to cloud End Estate, which is about 6 Km along from Gandhi Dwar, Library, Mussoorie, From cloud End Estate to binog top is about 2 Km. along a bridle path.

GMVN accommodation is available to wildlife enthusiasts at many place in and around these park and sanctuaries. please refer the GMVN website for more details and tariff. GMVN accommodation is available to wildlife enthusiasts at many places in and around these parks and sanctuaries, Please refer the GMVN Website for more details and tariff. GMVN also conducts wildlife safaries at chill, in the Rajaji National Park.

The assan Barrage, an IBA (Imortant Birding Area) notified wetlend, is situated near the confluence of yamuna canal & the assan, in Dehradun District, the lake attracts a large number of Water-flow, both waders and divers. Apart from these there are a large number of woodland and scrubland bird species in the adjoining sal forest.

Many birds listed as globally threatened species in the IUCN Red Data Book have been observed at Assan. Also, Assan has the distinction of being India's first Conservation Reserve for Migratory birds.

GMVN accommodation and Canteen services are available here. The services of an experienced bird-watching guide can also be arranged on request. 

Nanda devi National Park

Nanda devi Sanctuary situated in chamoli district, has now been declared a world heritage site. The present sanctuary came into existence in 1939. There are no roads available and the area is inaccessible. No regular paths exist. One can trek from joshimath i.e. 15 k.m. by road upto lata and than 51 k.m. trek upto sanctuary. GMVN Conducts an exciting trek in the National park.
(Fauna includes snow leopards, Himalayan Bear, Musk - Deer, Bharal, Thar and many species of Pheasant.)

Valley of Flowers

Now a world heritage site, is perhaps one of the most mystical of place in garhwal. Flower abound here, and so do legends and tales. this one isnt a folktale though. joan margaret legge, who fell so madly in love with the valley, wanted to buried there when she died. her epitaph reads - i will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help.

Kedarnath sanctuary

Kedarnath sanctuary is situated in Chamoli district. The approach road starts from haridwar - Rudraprayag and then leads to Sonprayag & Ukhimath which is 226 km. away. The fauna includdes  Panther, Musk - dear, Black & brown Himalayan bears, Sambhar, Scrow, Thar, Ghoral and Monal Pheasant. The best season to visit is from April to june and again from september to November.

Asan Barrage

The wetland at Asan Barrage, is situated near the confluence of two perennial rivers Asan and Yamuna. The lake attracts a large number of waterfowl, both waders and divers. The birds listed as globally threatened species and in the IUCN Red Data Book have been observed at Asan. Though it may not be large in size, the sheer abundance of Avifauna makes it an ideal place for bird lovers, Ornithologists and Naturalists alike, who can travel easily up to the site, and see thousands of birds who have travelled miles to be there. To watch a mallard or a red crested pochard, gently swimming a few hundred yards in wilderness is indeed an unforgettable sight.

Asan Barrage serves as a winter passage halt for trans-Himalayan migratory birds. These birds are spotted here on their way to southern India (October-November) and again on their way back (late February-March). By the end of October the Asan witnesses the arrival of migrants from Pale arctic region. The first to arrive is the shoveller followed by ruddy shelduck, mallard, coot, cormorant, egrets, wagtails, pond heron to name a few.

Birds of prey like pallas fishing eagle, marsh harrier, greater spotted eagle, osprey and steppe eagle add to this magnificent diversity. Asan has the privilege of hosting a more than thirty year old nesting site of the Pallas Fishing Eagle, which it reconstructs every winter. While, rest of the year this nest is shared by other birds of prey. During winter months 90% of the waterbird population comprises the following 11 migratory species, namely brahminy duck, pintail, red crested pochard, gadwall, common pochard, mallard, coot, wigeon, common teal, tufted duck, shoveller.

Arrival			Departure
October	November	December	March/April
Greylag Brahminy C.Teal Mallard C. Pochard	Gadwall Wigeon RC pochard Tufted	Pintail Shoveller	March-end or Early April, Sometimes April-end

Winters might be the most exciting season for the bird lovers, but for the serious birdwatcher the other months of the year (early May to September end) offer just as exciting opportunities to see local migrants like painted stork, open billed stork, night heron. A flock of 25- 40 painted storks can be seen in these months every year.

Facts

The Asan Reservoir is a small man-made wetland of ca. 4 sq km area, located 40 km west of Dehradun, in the west of Dehradun valley on Dehradun-Paonta road. Geographically it is situated between latitude 30° 24’-30° 28’ N and longitude 77° 40’-77° 44’ E, near the confluence of the rivers Asan and Yamuna. The barrage is 287.5 m long, the river bed being 389.4 m above sea level, with minimum and maximum water levels respectively at 402.4 m and 403.3 m asl. The Asan reservoir exists throughout the year and is fed from the river Asan and the discharge channel of Yamuna through Dhalipur power house. Although the water level is controlled, it often goes down, and swampy islands in the middle become visible, attracting a variety of marsh-loving birds like egrets, herons and lapwings etc..

Climate North Indian monsoon climate, with distinct summer and winter months.

Temp :
       Summers : max.38° C, min. 14° C;
       Winters : max. 21° C, min. 2° C;
       Average Rainfall : 250 cm;

Monsoons during June to September.                   

Govind Wildlife Sanctuary

In the beautiful and captivating environs of the Uttarkashi district is Govind Wildlife Sanctuary. The Govind Wildlife Sanctuary established in 1955, covering an area of 953 sq km includes mountains like Swarg Rohini, Black Peak and Bandarpunch. Apart from the sanctuary, the place is a popular tourist destination, mainly because of the beauty of its snow-clad peaks and glaciers. Attracting many trekkers and famous for its lush green beauty is Hari-ki-Dun. The wide variety of animal species that live here includes Himalayan black bears, tahr, serow, monal, snow leopard, brown bears, trogopan, chir, bharal, musk deer, koklas, kaleej pheasants and chukor.