Dachigam National Park
is located 22 km (kilometer) from Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir. It
covers an area of 141 sq km (square kilometer). The name literally
stands for 'ten villages', which could be in memory of the ten villages
that were relocated in order to create the park.
Dachigam was initially established to
ensure the supply of clean drinking water to Srinagar city. A protected
area since 1910, it was declared as a national park in 1981. The
park is best known as the home of the hangul, or Kashmir stag.
Dachigam is open throughout the year,
but the best time to visit is between April and August. The
closest airport is at Srinagar. The nearest railway station is Jammu,
which is 310 km away
