Dachigam National Park

Dachigam National Park, Srinagar
Dachigam National Park, Srinagar
IUCN category II (national park)
	Sarband water body with Dachigam National Park in Srinagar district, J&K, India.
Location	Dachigam, Srinagar district, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Nearest city	Srinagar
Coordinates	34°8′14″N 75°2′16″E / 34.13722°N 75.03778°E
Area	141 km2 (54 sq mi)
Max. elevation	4267 m (14,000 ft)
Min. elevation	1676 m (5,499 ft)
Established	1981
Governing body	Government of Jammu and Kashmir, India

Dachigam National Park is a national park located, 22 kilometres (14 mi) from Srinagar city in Srinagar district of in the Indian-administered Kashmir on the east side of Dal Lake. It covers an area of about 141 square kilometres (54 sq mi). The name of the park literally stands for "ten villages" which is in the memory of the ten villages that were relocated for its formation. These ten villages were living in this region before the World War I in the beginning of 20th century. The main gate entrance is very close to the New Theed general bus stand on the either side of Darul Uloom Kousaria.^[1]

The park has been a protected area since 1910, first under the care of the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir and later under the observation of the concerned government authorities. It was initially created to ensure a supply of clean drinking water for Srinagar. It was upgraded and declared a National Park in 1981.^[1]

Geography

Dachigam National park is located in the Zabarwan Range of the western Himalayas. The variation in altitude is vast, ranging from about 1600 m to 4200 m above mean sea level. Due to this vast variation, the park has uneven topography. The terrain ranges from gently sloping grasslands to sharp rocky outcrops and cliffs.^[1]

Located high among the Park interior is the Marsar lake from which flows the Dagwan river. This river flows all the way down to, and past, the lower region where it runs along the only proper road in the park. It supplies water to the Sarband reservoir, a source of drinking water to Srinagar. The Dagwan eventually flows into the Jhelum.

Flora

The mountain sides below the tree line are wooded. Most of this coniferous forest consists of broad leaf species. Interspersed between these are alpine pastures, meadows, waterfalls and scrub vegetation with deep gullies, locally known as Nars, running down the mountain face. Most of the grasslands and meadows, except in the harsh winters, are covered with coloured flowers.