Dachigam is extremely rich in Wild Cherry, Pear, Plum, Peach, Apple, Apricot, Walnut, Chestnut, Oak, Willow, Poplar, Chinar, Birch, Pine and Elm.

A 10-km long road runs through the lower area but the only way to visit most of the park is on foot. The best way to explore it is to go for a trek along with a local guide. 

A few accommodation facilities are
available inside as well. The ideal time to visit the upper Dachigam is May to August, while for lower Dachigam it is September to December.

The entire appearance of park changes with every season. The park adorns a white cloak of snow in the winters. Spring highlights the greenery of the park in contrast with the snow clad peaks. Blossoming flowers and fruit trees form the major attraction of the park in spring.

Summer melts the snow to unveil waterfalls and streams. As autumn approaches, leaves of trees turn to bright shades of red, gold, yellow and orange. 

The park stays unpolluted and colourful throughout the year and the best time to visit is between April and August.

The park was the outcome of the then Jammu and Kashmir Maharaja’s efforts to create a game preserve and catchment area for Harwan reservoir that supplied clean drinking water to Srinagar.

Under orders of the Maharaja, several species of trees, especially those preferred by wildlife, were planted and efforts were made to increase the winter fodder available to wild animals. The park boasts of over 500 species of herbs, 50 of trees and about 20 of shrubs. 

The park is adorned with Dagwan River which runs through it and Sangargulu Valley, which makes the upper realm of it. The Sangargulu Valley or Valley of Flowers, as it is called is an ideal trekking destination in Dachigam to spot leopards and koklas pheasants. But Sangargulu Valley trek is only advised for seasoned trekkers.

One can climb up to Marsar and Tarsar lakes and going down to Lidder Valley on the other side which opens up in Pahalgam. 

To enter Dachigam, a special permit from the chief wildlife warden is needed.

Concluded

Pictures by Mohammad Hanief