Rajaji National Park

Spanning 820 square kilometers across the scenic junction of Haridwar, Dehradun, and Pauri Garhwal districts along the foothills of the outer Shivalik Himalayas, Rajaji National Park (designated a Project Tiger Reserve in 2015) is one of northern India's greatest and most accessible ecological sanctuaries. Formed in 1983 by amalgamating three historical wildlife sanctuaries — Rajaji, Motichur, and Chilla — it is named in honoring remembrance of the eminent freedom fighter and independent India's second Governor-General, C. Rajagopalachari.

Renowned primarily as the north-westernmost limit of the endangered Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) in India, Rajaji is crisscrossed by the holy Ganga and Song rivers, creating lush riparian corridors, sal woodlands, broadleaf mixed forests, and sprawling riverbed grasslands (chaurs). Beyond its herd of over 500 wild elephants, the park shelters Royal Bengal tigers, leopards, striped hyenas, sloth bears, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, and wild boars.

For bird enthusiasts, Rajaji represents a dream haven with more than 315 documented avian species, including the Great Pied Hornbill, crested serpent eagle, Pallas's fish eagle, and numerous winter waterfowl along the Ganga riverbanks. With well-regulated entry gates at Chilla, Motichur, and Ranipur, visitors can embark on exhilarating open-top 4x4 Jeep safaris deep into the sal jungle just minutes away from the spiritual ghats of Haridwar and Rishikesh.