Hemis National Park | Dachigam National Park | 5 National parks in jammu and kashmir Detailed [MAP]

National parks in Jammu and Kashmir – Jammu and Kashmir is endowed with 5 National Parks, 14 Wildlife Sanctuaries and 35 wildlife conservation reserves (Source: Jammu Kashmir Envis.) distributed over a region of almost 16,000 sq km. The five national parks in Jammu and Kashmir are discussed below in detail.

Hemis National Park

• Established in 1981
• National Park to preserve the dwindling wildlife in Ladhak
• Altitude between 3300 and 6000 m above sea level.
• Exotic wildlife park
• Hemis is the only national park in India which lies to the north of the Himalayas.
• Hemis is the largest notified protected area in India and so the largest national park of India.
• It is also the second largest contiguous protected area first being the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve.
• Hemis is Bounded on the north by Indus River, and it also includes the catchment areas of  Sumdah, Markha and Rumbak river streams.
• Hemis National Park is the India’s only protected area inside of the Palearctic ecozone

Flora

Hemis national park is situated in the Karakoram-West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe ecoregion and contains following type of vegetation:

• pine forests,
• alpine shrublands and meadows
• alpine tundra
• valley bottoms are covered by the alpine and steppe trees and shrubs.
• The upper mountain area, being moist, consists of alpine vegetation which includes Anemone, Lloydia, Veronica, Delphinum, Gentiana, and Kobresia.
• Rich steppe vegetation in the lower areas characterised by- Artemisia, Stachys, Caragana,  and Ephedra

Fauna

The major wildlife attraction of Hemis national Park are

• Snow Leopards in the Shang Valley
• Ibex
• Argali (Great Tibetan Sheep)
• Bharal (Blue Sheep)
• Shapu (Ladakhi Urial)

Other than these the park also has -Bharal , Wolf, Himalayan marmots, Tibetan Wild Ass or Kiang, Pallas’ cat, Tibetan argali, Wooly hare, Dholes, Lynx, Mouse hare or Pika etc.

• Birds in the Hemis National Park-:
  •  Himalayan whistling thrush, Snow cock, chukor, magpie, snow partridge, golden oriole etc. are the common birds.
• Other rare species of birds are-
  • Great Grey Shrike, Red Mantled Rose Finch, Black Throated Thrush, Robin Acceptor, Spotted Flycatcher, Red Flanked Blue Tail and Great Nose Finch.

Dachigam National Park

Dachigam National Park

• Area of 141 sq. kms
• Dachigam is located 22 km away from Srinagar.
• The name of the park literally stands for “ten villages” in the memory of ten villages that were relocated for the formation of the park.
• Located high in its interiors is the Marsar lake from which flows the river Dagwan.

FAUNA

• Dachigam National Park is world famous for Hangul also known as Kashmiri Stag.
• Hanguls can be easily spotted in winters, at the time when they hang out in the lower valleys.
• Other inhabitants at Dachigam are
  • Musk deer.
  • Brown Bear,
  • Leopards,
  • Jungle Cats,
  • Himalayan black bear,
  • wild goat like the Markhor and ibex.
• Rare birds present in park are -Cinnamon sparrows, Himalayan Monals, Kashmir Flycatcher, Black Bulbuls, and Colourful pheasants including crimson tragopan, iridescent monal pheasant, blood pheasant and the koklass pheasant.
• Golden eagle and the bearded vulture or lammergeier can also be seen in the park.

FLORA

• Vegetation consists of coniferous forest of broad leaf species
• Dachigam national Park is extremely rich in -Apricot, Walnut, Chestnut, Oak, willow, Poplar, Wild Cherry, Pear, Plum, Peach, Apple, Chinar, Birch, Pine and Elm.
• Most of the grasslands and meadows in the park are covered with brightly coloured flowers, except in the time of winters.

City Forest National Park

City Forest (Salim Ali) National Park

• Area 9.07 sq km.
• Notified in the year 1987.
• City Forest (Salim Ali) National Park is situated in Srinagar district of the Indian union territory, Jammu Kashmir. It is named after the famous ornithologist Dr Salim Ali.
• City Forest National Park is renowned for its avian fauna.
• Flagship species of the City Forest National Park: Himalayan monal

Flora

• The vegetation of the Park is coniferous alpine type.
• Major plant species are
  • Cedrus, deodara, Pinus spp. ,Quercus spp., and Brachypodium spp. etc.

Fauna

• Mammal in the park are:
  • Hangul, Himalyan Serow, Himalayan black bear, Musk deer, Leopard etc.
• Avifauna
  • Himalayan monal, Himalayan snowcock, Swamp francolin Ringdove etc.

Kishtwar National Park

Kishtwar National Park

• Area: 400 sq. Km
• Notified in the year 1990.
• Situated in Kishtwar district of Jammu Kashmir union territory of India.
• The Kishtwar National park lies in the central crystalline belt of the Himalayas.
• The Rocks here are strongly folded mainly of granite and gneiss. And occasionally, beds of marble are also found.
• Kishtwar National Park is the catchment area of the following mentioned rivers.
• Kiar, Nath and Kibar rivers flow from north to south-west direction, which merge into the Marwar River, and which finally joins the Chenab river just above Kishtwar town. 
• The terrain of the park is rugged and steep.
• Flagship animal of Park: Himalayan snowcock and the brown bear.

Fauna

Mammal-: Snow leopard, Himalayan brown bear, Himalayan thar etc.

Avifauna:- Himalayan snowcock is endemic to this region. Bearded vulture, Golden oriole, White cheeked bulbul, Griffon vulture etc. are also found in the park.

Flora

• Vegetation of the Park is coniferous alpine type.
• Major plant species are Cedrus, deodara, Quercus spp., Pinus wallichiana, Brachypodium spp., Pinus gerardiana, Anemone spp., Juglans regia, Rosa spp. etc.

Kazinag National Park

• Area: 160 Sq. Km.
• Kazinag National Park is situated on the North bank of Jhelum river close to Line of Control in Baramulla district.
• The Kazinag National Park is famous for:
  • Markhor (Capra falconeri),
  • Himalayan Musk Deer (Maschus crysogater) and is home of 120 species of birds & 20 species of mammals.

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In conclusion, there are five national parks in Jammu and Kashmir, and it is important that we protect them. Parks such as the Dachigam National Park are home to a variety of plant and animal species, and serve as vital natural habitats. They also provide opportunities for recreation and tourism, which can help to boost the local economy. It is therefore crucial that we do everything we can to safeguard these precious resources.

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