By Arun Pratap SinghGarhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 22 Oct: The world-renowned Rajaji Tiger Reserve will reopen for jungle safaris from 15 November, marking the beginning of yet another tourist season in the foothills of the Shivalik range. The park remains open annually from 15 November till 15 June and it draws thousands of wildlife enthusiasts from across India and abroad, contributing over Rs 1 crore in revenue to the park administration each year.
Registration for safari operators and vehicle owners has already begun, with forms available both on the official website rajjitigerreserve.uk.in and at the park’s principal office. The last date for obtaining forms is 25 October, while completed applications need to be submitted by 30 October. Assistant Conservator of Forests Ajay Lingwal confirmed that the registration process is underway and preparations for reopening are in full swing. Road repairs, gate maintenance, and safari track upgradation across various ranges are expected to be completed by 31 October, ensuring safe and smooth operations for tourists.
It may be pertinent to remind here that the Rajaji Tiger Reserve was notified as a tiger reserve in 2015 and it has recently seen the successful translocation of a few tigers from the Corbett landscape to strengthen its tiger population. Wildlife experts describe Rajaji as an ideal habitat for tigers, offering dense Sal forests, ample prey base, and natural corridors connecting the western and eastern regions of the Shivalik ecosystem. The presence of these translocated tigers has already been confirmed through camera-trap sightings, indicating that they are adapting well to their new environment.
Situated at the confluence of the Himalayan foothills and the Indo-Gangetic plains, Rajaji Tiger Reserve is the closest national park and tiger reserve to Dehradun and Haridwar, making it a popular weekend destination for nature lovers. The park is home to an astonishing diversity of fauna, including Asian elephants, leopards, jungle cats, sloth bears, Himalayan black bears, striped hyenas, sambars, wild boars, spotted deer, barking deer, langurs, rhesus macaques, and several reptile species. It is also a paradise for birdwatchers, hosting over 300 species of birds, such as great hornbills, crested serpent eagles, Indian rollers, barbets, drongos, and paradise flycatchers, in addition to numerous migratory species that visit during winter.
Spread over 820 square kilometres, Rajaji Tiger Reserve comprises the erstwhile Rajaji, Motichur, and Chilla wildlife sanctuaries, forming a vast contiguous forest along the Ganga and Song rivers. Jungle safaris are conducted across four major ranges including Chilla (36 km), Haridwar Ranipur (24 km), Motichur (22 km), and Chillawali (30 km). The safari operations not only provide visitors with an unforgettable glimpse of wildlife in their natural habitat but also generate livelihood for more than 200 local residents, with over 160 registered safari vehicles operating across the ranges.
With the onset of winter and lush green forests following the monsoon, the park administration expects a surge in tourist arrivals this season.
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