Dachigam National Park, just outside Srinagar in Kashmir, is the last home of the hangul, the Kashmir stag, a beautiful deer found nowhere else in the world.
It is a green park of meadows, streams and wooded hills below high peaks. You need a wildlife permit to enter, which you take from the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Department in Srinagar, and you go with a guide. It is not a simple online booking; you arrange it at the department.
Who needs a permit
You need a wildlife permit for every person, Indian or foreign, to enter Dachigam. You go with a forest guide, both to find the shy wildlife and because the park is a protected home for the rare hangul. The lower park is the usual area for visitors; the upper park is more restricted.
The hangul, in plain words
The hangul, or Kashmir stag, is the star of Dachigam and the reason it is protected. Only a small number survive, so seeing one is special and never certain. You also look for the Himalayan black bear, leopard, musk deer higher up, and many birds. The best chance of the hangul is when the deer gather in the lower park in the colder months, guided by the forest staff.
The guided visit, in plain words
From the park gate near Srinagar, a guide takes you into the lower Dachigam valley, along the stream and the meadows, watching for the hangul on the slopes and the many birds in the trees. It is a gentle, green visit in the Kashmiri hills, best walked slowly and quietly. The upper park, high and wild, needs special permission and is not for a casual visit.
Where to get the permit, step by step
Arrange the wildlife permit at the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Department office in Srinagar, or let a local guide or your hotel arrange it. Give your identity, pay the entry charge, and go with a guide. Reach the park in the morning for the best of the wildlife. Carry your original identity, because staff check it. [Confirm the current permit process with the department in Srinagar. Last checked 13 September 2026.]
Season, so you plan the right months
Dachigam is lovely in spring and autumn, and the colder months bring the hangul down into the lower park, which is the best chance to see the stag. Deep winter can bring snow, and the high upper park is closed then. The weather in Kashmir turns fast, so carry a warm layer and a rain cover whatever the season.
Common mistakes to avoid
- The biggest mistake is expecting a guaranteed hangul, when only a few survive and a sighting is never certain. The next is trying to enter without the wildlife permit and a guide. Do not head into the upper park without the special permission it needs. Do not disturb the deer, which are rare and easily startled.
Questions people ask
Do I need a permit for Dachigam?
Yes, a wildlife permit from the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Department in Srinagar, with a guide.
Can I book online?
There is no simple online booking. You arrange the permit at the department in Srinagar, often through a guide or hotel.
What is the hangul?
The Kashmir stag, a rare deer found only here, and the reason Dachigam is protected.
When is the best time?
Spring and autumn are lovely, and the colder months bring the hangul into the lower park.
Is it near Srinagar?
Yes, the park is just outside Srinagar, so you can base in the city.