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India's 48th Tiger Reserve · Safari Season 2025-26 Open

Rajaji
National
Park Safari

820 sq km of pristine Shivalik wilderness. 500+ wild elephants, Bengal tigers, leopards & 315+ bird species - just 15 km from Haridwar. Expert guides. Transparent pricing.

50+ Bengal Tigers 500+ Elephants 315+ Birds 15 km from Haridwar From ₹2,500
Book Safari Now View 2026 Prices
820sq km Area
500+Elephants
315+Bird Species
5Safari Zones
Plan Your Safari
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Or call: +91 78200 12558

Indian leopard in Rajaji National Park forest
Asian elephant in Rajaji National Park
48th Tiger Reserve
of India
About the Park

What Is Rajaji National Park?

Rajaji National Park is India's 48th Tiger Reserve, spread across 820 sq km of Shivalik hills in Uttarakhand. Formed in 1983 by merging Rajaji, Motichur, and Chila sanctuaries, it became a Tiger Reserve in 2015. Named after freedom fighter C. Rajagopalachari, the park marks the north-western limit of distribution for both the Bengal tiger and the Asian elephant in India.

The park spans Haridwar, Dehradun, and Pauri Garhwal districts. Dense sal forests, Ganga riverine grasslands, rocky Shivalik ridges, and the rare Jhilmil wetland create extraordinary biodiversity. Just 15 km from Haridwar and 250 km from Delhi, Rajaji is the most accessible tiger reserve in North India.

LocationHaridwar · Dehradun · Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand
Total Area820.42 sq km of protected forest
Established1983 (National Park) · 2015 (Tiger Reserve)
Open SeasonNov 15 - Jun 15 · Jhilmil till Jun 30
Safari Zones

Choose Your Perfect Safari Zone

Rajaji has 5 safari zones - each unique in wildlife, terrain and experience. Pick yours based on what you want to see.

Asian elephant herd in Chilla Zone, Rajaji National Park
⭐ Most Popular
Tigers · Elephants · Ganga
Chilla Zone
The premier safari zone of Rajaji. Highest tiger & elephant sighting probability. 42-km Ganga canal road. Elephant safaris resumed in 2025 after 7 years.
Bengal Tiger Elephants Gharial 15 km from Haridwar
Explore Chilla →
Leopard in Motichur Zone Rajaji
Leopards · 200+ Birds
Motichur Zone
Closest zone to Rishikesh. Famous for leopard sightings and exceptional bird watching - over 200 species recorded here. Dense mixed forest with open grassland patches.
Leopard 200+ Birds 20 km from Rishikesh
Explore Motichur →
Jhilmil Jheel wetland Rajaji
Wetland Zone
Barasingha · Migratory Birds
Jhilmil Jheel
Rare Barasingha 87 Migrators Open till Jun 30
Explore →
Ranipur Zone rocky terrain Rajaji
Least Crowded
Leopard · Himalayan Goral
Ranipur Zone
Leopard Goral Rocky Shivalik
Explore →
Bengal tiger in Rajaji National Park
Birder's Paradise
Birds · Rugged Forest
Mohand Range
Great Hornbill Chir Pine Forest Dehradun Side
Explore →
Rajaji National Park Safari Booking · 2026 Charges

Transparent Pricing - No Hidden Costs

Official 2026 rates by the Uttarakhand Forest Department. A group of 6 Indians sharing one jeep pays just ₹567 per person - outstanding value.

Source: Uttarakhand Forest Department, Rajaji Tiger Reserve, 2025-26 season · Prices last verified September 2026

Indian Adult
₹150
per person · park entry
  • Park entry permit
  • All 5 zones included
  • 50% off - children 5-12 yrs
Jeep Safari - Indian
₹2500
per jeep · max 6 persons
  • 42-km full forest trail
  • Certified guide included
  • 3.5 hours per session
  • ≈ ₹567/person in group of 6
Foreign Tourist
₹600
per person · park entry
  • All zones accessible
  • Jeep safari: ₹4,500 / vehicle
  • Valid passport required
Camera Permit
₹200
Indian · DSLR / Video
  • DSLR & video cameras
  • Foreign: ₹500
  • Mobile phones: Free
  • Pay at gate before entry
Morning Safari
6:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Best for wildlife. Animals most active at dawn. Fills up fastest - book in advance.

Evening Safari
3:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Golden hour photography. Animals move to waterholes. Fewer crowds than morning.

Wildlife

Meet the Animals of Rajaji Tiger Reserve

Bengal tiger in Rajaji National Park Uttarakhand
Bengal Tiger
Chilla Zone · Best sighting: Jan - May, Morning

Rajaji is home to 50+ mammal species and 315+ bird species. It sits at the north-western distribution limit of both the Bengal tiger and the Asian elephant - making it ecologically one of India's most significant habitats.

  • Bengal Tiger
    Best: Chilla Zone
    50+ tigers in Rajaji. Highest sighting probability in Jan-May morning safaris near Ganga canal road.
  • Asian Elephant
    Best: Chilla Zone · Year-Round
    350-500 elephants - one of India's largest wild populations. Daily sightings in Chilla, often herds of 10-30.
  • Indian Leopard
    Best: Motichur · Ranipur
    250+ leopards. Ranipur's rocky ridges and Motichur's tree canopy are prime leopard territory.
  • Barasingha (Swamp Deer)
    Jhilmil Jheel only
    Critically rare in Uttarakhand. Jhilmil Jheel is their last known habitat in the state.
gharial rajaji national park
Gharial
Chilla · Ganga Banks
Critically endangered fish-eating crocodilian. Sunbathes on Ganga sandbanks near Chilla Gate.
sloth bear rajaji national park
Sloth Bear
All Zones · Occasional
Shaggy and nocturnal. Best spotted in early morning near forest edges and fruiting trees.
great hornbill rajaji national park
315+ Bird Species
Jhilmil · Mohand · Motichur
Great Pied Hornbill, Pallas's Fish Eagle, 87 migratory species. North India's best birding.
himalayan goral rajaji national park
Himalayan Goral
Best: Ranipur · Mohand
Nimble mountain goat clinging to steep Shivalik cliffs. Unique to higher elevation zones.
Your Naturalist

Meet Veeru Negi - Your Safari Guide

Veeru Negi - expert wildlife naturalist guide at Rajaji National Park
15+ Years Guiding Rajaji
Veeru Negi, Wildlife Naturalist

Veeru has guided safaris across every zone of Rajaji National Park for over 15 years, tracking tigers, elephants, and leopards by pugmark, call, and instinct. He reads the forest the way most people read a map - and that experience is what turns a routine jeep ride into an actual wildlife sighting.

Forest Dept Certified Guide 15+ Years Experience Expert Tiger & Elephant Tracker First Aid Certified
Plan Your Visit

Best Time to Visit Rajaji National Park

Rajaji opens every year on November 15 and closes June 15. Choose your season based on what wildlife or weather you prefer.

Winter
Nov 15 - Feb 28
Best Season
5°C - 22°C · Cool & Clear

Peak wildlife activity. Migratory birds from Central Asia arrive. Tiger and elephant sightings most reliable. Book 2-3 weeks in advance.

Tiger Sightings Migrant Birds Best Weather
Spring
March - April
18°C - 32°C · Warm

Forest in full bloom. Newborn animals with mothers. Active predators. Fewer crowds and good slot availability - ideal for families.

Newborns Forest Bloom Family-Friendly
Pre-Monsoon
May - June 15
28°C - 42°C · Hot

Animals concentrate at waterholes - tiger sighting probability spikes. Very low crowds. Best for serious wildlife photographers.

Waterhole Tigers Zero Crowds Photography
Bird Watching
Nov - Feb (Peak)
315+ Species · 87 Migratory

Jhilmil Jheel - North India's premier birding destination. Pallas's Fish Eagle, rare waders and ducks from Siberia arrive in winter.

Rare Eagles Migratory Birds Open till Jun 30
Getting Here

How to Reach Rajaji National Park

15 km from Haridwar · 20 km from Rishikesh · 250 km from Delhi. The most accessible tiger reserve in North India.

By Air

  • Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun - 30 km from Chilla Gate
  • Daily flights from Delhi (45 min), Mumbai (2 hrs)
  • Taxi from airport to Chilla Gate: ₹700-900 (45 min)

By Train

  • Haridwar Junction - 10-15 km from Chilla Gate (nearest)
  • Overnight train from Delhi: 4.5 hrs from ₹150 (Sleeper)
  • Direct trains from Mumbai, Kolkata, and all major cities

By Road

  • From Delhi: NH-58 - 250 km · 5-6 hours by car
  • Haridwar → Chilla Gate: Auto/taxi · 25-30 min · ₹150-200
  • Rishikesh → Motichur Gate: Taxi · 35 min · ₹250-350
15 kmFrom Haridwar
20 kmFrom Rishikesh
250 kmFrom Delhi
30 kmFrom Dehradun
Rajaji National Park Jungle Safari

Jeep Safari vs. Elephant Safari

Rajaji National Park jungle safari comes in two formats. Here's how to pick the right one for your group.

Jeep Safari

The standard way to experience a Rajaji National Park jungle safari. Open 4x4 jeeps cover 35-42 km through Sal forest, Ganga-side canal roads and open grassland, with a Forest Department guide in every vehicle.

  • Available in all 5 zones, year-round during the open season
  • ₹2,500/vehicle (Indians, max 6 persons) · ₹4,500 (foreign tourists)
  • 3.5-hour morning (6:00-9:30 AM) or evening (3:00-6:30 PM) session
  • Best for tiger, elephant and leopard sightings
Full Jeep Safari Guide →

Elephant Safari

A slower, quieter way to move through dense Sal forest, resumed in Chilla Zone in 2025 after a 7-year gap. Gives a raised vantage point no jeep can match, especially for spotting wildlife in tall grass.

  • Currently offered only in Chilla Zone
  • Best in the morning slot for cooler weather and active wildlife
  • Limited daily capacity, confirm availability ahead of your visit
  • Ideal for photographers and families wanting a calmer pace
Full Elephant Safari Guide →

Ready to lock in your dates? Complete your Rajaji National Park Safari Booking online →

Frequently Asked

Your Questions About Rajaji Safari Answered

Yes. Rajaji National Park is open from November 15 to June 15 every year. The 2025-26 season is currently active. Chilla, Motichur, and Ranipur zones close June 15. Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Zone stays open until June 30.
Indian adults: ₹150 per person. Foreign tourists: ₹600 per person. Children (5-12 years): 50% discount. Jeep safari: ₹2,500 per vehicle for Indians (max 6 persons), ₹4,500 for foreigners. DSLR camera permit: ₹200 (Indian) / ₹500 (foreign).
Yes. Rajaji Tiger Reserve has 50+ Bengal tigers. Chilla Zone offers the highest tiger sighting probability - especially in morning safaris from January to May when tigers visit waterholes. Sightings are not guaranteed, but pugmarks, scrapes, and indirect signs are seen frequently. May-June (waterhole season) often yields the best encounters.
Rajaji is home to 350-500 Asian elephants - one of India's largest wild populations. The park is the north-western distribution limit for Asian elephants in India. Chilla Zone offers near-daily elephant sightings, often large herds of 10-30 individuals along the Ganga canal road.
It depends on your goals. Chilla Zone is best for tiger and elephant sightings - it is the most popular and fills up fastest. Motichur Zone is best for leopards and bird watching (near Rishikesh). Jhilmil Jheel is best for birding and the rare Barasingha. Ranipur Zone is best for solitude, Himalayan Goral, and leopards on rocky terrain.
Rajaji is 250-265 km from Delhi via NH-58 (5-6 hours by road). Overnight trains from Delhi to Haridwar Junction take 4.5 hours (from ₹150 Sleeper). Haridwar is 15 km from Chilla Gate. Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun (30 km) has daily flights from Delhi in 45 minutes.
Yes. Jeep safaris use enclosed forest vehicles with a certified Forest Department guide. Children aged 5+ can join at 50% entry fee discount. February-April is best for families - mild weather, active wildlife, comfortable temperatures. Children under 5 are generally not recommended on morning safaris.
Both offer different experiences. Rajaji is less crowded, more affordable, and offers something Corbett doesn't - a massive wild elephant population (350-500), the rare Barasingha, and the unique Ganga riverfront safari experience. For solitude and elephant watching, Rajaji wins. For dedicated tiger zone infrastructure, Corbett is more developed. Most serious wildlife lovers visit both.
Indian visitors need a valid government photo ID (Aadhaar, Voter ID, driving licence or PAN) for every person in the jeep. Foreign tourists must carry their passport. ID numbers are recorded at the time of booking and re-checked at the entry gate, so carry the original document, not just a photo.
Rajaji National Park has 5 main tourist safari zones - Chilla, Motichur, Ranipur, Mohand Range and Jhilmil Jheel - plus a Buffer Area used for select bookings. Some listings mention additional zones such as Gohri or Chaurasi Kutiya, which fall under core/buffer forest administration rather than the standard tourist safari circuit.
From the Blog

Wildlife Guides & Safari Tips

Chilla vs Motichur Safari: Which Rajaji Zone Is Better?

Compare two popular zones near Haridwar by landscape, wildlife expectations and family suitability.

Read More →

How to Book Rajaji National Park Safari Online 2026

Which documents you need, how to choose a zone, and what to expect at every step of booking.

Read More →

See all safari guides on the blog →

Ready to Experience Rajaji's Wild Heart?

Book your safari today. WhatsApp for instant availability, expert advice, and the best packages for your group.

Chat on WhatsApp Call: +91 78200 12558

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