Rajaji National Park Safari
Elephants, leopards and 300 bird species in the sal forest that begins where Haridwar ends.
About this journey
Rajaji National Park begins where Haridwar ends. Eight hundred and twenty square kilometres of sal forest, riverbed and grassland running along the Shivalik foothills, home to around three hundred and fifty elephants, a small but recovering tiger population, leopards, sloth bears, sambar, ghoral and more than three hundred bird species — and the Chilla gate is a twenty-minute drive from Har Ki Pauri.
That proximity is the whole appeal. Guests staying in Haridwar or Rishikesh can add a genuine wildlife experience without giving up two travel days to reach Corbett. We run it as an overnight: an afternoon jeep safari on arrival, a night at Chilla in a forest rest house or a riverside resort, and a dawn safari the next morning, which is when the forest is at its most active, before returning you to Haridwar by lunchtime.
The Chilla range is the most rewarding of the park’s zones for a short visit — open grassland along the Ganga canal, good elephant sightings, and excellent birding around the Chilla barrage, where you will see cormorants, storks, kingfishers and, in winter, a good number of migratory waterfowl. Safaris run in open jeeps with a licensed guide, and permits are issued by zone in limited numbers, which we book in advance on your behalf.
The park is open from mid-November to mid-June and closes for the monsoon. Mornings in December and January are genuinely cold in an open jeep, so bring layers; March to June is warmer and gives better sightings as animals gather at water. This works beautifully as a two-day extension to any Haridwar, Rishikesh or Char Dham itinerary, and it is the easiest wildlife trip in Uttarakhand to arrange at short notice.
Journey highlights
- Morning and evening jeep safaris in the Chilla range
- Permits and zone bookings arranged in advance
- Forest rest-house or riverside resort stay at Chilla
- Chilla barrage birdwatching and the Ganga canal drive
- Ideal as an add-on to any Haridwar or Rishikesh stay
Day-by-day itinerary
Itinerary is a starting point — every route, stay and pace is tailored around you. Prices vary by season, group size and vehicle.
Reserve the Rajaji National Park Safari
Secure your dates today — a small token confirms your vehicle and stays.
Book NowQuestions about the
Rajaji National Park Safari
The Yatra season runs from late April or early May to early November, pausing during peak monsoon (mid-July to August) when the mountain roads can be uncertain. May–June and September–October give the most comfortable weather and the clearest views. Tell us your month and we will advise honestly on conditions.
Indicative one-way starting fares from Haridwar: Rishikesh ₹1,400, Neelkanth ₹2,399, Dehradun ₹2,200, Mussoorie ₹3,400, Dehradun Airport ₹2,400. Longer tours are quoted per day and include fuel, driver allowance, tolls and parking. Our full rate card is on the Rates page — the figure we quote is the figure you pay.
Anywhere in Haridwar at no extra charge — Har Ki Pauri, Devpura, Jwalapur, Bhupatwala, Shantikunj, Patanjali, the railway station or your hotel. We also pick up from Rishikesh, Dehradun (Jolly Grant) Airport, and can arrange a car from Delhi Airport or anywhere in the NCR for outstation journeys.
UPI (GPay, PhonePe, Paytm), bank transfer, all major debit and credit cards, and cash. A small token advance confirms your vehicle and stays; the balance is payable as the journey unfolds. Every payment is receipted on WhatsApp the moment it lands.
Cancel more than 15 days before departure and the token advance is refunded in full, minus any non-refundable hotel or permit charges already paid on your behalf. Between 15 and 7 days we refund half. Inside 7 days the advance is held as credit against a future journey rather than forfeited. Dates can usually be moved free of charge, subject to availability.