About this location
The tiger reserve designation covering Rajaji National Park's core and buffer zones, protecting sal forest and riverine habitat along the Ganga where it exits the Himalayan foothills — one of the few landscapes in India where elephant corridors and tiger habitat directly overlap.
Species You Can Photograph in Rajaji Tiger Reserve
Best season guide
Peak photography conditions typically align with Jan–Dec. Add buffer days for weather and park closures.
JanExcellent
FebExcellent
MarExcellent
AprExcellent
MayGood
JunOff-season
JulOff-season
AugOff-season
SepOff-season
OctGood
NovExcellent
DecExcellent
Safari Zones
Rajaji has several separate safari zones around Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun, each entered from its own gate. Chilla is the largest and most popular, with a 36 km circuit through sal forest, grassland and the Ganga riverbed. The main zones open on 15 November and close on 15 June each year.
Safari Zone
| Zone | Entry gate |
|---|---|
| Chilla | Chilla Gate (Haridwar) |
| Motichur | Motichur Gate (Haridwar) |
| Ranipur | Ranipur Gate (Haridwar) |
| Jhilmil Jheel | Jhilmil (Haridwar) |
| Mohand | Mohand (Dehradun side) |
| Asarori | Asarori (Dehradun side) |
How to Reach
- Nearest airport
- Dehradun (Jolly Grant) Airport (~30 km)
- Nearest railway station
- Haridwar (~10 km)
By Air
Dehradun (Jolly Grant) Airport is the nearest airport, about 30 km away. Continue by taxi or pre-booked cab.
By Rail
Haridwar is the nearest railway station, about 10 km away. Taxis and autos cover the last stretch.
By Road
Chilla and Motichur are 9–12 km from Haridwar; Ranipur and Jhilmil are about 15 km. Mohand and Asarori are on the Dehradun side off the Delhi–Dehradun highway. Rishikesh is ~20 km from Chilla.
Expert Wildlife Creators in Rajaji Tiger Reserve
Mammals
Girish Chandra Satyawali
Uttarakhand, India
CORBETT TIGER RESERVE Safari & FRH Tour Operator | Registered Gypsy Owner Based in Ramnagar, Uttarakhand, with 47 years of experience in Corbett National Park and its wildlife tourism. Focused exclusively on Safari, FRH stays & the Wild, with registered Gypsies, well-mannered drivers and knowledgeable motorist/naturalist guides. No private properties. No resort packages. Just the Wild.
Asian ElephantAsian Paradise FlycatcherGharial
Safari Guide
Veeru Negi
Uttarakhand, India
Veeru Negi is a naturalist based in Rajaji National Park with over 10 years of experience in the field. Known for his deep expertise in leopard and elephant behaviour, he leads jungle safaris, leopard photography tours, and bird photography tours, helping guests spot and understand wildlife that's often hard to find on your own.
Indian LeopardAsian ElephantBengal Tiger
Available trips
No listed trips here yet
No trips are currently targeting Rajaji Tiger Reserve. Browse every active trip, or message a local creator directly to ask about planning one.
Recent Wildlife Sightings
Seen wildlife here? Be the first to report it
No field reports have been logged for Rajaji Tiger Reserve yet. If you're a wildlife creator, log what you've seen here — or browse sightings from other destinations.
Photography tips for Rajaji Tiger Reserve
Jeep safaris run through designated zones similar to neighbouring Corbett; the Ganga river frontage and elephant corridors are a defining feature of drives here.
Conservation: Declared a tiger reserve to formally protect the wider Rajaji landscape and its role as a critical elephant corridor connecting to the Shivalik and Corbett forests.
More in Uttarakhand
- Asan Conservation Reserve
- Askot Wildlife Sanctuary
- Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Corbett Tiger Reserve
- Gangotri National Park
- Govind Pashu Vihar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Jim Corbett National Park
- Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary
- Nanda Devi National Park
- Rajaji National Park
- Sattal
- Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary
- Valley of Flowers National Park
Species guides