Dachigam National Park
| Dachigam National Park, Srinagar | |
|---|---|
Sarband water body with Dachigam National Park in Srinagar district, J&K, India. | |
| Location | Dachigam, Srinagar district, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| Nearest city | Srinagar |
| Coordinates | 34°8′14″N 75°2′16″E / 34.13722°N 75.03778°E |
| Area | 141 km2 (54 sq mi) |
| Max. elevation | 4267 m (14,000 ft) |
| Min. elevation | 1676 m (5,499 ft) |
| Established | 1981 |
| Governing body | Government of Jammu and Kashmir, India |
Dachigam National Park is a national park located 22 kilometres (14 mi) from Srinagar city in Srinagar district in Kashmir on the east side of Dal Lake. It covers an area of about 141 square kilometres (54 sq mi). The name of the park means "ten villages", in memory of the ten villages that were relocated for the park's formation. These ten villages were living in this region before World War I at the beginning of the 20th century. The main gate entrance is very close to the New Theed general bus stand, on either side of Darul Uloom Kousaria.
The park has been a protected area since 1910, first under the care of the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir and later under the observation of the concerned government authorities. It was initially created to ensure a supply of clean drinking water for Srinagar. It was upgraded and declared a National Park in 1981.