The Himalayas have attracted people from all over the world who come to conquer the great peaks and explore the valleys. They are the highest mountain ranges in the world and home to some of the highest peaks on the earth. The habitat and vegetation here varies with altitude and ranges from the tropical and sub tropical forests of the foothills, the temperature forests and alpine meadows of the higher reaches, to the high altitude deserts in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Wild life too changes as the climate and altitude change.

The Dachigam National Park with its splendid forests and magnificent scenery, is easily accessible from Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir. The park is divided into upper and lower Dachigam. The elevation of the park can vary from 1750 m to 4250 m and is spread in an area of 140 sq km.

Two steep ridges enclose the park with its great topographical variety deep ravines, rocky outcrops, steep wooded slopes and rolling alpine pastures. With its origin in the Masrar Lake (4300m) up in the high reaches of the Himalayas, the Dachigam river flows through Lower Dachigam.

The park is home to the endangered hangul or the Kashmir stag the only species of red deer found in India. Winter is the best time to view the hangul, when they come down to the lower valley. Other inhabitants include the Himalayan black bear, species of wild goat like the markhor and ibex and varieties of exotic Himalayan birds.

Colourful pheasants include the crimson tragopan, the monal pheasant with its colorful plumage , the blood pheasant and the koklass pheasant. The golden eagle and the bearded vulture are seen circling the brilliant blue skies. The leopard which is the only predator in this paradise is rarely seen as also the rare and the elusive snow leopard which is found in the higher altitudes. Other animals include the rare musk deer and the Himalayan marmot. A metal road takes visitors from Srinagar into Lower Dachigam. Upper Dachigam can only be explored on foot.

Deforestation leads to soil erosion and flooding. Stop cutting the forests