My Jungle Junction

Rajaji National Park & Tiger Reserve

Rajaji's Shivalik forests lie beside the Ganges, a short drive from Haridwar and Rishikesh. Famous for wild elephants, with leopards, birds and a growing tiger story, it is a gentle, accessible safari.

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Plan Your Safari

Talk to a wildlife specialist.

By submitting, you agree to be contacted by My Jungle Junction.

By submitting, you agree to our Cancellation & Refund Policy and Privacy Policy.

My Jungle Junction's Guide to Rajaji Tiger Reserve

The Rajaji Tiger Safari Experience

The reserve has three main tourism ranges that visitors can use: Chilla, Motichur and Ranipur. Chilla is the most developed and the busiest, close to Haridwar. Motichur is quieter and known for dense sal forest. Ranipur is the least visited. Each has a separate gate and character.

We usually plan two nights, which allows three to four safaris and a visit to Haridwar or Rishikesh. A day trip is possible, but you will see more if you stay longer.

Rajaji National Park was formed in 1983 by merging the Rajaji, Motichur and Chilla sanctuaries, and in 2015 additional forest was added as buffer when it became a tiger reserve, giving a total of roughly 1,075 square kilometres. The park is named after the statesman C. Rajagopalachari.

1,075

sq. km reserve

1 + 1

Core + Buffer zones

2015

Declared National Park

Rajaji Safari Packages

My Jungle Junction's Bestselling Rajaji Safari Packages

Rajaji works best as a short, relaxed trip, so we build itineraries that fit around your plans in Haridwar, Rishikesh or Dehradun. We arrange permits for the Chilla and Motichur ranges, choose lodges with good naturalist guiding, and set the schedule around the park's open season, which closes for much of the monsoon. It also pairs easily with Corbett, and we can arrange both in a single journey.

How Many Safaris Should You Do in Rajaji?

Elephants first, tigers if you are lucky

Rajaji is more about the whole forest than a single big sighting. Elephants are the headline, followed by deer, birds and sometimes leopards, so a few drives are enough to do the park justice. If you are hoping specifically for a tiger, we recommend adding Corbett, where the odds are better, rather than adding extra drives here. The extra time is better spent on the river and birds.

Two safaris is enough for most visitors. It lets you try Chilla and one other range, and gives a good chance of elephants, deer and birds.

Three safaris is a sensible choice for keen photographers or those staying a couple of nights. The extra drive gives you a different habitat, such as the dense forest of Motichur, and more time at river crossings where animals come to drink.

Four or more safaris are rarely needed unless you are a dedicated birder or naturalist. Rajaji suits families, pilgrims adding a jungle experience, and anyone short on time. It does not suit those whose only goal is a tiger sighting, and we would point those guests to Corbett.

Best Safari Zones

Safari Zones in Rajaji

Rajaji's visitor areas are organised by forest range. Chilla is the best known and most visited, with its gate near Haridwar. Motichur is the second range, with sal forest and a good chance of leopards and deer. Ranipur is the least visited, with grassland and small hills. Day visits are allowed during the open season, and Chaurasi Kuti, also called the Beatles Ashram, is accessible throughout the year. We check the latest gate arrangements and timings before you travel, since they shift by season.

Chilla Range

The busiest and most developed range, close to Haridwar, and a good place to see elephants and deer.

Motichur Range

A quieter range with dense sal forest and a good chance of leopards and other mammals.

Ranipur Range

The least visited range, with grassland and small hills. A calm, unhurried option.

Chaurasi Kuti

Also called the Beatles Ashram, near Rishikesh. A heritage site within the forest, open throughout the year.

How to Reach & When to Visit

How to Reach & Best Time to Visit Rajaji

✈️

By Air

Jolly Grant Airport near Dehradun is the closest, around an hour from Haridwar or Rishikesh. Delhi is the main alternative, five to six hours by road.

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By Train

Haridwar Junction is the main railhead, with many trains from Delhi and elsewhere. The Chilla gate is a short drive from the station.

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By Road

Haridwar is about five to six hours from Delhi on a good highway. Rishikesh and Dehradun are a short drive from the park's gates.

Best Time to Visit Rajaji

Rajaji's day-visit season usually runs from mid-November to mid-June, and winter is the comfortable time to go.

🍂
Winter
Nov - Feb

The most comfortable time, with cool days and good birding. Mornings are chilly and mist can limit visibility early on.

☀️
Summer
Mar - Jun

Hot, but elephants and other wildlife gather near rivers and waterholes, which helps viewing. Choose early morning drives.

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Monsoon
Jul - Oct

Day visits in the safari ranges are closed, roughly mid-June to mid-November. Confirm dates with the forest department.

MJJ Insight : Chilla fills up on weekends and holidays, so book permits ahead and go on weekdays if you can. Motichur is often quieter and a good second choice.

The Wildlife of Rajaji

Beyond the Tiger: Rajaji's Wildlife

Rajaji is best known for Asian elephants, which move through the forest and cross the Ganges in search of food and water. Leopards are present, as are sloth bears, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, nilgai and wild boar. Tigers occur in the reserve, but sightings are rare, and the forest department has been working to strengthen the population. Reptiles include king cobra, python and monitor lizards, and mugger crocodiles live in the rivers. The park is also a good birding area, with hornbills, peafowl, red junglefowl and many migratory species through the winter months.

Rajaji National Park & Tiger Reserve - wildlife sighting
Rajaji National Park & Tiger Reserve - wildlife sighting
Rajaji National Park & Tiger Reserve - wildlife sighting
Rajaji National Park & Tiger Reserve - wildlife sighting

Elephants of Rajaji

The herds that define the park

Rajaji does not have named, celebrity tigers. What it is famous for is its elephants, which wander through the forest in family herds and cross the Ganges canal. The reserve is a key part of a corridor linking northern India's elephant populations, and watching a herd come down to a river is the highlight of many visits, and guides know the best crossing points.

Asian Elephants Chilla Range Motichur Range Chaurasi Kuti Ranipur Range

The elephants of Rajaji are the reserve's signature animals. The park lies at the western end of the range of the Asian elephant in northern India, and herds move between Rajaji and nearby forests, including Corbett to the east.

Rajaji's tigers are fewer, and sightings are rare. The forest department has been working to restore tigers in the western part of the reserve, including reintroduction efforts from Corbett, but we would not promise you one.

The area is also known for Chaurasi Kuti, the ashram near Rishikesh that became famous when the Beatles stayed there in 1968. It sits within the forest and adds an unusual cultural stop to a wildlife trip.

Your Stay in Rajaji

Your Stay in Rajaji

Where to Stay in Rajaji

Most visitors stay in Haridwar or Rishikesh, both within an easy drive of the Chilla and Motichur gates. Haridwar has a large choice of hotels, from simple to comfortable, while Rishikesh offers riverside resorts, yoga retreats and quieter boutique stays. For a more jungle-focused experience, a few lodges and camps sit near the Chilla and Motichur ranges, and the forest department also runs rest houses that need advance booking. When choosing, think about how far you want to travel at dawn, whether you want a wildlife-focused or pilgrimage-style stay, and the quality of the guides.

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Safari Etiquette

Dos and Don'ts on a Rajaji safari

✓ Dos

  • ✓ Keep your voice low inside the forest.
  • ✓ Listen to your guide and naturalist.
  • ✓ Respect safari routes and forest regulations.
  • ✓ Carry water, sun protection and suitable clothing.
  • ✓ Keep your camera ready without disturbing wildlife.

✕ Don'ts

  • ✕ Ask the driver to break rules.
  • ✕ Request a driver to block an animal's movement.
  • ✕ Feed wildlife.
  • ✕ Throw anything from the vehicle.

Why Should You Visit Rajaji

Elephant country right beside the Ganges

Rajaji is an unusual reserve because it sits so close to major pilgrimage towns yet still supports wild elephants, leopards and a wide range of forest species. Its forests form part of a larger corridor that links the Shivalik hills with Corbett, which helps animals move across the landscape. For travellers this means a rare chance to combine a jungle safari with Haridwar's ghats, Rishikesh and the Ganges within the same short trip. It is gentle, accessible and good value, with a calm atmosphere that suits families and first-time visitors. While tigers are not the main reason to come, Rajaji gives a real sense of wild India close to the plains.

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FAQs

Frequently asked questions about Rajaji

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