Topography and Flora at Dachigam National Park

Dachigam National park is located among the high mountains of the mighty western Himalayas. It is blessed with natural boundaries on either side by high ridges. It's altitude varies from 5500ft to 14000ft and the terrain ranges from gently sloping grasslands to sharp rocky outcrops and cliffs. Part of the park lies above the tree line and this area displays it's own kind of natural beauty with bare rock mountains and crevices. The mountainsides below the tree line are heavily wooded. Most of this coniferous forest consists of broad leaf species. Interspersed between these are alpine pastures, undulating meadows, waterfalls and scrub vegetation with deep gullies, locally known as Nars, running down the mountain face. Most of the grasslands and meadows, except in the harsh winters, are covered with brightly coloured flowers. Located high among it's interiors is the Marsar lake from which flows the Dagwan river. This river flows all the way down to, and past, the lower region where it runs along the only proper road in the park and is also famous for it's fish population, the trout.

The Flora of the park is some of the most exotic sounding of any park anywhere in the world. The wild trees of the park consist of Wild Cherry, Pear, Plum, Peach, Apple, Apricot, Walnut, Chestnut, Oak, Willow, Poplar, Chinar, Birch, Pine and Elm!