Rajaji Safari from Rishikesh or Haridwar: Nearest Gates and Zones

Planning a Rajaji safari from Rishikesh or Haridwar? See the nearest gates and zones, road distances, train and airport options, and reporting time tips.

Most visitors plan a Rajaji safari from Rishikesh or Haridwar, and both cities are close to several safari gates. The right gate depends on where you are staying, how early you can leave and what kind of forest you want to see. This guide lists the zones nearest to each city, using the distances published for each zone.

## Rajaji safari from Haridwar

Haridwar has the widest choice of nearby gates:

- Motichur: about 9 km
- Chilla: 10 km
- Jhilmil Jheel: about 20 km, along the Haridwar–Najibabad road corridor
- Ranipur Gate: close to the Ranipur and BHEL area, with convenient road access from Haridwar
- Mohand Gate (Chillawali): about 35 to 40 km

### Ranipur Gate, the Haridwar Zone

The Haridwar Zone is entered through Ranipur Gate. The safari covers a route of about 25 km in roughly 2 hours, through mixed forest, open grassland patches, small hills and seasonal streams. Visitors may see Asian Elephants, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Nilgai, Barking Deer and Wild Boar, and leopards occur in the wider forest. It is a practical choice if you are staying in Haridwar, and it fits well with visits to Har Ki Pauri, Mansa Devi Temple, Chandi Devi Temple or the Sureshwari Devi Temple near Ranipur.

### Chilla and Jhilmil Jheel

Chilla sits on the Haridwar–Rishikesh bypass road and offers Sal forest, grassland and riverine habitat, with an early-morning elephant safari where available. Jhilmil Jheel lies on the left bank of the Ganga in Haridwar District and is known for Swamp Deer (Barasingha) and birdlife. Its season runs from October to June, so it is an option before the main zones open on 15 November.

## Rajaji safari from Rishikesh

From Rishikesh, two zones are about the same distance away:

- Chilla: 20 km, reached via the Chilla Power Channel Road
- Motichur: about 20 km, along the Haridwar–Rishikesh route
- Ranipur Gate: about 35 to 40 km, depending on the route
- Mohand Gate (Chillawali): about 40 km

### Chilla from Rishikesh

Chilla is one of the most popular safari areas of Rajaji and is accessible from both Haridwar and Rishikesh. The jeep route takes about 2 hours 30 minutes through forest around Mundal, Mithawali and Khara, with short halts at the Mundal and Ghasiram machans.

### Motichur from Rishikesh

Motichur was one of the former wildlife sanctuaries that, with Rajaji and Chilla, became Rajaji National Park in 1983. Its safari follows a circular route of about 25 km through Sal forest and open clearings, where you may see Asian Elephant, Chital, Sambar, Barking Deer, Wild Boar and Hanuman Langur.

### Gohri Range

Gohri Range, in the buffer zone landscape of Rajaji Tiger Reserve, is offered as a quieter jungle safari near Rishikesh and Haridwar. It is generally open all year except August and September. Our team confirms the reporting point when you book.

## Coming from Dehradun or Delhi

- Mohand Gate (Chillawali): about 25 to 30 km from Dehradun, near Ganeshpur on the Dehradun–Haridwar highway
- Motichur: about 35 km from Dehradun
- Chilla: about 40 km from Dehradun
- Ranipur Gate: about 55 to 60 km from Dehradun
- From Delhi: Chilla and Motichur are about 224 km via NH 334, Ranipur about 250 km and Mohand about 251 km

The road route from Delhi to Chilla runs via Meerut, Khatauli, Muzaffarnagar, Roorkee and Haridwar.

## Trains and flights

- Haridwar Railway Station: the nearest major station for Chilla, Ranipur and Jhilmil Jheel
- Motichur: nearby stations include Motichur, Raiwala, Haridwar and Rishikesh
- Mohand Gate: the nearest stations are Dehradun, Saharanpur and Roorkee
- Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun: about 35 km from Chilla and Motichur, 45 to 50 km from Ranipur and about 48 km from Mohand Gate

## Plan around the reporting time

Morning entry can be as early as 5:30 AM between 16 April and 15 June, and you need to be at the gate at least 20 minutes before the reporting or last-entry time on your permit. If you are staying in Rishikesh or Haridwar and want a morning slot, a gate close to your hotel makes the early start easier. If you are travelling a longer distance, an afternoon slot may suit you better.

Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed at any gate. They depend on animal movement, season, weather and habitat conditions.

Tell us where you are staying when you book through our booking page, and our team can suggest the nearest available zone for your date.