RISHIKESH
20km from Rishikesh, best zone in the park for elephant and occasional tiger sightings, but book online 24–48 hrs ahead in winter — walk-up slots at Chilla Gate routinely sell out. Sightings are not guaranteed; treat it as a forest drive, not a tiger guarantee.
The Chilla wildlife sanctuary was established in 1977 on the eastern bank of the Ganges, and in 1983 it was merged with the neighboring Motichur and Rajaji sanctuaries to form the unified Rajaji National Park, named after Indian independence leader C. Rajagopalachari. Chilla, spanning about 249 sq km, became a designated tiger reserve zone and is the park's most visited safari sector due to its proximity to Haridwar and Rishikesh and its resident elephant, tiger and leopard populations. The park's main Chilla entry gate lies roughly 8-15km from Haridwar, with the safari season running from mid-November to mid-June each year.
