- Ganga Bhogpur, Chilla Zone, Uttarakhand
- info@junglesafarirajajinationalpark.com
- Mon - Sun 6:00 am to 6:00 pm
Reviewed by Veeru Negi, Local Naturalist Guide, Rajaji National Park • Last updated: September 2026
Quick answer: Mohand is a safari zone of Rajaji National Park on NH 72A near Ganeshpur, about 20-25 km from Dehradun. Officially called the "Chillawali Zone," it is best known for leopard sightings and over 100 recorded bird species, with a quieter, less crowded safari than Chilla. The zone is open 15 November to 15 June, with morning (6:00 AM-9:30 AM) and afternoon (3:00 PM-6:00 PM) safari slots. Entry starts at approximately ₹150 per Indian visitor, with jeep hire, guide and camera fees additional.
Mohand Jungle Safari is one of the five official safari zones of Rajaji National Park, a 820.42 sq km tiger reserve spread across the Shivalik hills of Uttarakhand. The park takes its name from Chakravarti Rajagopalachari ("Rajaji"), a freedom fighter, writer and lawyer who served as independent India's last Governor-General from 1948 to 1950. Rajaji National Park itself was formed in 1983 by merging the older Rajaji, Motichur and Chilla sanctuaries, and was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2015.
The Mohand entry gate sits on NH 72A (the Dehradun-Saharanpur highway) near Ganeshpur, roughly 20-25 km from Dehradun city center by the direct road (some Haridwar-side routes measure closer to 35 km, so travel time varies with your starting point). This makes it an easy half-day trip for anyone based in Dehradun, and a good add-on if you are already visiting Haridwar or Rishikesh. The safari route runs through sal forest, dry riverbeds and low Shivalik hills, with a well-known 13 km stretch through the Chillawali range toward the Dholkhand Forest Rest House and Andheri Rau stream, a stretch that regularly turns up cheetal (spotted deer) and other deer species.
Mohand's biggest draw is leopards, not tigers. Local guides have identified several resident leopards in this range over the years, and the mix of dense sal forest with rocky, broken terrain gives leopards more cover and more sightings here than in most other Rajaji zones. Elephants pass through seasonally, and the zone's varied elevation supports a healthy bird list, from resident hornbills and partridges to winter migrants. Because Mohand sees noticeably fewer vehicles than Chilla zone, safaris here feel calmer, wildlife is less habituated to jeep noise, and photographers get more time with fewer interruptions. It is a good fit for repeat Rajaji visitors, birders and anyone who prefers a quieter forest over a busier, tiger-focused circuit.
Beyond wildlife spotting, a Mohand safari is also a chance to understand the Rajaji Tiger Reserve's conservation work first-hand. Forest department naturalists and local guides accompanying the jeep typically explain the flora, the leopard and elephant corridors that link Mohand to the rest of the reserve, and the reasons the zone closes every monsoon to let the forest and its animals recover undisturbed.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Mohand Gate, NH 72A, near Ganeshpur, Chillawali Range, Rajaji National Park |
| Other name | Officially recorded as "Chillawali Zone" by the Uttarakhand Forest Department; commonly called "Mohand" after the entry gate |
| Distance from Dehradun | Approximately 20-25 km via NH 72A (up to ~35 km via some Haridwar-side routes) |
| Safari route length | Approximately 30-35 km within the zone (roughly 2 to 3 hours) |
| Safari timings | Morning: 6:00 AM - 9:30 AM Afternoon/Evening: 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM (adjusted seasonally; confirm exact gate times at booking) |
| Safari season | 15 November - 15 June. Closed for the monsoon from 16 June to 14 November every year. |
| Entry & safari fees (approximate) |
Entry fee: ₹150 (Indian) / ₹600 (Foreign) per person
Vehicle/gate fee: ₹250 (Indian) / ₹500 (Foreign) Gypsy/jeep hire: ~₹2,500-3,500 for up to 6 people Guide fee (optional): ₹300 general, ₹800-1,500 for a specialised bird/wildlife guide Camera permit: ~₹200 (Indian) / ₹500 (Foreign) for DSLR/mirrorless cameras 
|
| Permit | Required. Book online in advance or at the Mohand Gate ticket counter, subject to same-day availability. |
| Key wildlife | Leopards, Himalayan black bear, sambar & spotted deer, barking deer, wild boar, langur, occasional elephant; over 100 recorded bird species |
| Contact number | +91 99176 06031 |
You can book a Mohand zone safari directly through this website by choosing your date, shift (morning or afternoon), number of guests, and lead visitor details, then completing payment and receiving your permit. The zone is open for 7 months of the year, from 15 November to 15 June, and closes for the monsoon between 16 June and 14 November.
Alternatively, you can make a reservation through our contact page, and our team will confirm your slot and share the payment link. During peak winter weekends (December-February), booking 2-3 days ahead is a good idea since Gypsy availability at Mohand Gate is limited.
Rajaji National Park has five main safari zones - Chilla, Motichur, Ranipur, Jhilmil Jheel and Mohand (Chillawali). Here is how Mohand compares if you are deciding which gate to book:
| Zone | Best for | Crowd level | Distance from Dehradun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mohand (Chillawali) | Leopards, birdwatching, quieter safari | Low | ~20-25 km |
| Chilla | Elephants, easiest access from Rishikesh/Haridwar | High | ~40+ km (via Haridwar) |
| Motichur | Elephant corridor, similar terrain to Chilla | Medium | ~15-20 km from Haridwar |
| Ranipur | Quiet forest, fewer tourists | Low | ~15 km from Haridwar |
| Jhilmil Jheel | Swamp deer, wetland birding | Low-Medium | ~40 km from Haridwar |
Distances and crowd levels are approximate and can shift with road conditions, season and forest department notifications; treat this as a planning guide rather than a fixed measurement.
Mohand's rocky, broken terrain and dense sal cover make it the leopard zone of Rajaji National Park. Local naturalist guides track several resident leopards across the range, and while individual animals move territories over time, sightings here are consistently better than in most other zones. Alongside leopards, look out for Himalayan black bear, sambar deer, spotted deer (chital), barking deer, wild boar, and troops of langur. Asian elephants move through Mohand seasonally, especially outside peak summer, and tiger sightings do occur but are rare compared to Chilla zone, so it is best to visit Mohand for leopards and birds rather than expecting a tiger encounter.
Mohand/Chillawali's mix of hill forest, riverbed and grassland habitat supports more than 100 recorded bird species, making it one of the better birding zones in Rajaji National Park. Regularly reported species include the Indian grey hornbill, Indian peacock, plum-headed parakeet, crested kingfisher, black francolin, grey partridge, redstart and Himalayan bulbul, alongside seasonal raptors such as the crested serpent eagle. Winter (November to February) brings the highest diversity as migratory species pass through the Shivalik foothills, while early morning safaris (6:00 AM start) generally offer the most bird activity.
The zone is open from 15 November to 15 June, and the right month depends on what you want to see:
Many visitors search for "Mohand safari" and "Chillawali zone" separately, assuming they are two different places, but they refer to the same safari zone. "Chillawali Zone" is the name used in official Uttarakhand Forest Department records, while "Mohand" comes from the entry gate and the nearby town on NH 72A. You will also occasionally see it written as "Chillawali/Mohand" on government signage and older travel articles. Whichever name you book under, you will enter through the same Mohand Gate and drive the same Chillawali range route toward Dholkhand.
By road: Mohand Gate is on NH 72A, about 20-25 km (roughly 40-60 minutes by car) from Dehradun via the Dehradun-Saharanpur road. Taxis and shared vehicles run this route regularly, and the gate is well signposted near Ganeshpur.
By air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, around an hour's drive from the gate.
By rail: Dehradun and Haridwar railway stations are the nearest major stations, both well connected to Delhi and Lucknow, and roughly an hour to ninety minutes from Mohand Gate by taxi.
If you are combining zones, Ramgarh Range is also accessible from the Dehradun side and can be added to the same jungle safari trip as Mohand.
Booking a safari in the Mohand/Chillawali zone can be done online in advance or offline at the gate on the day of your visit, subject to availability.
"Mohand is the zone I recommend to anyone who has already done Chilla and wants a quieter, more focused safari," says Veeru Negi, a naturalist guide who has worked across Rajaji National Park's zones for over 15 years. "You won't get the elephant herds of Chilla here, but for leopards and birds, this is the best range in the park. Go early, keep quiet near the streams, and let the guide read the alarm calls, that's usually how we find the leopards."
Mohand Gate sits on NH 72A (the Delhi-Dehradun highway) near Ganeshpur, roughly 20-25 km from Dehradun city center by the direct Dehradun-Saharanpur road. Some routes via Haridwar measure closer to 35 km, so travel time depends on which road you take, generally 40-60 minutes by car.
Yes. Mohand Range and Chillawali Zone are the same safari zone of Rajaji National Park; the Uttarakhand Forest Department's official records use the name "Chillawali Zone" while most visitors and drivers refer to it as "Mohand" after the entry gate and nearby town. Both names describe one and the same tourism zone, not two different areas.
The zone is open from 15 November to 15 June each year and closed during the monsoon (16 June to 14 November). December to February is best for pleasant weather and winter birding, while March to mid-April is favoured for leopard activity as water sources shrink. Early morning safaris generally see more wildlife movement than afternoon slots.
Mohand is best known for leopard sightings, with several resident leopards identified by local guides in the range. Other regularly seen species include Asian elephants (seasonal), Himalayan black bear, sambar deer, spotted deer (chital), barking deer, wild boar, langur, and occasionally jackal or hyena. Tiger sightings are rare here compared to Chilla zone.
Over 100 bird species have been recorded in the Mohand/Chillawali range, including the Indian grey hornbill, Indian peacock, plum-headed parakeet, crested kingfisher, black francolin, grey partridge, redstart, and Himalayan bulbul. Winter (November to February) brings the widest variety as migratory species pass through.
Morning safari typically runs 6:00 AM to 9:30 AM and the afternoon safari from around 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, adjusted slightly by season and sunset time. Exact gate-opening minutes can shift with forest department notifications, so confirm the current schedule when you book.
Budget roughly ₹150 entry fee per Indian visitor (₹600 for foreign nationals), a vehicle/gate fee of about ₹250-500, Gypsy jeep hire of approximately ₹2,500-3,500 for up to 6 people, and an optional guide fee of ₹300 for a general guide or ₹800-1,500 for a specialised bird/wildlife guide. A camera permit (around ₹200 Indian / ₹500 foreign) applies to DSLR and mirrorless cameras. Rates are set by the forest department and can change season to season, so confirm at booking.
You can book online in advance through this website or the Rajaji National Park online booking channel by selecting the Mohand/Chillawali zone, your date, and morning or afternoon slot, or you can book offline at the Mohand Gate ticket counter, subject to same-day availability. Advance booking is recommended in peak winter season (December-February).
No, it is not the official website of Rajaji National Park. This is an independent safari booking and information platform that helps visitors plan and book Mohand zone safaris using locally verified information from guides and forest department sources.
By road, Mohand Gate is about 40-60 minutes from Dehradun via NH 72A towards Saharanpur; taxis and shared vehicles run this route regularly. By air, the nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, about an hour's drive away. By rail, Dehradun and Haridwar railway stations are the nearest major stations, both roughly an hour to ninety minutes from the gate by taxi.
