Chilla jeep safari in Rajaji National Park, Haridwar

Chilla Jeep Safari in Rajaji National Park

Updated 3 October 2026 · Season 15 Nov to 15 Jun

The Chilla jeep safari is the most popular way to see Rajaji National Park, and for good reason. The gate sits on the Haridwar–Rishikesh road, the track runs for about 36 km along forest, river bed and grassland, and elephants are a regular sight. This page covers the Chilla safari price, timings, season, how to reach the gate and what to expect, so you can book your Chilla zone safari without second-guessing.

Quick answer: Chilla safari price 2026

Private jeep for up to 6: ₹3,000 + guide ₹1,000. Forest fees: ₹150 entry per Indian adult (₹600 foreign) + ₹250 (₹500 foreign) per jeep. Six Indian adults: about ₹5,150 in all (₹858 each). Track: 36 km, 2.5–3 hours. Season: 15 Nov to 15 Jun.

Book Chilla on WhatsApp Call +91 98373 89430

Book Your Chilla Safari

Chilla Safari Zone at a Glance

Track lengthAbout 36 km, 2.5 to 3 hours in an open gypsy
LocationOn the Haridwar–Rishikesh road: about 10 km from Haridwar, about 20 km from Rishikesh
Season15 November to about 15 June (closed in the monsoon)
Daily permitsAbout 30 for the morning shift and 30 for the afternoon shift
Forest fees₹150 / ₹600 per person (Indian / foreign) + ₹250 / ₹500 per jeep
Our chargesPrivate jeep ₹3,000 (up to 6), guide ₹1,000, shared seat ₹950 per person

Why Most People Pick Chilla

Chilla works because it is easy and rewarding at the same time. It is the closest gate to both Haridwar and Rishikesh, so a morning safari fits neatly into a pilgrimage or rafting trip. Inside, the forest opens out onto wide river beds and grass flats beside the Ganga, which means you can see animals from a distance instead of catching a flash of tail in thick bush.

Elephants are the headline act, often near the water. Spotted deer, sambar, barking deer and wild boar turn up all along the track, and langurs watch from the trees. Tigers and leopards do live in the Chilla range, but they keep out of sight, so treat any sighting as a gift.

Birdlife at Chilla

Birders do very well here. The Forest Department's own notes for Chilla list three hornbill species, nine woodpeckers, five barbets and four kingfishers, and say that more than 150 bird species can be seen when you travel with an expert guide. Pythons, monitor lizards and the odd king cobra round out the list.

Open jeep on the Chilla safari track
Chilla range forest in Rajaji National Park
Chilla range wildlife and landscape
Chilla jeep safari package

Chilla Jeep Safari Price for Your Group

The jeep is priced per vehicle, so a full group pays much less per head. These figures are for Indian guests with a guide and include the official entry and vehicle fees.

GroupTotalPer person
2 Indian adults₹4,550₹2,275
4 Indian adults₹4,850₹1,213
6 Indian adults₹5,150₹858

Travelling solo or as a couple? A shared seat is ₹950 per person plus entry. Foreign guests, children and camera permits are covered on our Rajaji National Park safari ticket price page.

Chilla Safari Timings 2026–27

PeriodMorning entryAfternoon entry
15 Nov – 15 Feb6:30 – 8:00 AM1:30 – 3:00 PM
16 Feb – 15 Apr6:00 – 7:30 AM2:00 – 3:30 PM
16 Apr – 15 Jun5:30 – 7:00 AM3:00 – 4:30 PM

These are gate entry windows set by the Forest Department. We reconfirm them when you book.

Morning or afternoon? Mornings are cooler, with better light and more bird activity. Afternoons are warmer and calmer, and in summer they are good for watching elephants come to drink.

Best Time to Visit Chilla

  • November to February: Cold mornings, crisp light and migratory birds. Book early, because this is the busiest period.
  • March and April: Mild weather and fresh green forest, a good balance of comfort and sightings.
  • May to mid-June: Hot days, but animals gather at the river and the track is quieter.

How to Reach Chilla Gate

FromApprox. distanceBy road
HaridwarAbout 10 km20–30 minutes
RishikeshAbout 20 km30–40 minutes
DelhiAbout 230 km5–6 hours, then on to the gate

We arrange pickup from Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun. Tell us your hotel when you book and we will plan the timing so you reach the gate inside your entry window.

Tips for a Better Chilla Safari

  • Dress in olive, brown or grey, and carry a light jacket for winter mornings.
  • Bring binoculars, a camera with zoom, water, a hat and your original photo ID.
  • Keep your voice low and stay seated. Animals stay close longer when the jeep is quiet.
  • Never feed animals, never step out of the jeep, and carry your litter back out.

Chilla Compared With Other Zones

Chilla is the best first choice, but it is not the only one. Motichur is quieter, Jhilmil Jheel suits swamp deer and birds, Ranipur is calm and grassy, and Mohand and Ramgarh serve the Dehradun side. Our jungle safari guide compares them side by side.

Book Your Chilla Jeep Safari

Message us your date, group size and number of guests on WhatsApp or call +91 98373 89430. Naturalist Manoj Bisht, who has guided Rajaji safaris since 2011, will confirm availability and the final price. You pay to confirm, and your booking details follow. See all safari packages or return to the Rajaji jeep safari home page.

Chilla Jeep Safari: Frequently Asked Questions

A private jeep for up to 6 guests is ₹3,000 with us, and the guide is ₹1,000. The Forest Department adds ₹150 entry per Indian adult (₹600 for foreigners) and a ₹250 vehicle fee (₹500 for foreigners) once per jeep. Six Indian adults pay about ₹5,150, roughly ₹858 each.

The Chilla track is about 36 km. Plan on roughly 2.5 to 3 hours inside the forest, with stops whenever your guide spots wildlife.

Two shifts run daily. The gate entry window moves with the season: 6:30 to 8:00 AM and 1:30 to 3:00 PM from 15 November to 15 February, 6:00 to 7:30 AM and 2:00 to 3:30 PM from 16 February to 15 April, and 5:30 to 7:00 AM and 3:00 to 4:30 PM from 16 April to 15 June.

Chilla gate sits on the Haridwar to Rishikesh bypass road, about 10 km from Haridwar and about 20 km from Rishikesh, so it takes roughly 20 to 40 minutes by road from either city. Delhi is around 230 km away.

No. The safari season runs from 15 November to about 15 June. The track stays closed to jeeps during the monsoon.

November to February gives cool mornings, clear light and migratory birds, but it is also the busiest stretch. In April to June the heat is stronger, yet animals come to the river more often and the track is quieter.

Tigers and leopards live in the Chilla range, but they are shy and sightings are a bonus, never a promise. Elephants, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, wild boar and many birds are seen far more often.

The Forest Department's notes for Chilla mention three hornbill species, nine woodpecker species, five barbets and four kingfishers, with more than 150 bird species visible when you go with an expert guide.

Yes. It is the easiest zone to reach, the most popular, and the open riverbed and grassland make animals easier to spot from the jeep. Most first-timers pick Chilla.

One open gypsy seats 6 adult guests plus the driver. Larger groups need two jeeps, each priced separately.

The Forest Department lists about 30 permits for the morning shift and 30 for the afternoon shift at Chilla. Because the quota is small, winter weekends fill up early.

Yes. Book 2 to 3 weeks ahead for November to February and for weekends or holidays. In the hotter months a few days is usually enough.

Yes. Every private jeep we book comes with a local naturalist guide at ₹1,000 per safari. The guide helps you read tracks, calls and alarm signals you would otherwise miss.

Yes. Every adult needs a valid government photo ID, and foreign guests need their passport. The name on the ID should match the name on the permit.

Chilla has the longer 36 km track and the bigger reputation, so it suits first-timers. Motichur is quieter, with dense sal forest, and works well if you want a calmer drive.

Cancel at least 7 days before the safari for a full refund, and at least 3 days before for a 50% refund. After that there is no refund.