Jhilmil Zone jeep safari in Rajaji National Park near Haridwar

Jhilmil Zone Jeep Safari Rajaji National Park

Updated 3 October 2026 · Open until 30 June

If Chilla is Rajaji's busy showpiece, the Jhilmil Zone jeep safari in Rajaji National Park is its calm, open-air cousin. A Jhilmil Zone jungle safari takes you across marshy grassland beside the Ganga, where swamp deer graze, elephants wander through at dusk and winter brings flocks of migratory birds. This page covers everything you need for a jeep safari in Jhilmil Zone near Haridwar: price, timings, season, how to reach the gate and what you can expect to see.

Quick answer: Jhilmil Zone jeep safari price 2026

Private jeep for up to 6: ₹3,000 + guide ₹1,000. Forest fees: ₹150 per Indian adult (₹600 foreign) + ₹250 (₹500 foreign) per jeep. Six Indian adults: about ₹5,150 (₹858 each). Duration: 2.5–3 hours. Open until 30 June.

Book Jhilmil Zone Safari Call +91 98373 89430

Book Jhilmil Zone Jeep Safari

Jhilmil Zone Jeep Safari at a Glance

What it isJhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve, declared on 14 August 2005, about 37.8 sq km of marshy grassland near Haridwar
Duration2.5 to 3 hours in an open gypsy; track quoted at roughly 25–30 km
LocationAbout 20 km from Haridwar on the Kotdwar road
SeasonUsually opens around mid-October and runs until 30 June
Daily permitsAbout 15 for the morning shift and 15 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 Choose a Jungle Safari in Jhilmil Zone

A jungle safari in Jhilmil Zone does not feel like a typical forest drive. The track winds through tall Patera grass, scrub and patches of woodland beside the Ganga, and the horizon stays open. That is exactly why it is such a good place to look for barasingha, the swamp deer that the reserve was set up to protect. Spotted deer, sambar and wild boar graze in the same meadows, and elephants and the occasional leopard use the same corridors.

Birdwatchers love it too. From November to March migratory ducks, waders and raptors arrive to join the resident species, and local records list more than 250 bird species. Eagles and vultures are regular sights overhead.

Elephant near Jhilmil Jheel safari zone
Migratory birds at Jhilmil Jheel
Peacock at Jhilmil Jheel safari
Jeep on the Jhilmil safari track

Jeep Safari in Jhilmil Zone: Price for Your Group

The jeep is priced per vehicle, so a full group pays much less per head. The figures below 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

A shared seat is ₹950 per person plus entry. For foreign guests, children and camera permits, see our Rajaji National Park safari ticket price page.

Jhilmil Zone Jungle Safari Timings and Season

Two shifts run each day. The gate entry window follows the Forest Department's seasonal pattern.

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 – 30 Jun5:30 – 7:00 AM3:00 – 4:30 PM

Jhilmil often opens a few weeks before the other zones and closes later. We confirm slots and opening dates for your exact date when you book.

Best months: November to March for birds and cool weather, and April to June for fewer visitors and animals gathering at the water.

How to Reach Jhilmil Zone

FromApprox. distance
HaridwarAbout 20 km on the Kotdwar road
RishikeshAbout 45 km
DehradunAbout 60 km

Private vehicles cannot enter the reserve, so you switch to an authorised safari jeep at the gate. We arrange pickup from Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun.

Tips for Your Jhilmil Zone Jeep Safari

  • Go in the morning if birds are your priority, and carry binoculars.
  • Wear olive, brown or grey and bring a light jacket for winter.
  • Keep quiet and stay seated, because swamp deer spook easily.
  • Carry your original photo ID, water and sunscreen, and take your litter back out.

Jhilmil Zone or Another Safari Zone?

Pick the Jhilmil Zone jeep safari for open grassland, swamp deer and birdwatching. Pick Chilla for the longest track and the best first-timer experience, Ranipur or Motichur for a quieter forest drive, and Mohand or Ramgarh on the Dehradun side. Our jungle safari guide compares all of them.

Book Your Jeep Safari in Jhilmil Zone

Message your date, group size and preferred shift on WhatsApp or call +91 98373 89430. Naturalist Manoj Bisht, guiding in Rajaji since 2011, will confirm availability and the final price. See all safari packages or go back to the Rajaji jeep safari home page.

Jhilmil Zone Jeep Safari Rajaji National Park: FAQs

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 foreign) and a ₹250 vehicle fee (₹500 foreign) per jeep. Six Indian adults pay about ₹5,150 in all, roughly ₹858 each.

The Jhilmil Zone jungle safari is a jeep drive through Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve, a marshy grassland on the Ganga floodplain near Haridwar. It was declared a Conservation Reserve on 14 August 2005 and covers about 37.8 sq km. Swamp deer, elephants and birds are the main draws.

It is a marshy grassland on the Ganga floodplain near Haridwar, declared a Conservation Reserve on 14 August 2005. It covers about 37.8 sq km and is best known for its herd of barasingha, or swamp deer.

Jhilmil is one of the few places in Uttarakhand where swamp deer are protected, and the open grassland gives you a fair chance of seeing them. Sightings are never guaranteed, so go with a guide who knows where the herds graze.

Besides swamp deer you may see spotted deer, sambar, wild boar and elephants, while leopards are rare. Local records list more than 250 bird species, including migratory ducks and raptors in winter.

Plan on about 2.5 to 3 hours. Local sources quote the track at roughly 25 to 30 km, and we confirm the exact route for your date when you book.

Two shifts run daily and 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 onwards.

Jhilmil usually opens earlier than the other zones, around mid-October, and stays open until 30 June. The forest is closed to safari jeeps during the monsoon, so check the latest Forest Department notice.

The gate is about 20 km from Haridwar on the Kotdwar road, roughly 45 km from Rishikesh and about 60 km from Dehradun.

The Forest Department has listed about 15 permits for the morning shift and 15 for the afternoon shift. With so few, winter weekends sell out early.

They suit different visitors. Chilla has the longer, busier 36 km track and is best for first-timers. Jhilmil is quieter, more open, and better for swamp deer and birdwatching.

November to March is the prime window, when migratory birds join the resident ones. Go on a morning shift for the best light and the most activity.

No. Private vehicles are not allowed inside the reserve. You travel in an authorised safari jeep.

Yes. Every private jeep we book comes with a naturalist guide at ₹1,000 per safari, which makes a big difference when you are scanning grassland for deer and birds.

One open gypsy seats 6 adult guests plus the driver. Larger groups need more than one jeep.

Yes. Because the daily quota is small, book 2 to 3 weeks ahead for November to February and for weekends or holidays.

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.