Motichur Zone jeep safari in Rajaji National Park near Haridwar

Motichur Zone Jeep Safari Rajaji National Park

Updated 3 October 2026 · Season 15 Nov to 15 Jun

The Motichur Zone jeep safari in Rajaji National Park is the one you can reach quickest from Haridwar. The gate is just off the Haridwar–Rishikesh highway, the drive runs through tall sal forest, and herds of elephants cross here on their way to Chilla. A Motichur Zone jungle safari takes about 2 to 3 hours. Here is everything you need to plan a jeep safari in Motichur Zone: price, timings, season and what to expect.

Quick answer: Motichur 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). Track: about 24–25 km loop, 2–3 hours.

Book Motichur Zone Safari Call +91 98373 89430

Book Motichur Zone Jeep Safari

Motichur Zone Jeep Safari at a Glance

TrackAbout 24–25 km loop, 2 to 3 hours in an open gypsy
LocationOn the Haridwar–Rishikesh highway, about 9 km from Haridwar
HabitatDense sal forest, dry stream beds and open patches
Season15 November to about 15 June (closed in the monsoon)
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 Motichur Zone

Motichur is where Rajaji feels most like a classic sal forest. The trees are tall and close, sunlight breaks through in shafts on winter mornings, and the track winds between dry stream beds and small clearings. The forest rest house at the gate dates from the British era and has been renovated.

The zone also sits on a corridor that links it with the neighbouring Chilla range, so elephants move through regularly, especially when the weather warms up and the herds head for water. Spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, wild boar and langurs are common, and leopards turn up now and then. Woodpeckers, hornbills and barbets live among the sal trees, and morning drives are the best time to hear them.

Because Motichur is the closest gate to Haridwar, it also suits travellers with limited time. You can finish a morning safari and still be back in town for breakfast.

Jeep on the Motichur safari track in Rajaji
Motichur Zone jeep safari near Haridwar
Wildlife in Motichur range
Sal forest in Motichur range

Jeep Safari in Motichur Zone: 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

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.

Motichur Zone Jungle Safari Timings and Season

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.

Best months: November to February for cool, clear mornings, and March to mid-June for elephants and deer gathering at the water.

How to Reach Motichur Zone

The Motichur gate is on the Haridwar–Rishikesh highway, about 9 km from Haridwar, so a taxi or auto reaches it in 15 to 25 minutes. We arrange pickup from Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun and time it so you arrive inside your entry window. Private vehicles cannot enter the forest, so you switch to an authorised safari jeep at the gate.

Tips for Your Motichur Zone Jeep Safari

  • Dress in olive, brown or grey, and bring a light jacket for winter mornings.
  • Carry binoculars, a camera with zoom, water, sunscreen and your original photo ID.
  • Stay seated and quiet, especially if you spot elephants near the track.
  • Never feed animals, never step out of the jeep, and carry your litter back out.

Motichur Zone or Another Safari Zone?

Choose the Motichur Zone jeep safari for sal forest, elephant movement and a short trip from Haridwar. Choose Chilla for the classic first-timer loop, Jhilmil Zone for open grassland and swamp deer, Ranipur for a quiet, leopard-minded drive, and Mohand or Ramgarh on the Dehradun side. Our jungle safari guide compares them all.

Book Your Jeep Safari in Motichur 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.

Motichur 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.

It is an open-jeep drive through the sal forests of the Motichur range, on the Haridwar to Rishikesh highway. The track is a loop of roughly 24 to 25 km and takes about 2 to 3 hours. It starts from the old Motichur forest rest house and passes through dense sal, dry stream beds and open patches.

Motichur is about 9 km from Haridwar city on the Haridwar to Rishikesh highway, which makes it the closest safari gate to Haridwar. We also arrange pickup from Rishikesh and Dehradun.

Elephants are the highlight, especially in the warmer months, along with spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, wild boar and langurs. Leopards are seen from time to time. Woodpeckers, hornbills and barbets are common among the sal trees.

Motichur sits on an elephant corridor that links it with the Chilla range, so herds regularly cross the forest between the two. This is why sightings tend to be strong when the weather warms up and animals move toward water.

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 to 15 June.

Motichur opens on 15 November and runs until about 15 June. The forest is closed to safari jeeps during the monsoon, so check the latest Forest Department notice before you plan.

Plan on about 2 to 3 hours inside the forest. The track is a loop of around 24 to 25 km, and we confirm the exact route for your date when you book.

The Forest Department has listed about 15 permits for the morning shift and 15 for the afternoon shift. Winter weekends fill up quickly, so book ahead.

Chilla has the longer 36 km loop and is the classic first-timer choice. Motichur is closer to Haridwar, quieter, and especially good for sal forest scenery and elephant movement. If you have already done Chilla, Motichur is a great second safari.

November to February is cool and comfortable. March to June is hotter, but elephants and deer come to the water more often, so the forest can feel livelier. Mornings are best for birds.

Yes. Every private jeep we book comes with a naturalist guide at ₹1,000 per safari. In dense sal forest a guide who reads tracks and alarm calls helps you find animals you would otherwise miss.

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

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

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.

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.