Chilla sanctuaries harbour about a third of the State's elephant population. Hence the proposal to establish them as Rajaji National Park and link it up with Corbett National Park by means of elephant corridors. This will involve the construction of two special bridges over the recently-made Chilla Power Canal and the protection of suitable intervening forest habitat. Gujars are in the process of being resettled in accordance with national park policy (Gupta, 1986). A recent study suggests, however, that the Gujars have not had such a detrimental effect on their habitat as is commonly believed. The need to develop a compromise of joint land-use for the benefit of the land, local people and wildlife, rather than managing the area exclusively for conservation purposes, is emphasised (A. Clark pers. comm.).

CLIMATE There are three seasons in the Himalayan foothills: cool, hot and rainy. During the cool season (November to February), days are warm (20-25*C), nights are cold and humidity is low. Precipitation in December to February totals 50-150mm. Temperature rises rapidly to 40-48*C in the hot season (March to June) and rainfall increases with the occasional thunderstorm. Humidity is high in the rainy season (July to October), with over 750mm of precipitation in July to August, and there is little temperature variation (Singh, 1956). Annual rainfall ranges from 1200-1500mm and mean monthly temperature from 13.1*C in January to 38.9*C in May (Tiwari, 1986).

VEGETATION Based on Landsat imagery for 1986, approximately 84% of the proposed national park is forested. Some 65% of forested land is under 20% crown cover inChilla Sanctuary, whereas a similar percentage of forested land exceeds 50% crown cover in Motichur Sanctuary. Canopy cover is intermediate for forests in Chilla Sanctuary (Tiwari, 1986).

Of the five vegetation types of the Siwaliks, distinguished by Champion and Seth (1968), four occur inChilla Sanctuary, namely: moist Siwalik sal (Shorea robusta), dry Siwalik sal, northern dry mixed deciduous and khair-sissu (Acacia catechu/Dalbergia sissoo) forest. Details of species composition are given by A. Clark pers. comm.).

FAUNA The area is important as the western limit of the Asian elephant Elephas maximus (E). Other large mammals recorded inChilla Sanctuary include rhesus macaque Macaca mulatta, langur Presbytis entellus, golden jackal Canis aureus, sloth bear Melursus ursinus (I), striped hyaena Hyaena hyaena, leopard Panthera pardus (V), tiger P. tigris (E), wild boar Sus scrofa, Indian muntjac Muntiacus muntjak, spotted deer Cervus axis, sambar C. unicolor and nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus (A. Clark pers. comm.). The goral Nemorrhaedus goral is also present (Green, 1987).

HOW TO GET THERE
Rail
Nearest railway station is at Haridwar, 7 km.

Bus
Bus service operates between Haridwar and main tourist centre of the sanctuary, Chilla.

LOCAL TRANSPORT

Elephants: available for wildlife viewing.

WHERE TO STAY
UTTARANCHAL Government Tourist Accommodation

Tourist Lodge (UPSTDC) Chilla

Other Accommodation

Forest Rest House, Chilla

Forest Rest House, Laldhang

Forest Rest House, Khara

Forest Rest House, Kunao

Reservations:

Tourist Officer, Haridwar

Director, Chilla National Park, Dehradun.

EATING OUT

Dining facilities are available at Chilla.