Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve
Haridwar, Uttarakhand · wildlife
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve is a saucer-shaped Ganga-floodplain wetland set between the Haridwar-Najibabad highway and the River Ganga, in the Chidiyapur Range of the Haridwar Forest Division. Notified in 2005 as one of India's earliest conservation reserves, it protects a mosaic of marshy grassland, seasonal and perennial swamps, and riverine forest gathered around a central oxbow lake (the "jheel" that gives the reserve its name). The reserve covers roughly 37.8 sq km, but its ecological heart is the wetland itself, a rare surviving fragment of the swampy terai-bhabar habitat that once fringed the Ganga across the north Indian plains.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Mathura Walon Ki Pracheen Dukaan (Bara Bazaar, Haridwar) - a long-established pure-vegetarian institution known for chaat, kachori and mithai; roughly 15-20 km from the reserve, ideal for stocking a picnic beforehand.
- ✦Hoshiyar Puri (Upper Road, Haridwar) - a heritage pure-vegetarian, no-onion-no-garlic puri-sabzi spot beloved by pilgrims; check current opening hours before making a detour.
- ✦Mohan Ji Puri Wale (Haridwar bazaar area) - reliable pure-vegetarian puri, sabzi and sweets; hearty and inexpensive, good for provisioning before the drive out.
- ✦Pure-vegetarian dhabas and sweet shops in Haridwar town - Haridwar is an entirely vegetarian, alcohol-free city, so packing a veg meal in town is simple; nothing edible should be relied on inside the reserve itself.
About
Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve is a saucer-shaped Ganga-floodplain wetland set between the Haridwar-Najibabad highway and the River Ganga, in the Chidiyapur Range of the Haridwar Forest Division.
- Notified in 2005 as one of India's earliest conservation reserves, it protects a mosaic of marshy grassland, seasonal and perennial swamps, and riverine forest gathered around a central oxbow lake (the "jheel" that gives the reserve its name).
- The reserve covers roughly 37.8 sq km, but its ecological heart is the wetland itself, a rare surviving fragment of the swampy terai-bhabar habitat that once fringed the Ganga across the north Indian plains.
- The reserve was created, above all, for a single animal: the barasingha, or swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii), a stately, multi-tined deer classed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
- Jhilmil Jheel holds the only surviving population of swamp deer in Uttarakhand, making it a place of outsized importance for the species' survival in the state.
- The tall, waterlogged grasslands the deer depend on are exactly the kind of habitat that has vanished almost everywhere else, and protecting them here is the reserve's central mission.
- The barasingha share the wetland with elephants, which move through on the corridor that links Jhilmil Jheel to the nearby Rajaji landscape, as well as spotted deer, sambar, wild boar and, more elusively, leopards.
- The reserve is a birdwatcher's reward too: more than 300 bird species have been recorded, and the winter months bring migratory ducks and geese, ruddy shelducks, northern pintails, marsh harriers and the towering black-necked stork to the open water and reed beds.
- Jhilmil Jheel is a wild, low-key destination rather than a polished tourist park, and eco-tourism facilities are still developing under the Forest Department.
- Visits are typically by forest jeep with a permit arranged through the Chidiyapur range; morning outings offer the best chance of sightings.
- There is no food, and certainly nothing you should rely on, inside the reserve, so carry your own water and a packed vegetarian meal.
- Fortunately the reserve sits close to Haridwar, a holy vegetarian and alcohol-free city where pure-vegetarian, satvik (often no-onion-no-garlic) food is the everyday norm, so provisioning a picnic before you set out is easy.
- The combination of open grassland, glinting water and the rare, antlered silhouette of a swamp deer makes this one of the most quietly rewarding natural outings anywhere near the Ganga.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Chidiyapur Range, Haridwar Forest Division, between the Haridwar-Najibabad highway and the River Ganga, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, 249401
How to Reach: The reserve lies roughly 15-20 km from Haridwar, off the Haridwar-Najibabad highway near Chidiyapur, on the left bank of the Ganga. The nearest railhead and transport hub is Haridwar Junction; from there a hired taxi takes about 30-45 minutes to the Chidiyapur range area. There is no public transport into the reserve and no self-drive safari - entry is by Forest Department permit and forest jeep, best arranged in advance through the Chidiyapur range office or a registered local operator. Confirm permit and vehicle arrangements before travelling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve known for?
It is best known as the only place in Uttarakhand where the swamp deer, or barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii), still survives. This Ganga-floodplain wetland near Haridwar was notified as a conservation reserve in 2005 largely to protect that Vulnerable species, along with the marshes, grasslands and oxbow lake it depends on. It also shelters elephants, spotted deer, sambar and wild boar, and records over 300 bird species.
Where is Jhilmil Jheel and how far is it from Haridwar?
The reserve sits in the Chidiyapur Range of the Haridwar Forest Division, between the Haridwar-Najibabad highway and the River Ganga, roughly 15-20 km from Haridwar. The nearest railhead is Haridwar Junction, from where a hired taxi reaches the Chidiyapur range area in about 30-45 minutes. There is no public transport into the reserve.
How do I visit Jhilmil Jheel and is there an entry fee?
Jhilmil Jheel is a working conservation reserve rather than a developed tourist park, and eco-tourism facilities are still being built up by the Forest Department. Visits are typically by forest jeep with a permit arranged through the Chidiyapur range or a registered local operator; there is no self-drive or walk-in safari. Nominal permit and vehicle charges usually apply, but as arrangements are evolving, confirm current fees and timings locally before you travel.
What is the best time to visit Jhilmil Jheel?
November to March is ideal, with cool weather and large numbers of migratory waterbirds such as ruddy shelducks, northern pintails and geese, plus resident black-necked storks and marsh harriers. Early morning gives the best chance of spotting swamp deer and elephants. Avoid the monsoon (July-September), when the floodplain can be waterlogged and largely inaccessible.
What animals and birds can I see at Jhilmil Jheel?
The flagship animal is the swamp deer (barasingha), Uttarakhand's only surviving herd. You may also encounter elephants, spotted deer, sambar, wild boar and, with luck, leopards or otters. For birdwatchers, more than 300 species have been recorded, including black-necked storks, marsh harriers, purple swamphens and, in winter, migratory ducks and geese across the open water and reed beds.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near Jhilmil Jheel?
There is no reliable food inside the reserve, so carry your own water and a packed vegetarian meal. The best plan is to provision in Haridwar, an entirely vegetarian and alcohol-free city about 15-20 km away, where pure-vegetarian and satvik (often no-onion-no-garlic) food is the norm. Trusted options include Mathura Walon Ki Pracheen Dukaan in Bara Bazaar, the heritage Hoshiyar Puri on Upper Road, and Mohan Ji Puri Wale in the bazaar - check current timings before you set out.
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