Rajaji National Park — Ranipur Safari Zone (BHEL Gate)
Haridwar, Uttarakhand · wildlife
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry Fee₹150
The Ranipur Safari Zone — reached through the gate beside the BHEL township on the western edge of Haridwar and often called the BHEL Gate — is the closest jungle entry point to the pilgrim city, opening the Ranipur range of Rajaji Tiger Reserve to visitors. Rajaji itself is one of North India's great protected landscapes: first notified as a sanctuary in 1948, constituted a national park in 1983 when three adjoining sanctuaries were merged, and declared a tiger reserve in 2015. It sprawls across roughly 820 square kilometres of the Shivalik foothills between Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri Garhwal, with the Ganga cleaving it into a western block (Rajaji and Motichur) and an eastern one (Chilla). The Ranipur gate belongs to that western block, and its great appeal is proximity — you can leave the ghats of Haridwar and be under the forest canopy within a short drive.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Hoshiyar Puri (Upper Road, Bara Bazar, Haridwar) — a legendary pure-vegetarian institution famed for its puri with aloo and seasonal sabzi; entirely veg, best in the morning.
- ✦Mohan Ji Puri Wale (Bara Bazar, near Har ki Pauri) — long-running pure-vegetarian puri-sabzi and kachori counter popular with pilgrims; please confirm current hours locally.
- ✦Pure-veg thali and South Indian restaurants near Har ki Pauri — dependable vegetarian thalis and dosas in Haridwar's all-veg core (menus and names change, so verify on arrival).
- ✦Small pure-veg dhabas around Ranipur More / BHEL market — simple veg meals and chai close to the gate; quality varies, so choose a busy, freshly-cooked stall.
About
The Ranipur Safari Zone — reached through the gate beside the BHEL township on the western edge of Haridwar and often called the BHEL Gate — is the closest jungle entry point to the pilgrim city, opening the Ranipur range of Rajaji Tiger Reserve to visitors.
- Rajaji itself is one of North India's great protected landscapes: first notified as a sanctuary in 1948, constituted a national park in 1983 when three adjoining sanctuaries were merged, and declared a tiger reserve in 2015.
- It sprawls across roughly 820 square kilometres of the Shivalik foothills between Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri Garhwal, with the Ganga cleaving it into a western block (Rajaji and Motichur) and an eastern one (Chilla).
- The Ranipur gate belongs to that western block, and its great appeal is proximity — you can leave the ghats of Haridwar and be under the forest canopy within a short drive.
- A jeep safari from the Ranipur gate is a slow, roughly 25-kilometre transect through classic Shivalik habitat: tall Sal (Shorea robusta) forest interlaced with Shisham and Rohini, seasonal rau (dry stream beds), lantana thickets and pockets of grassland.
- The star mammal is the Asian elephant — Rajaji holds one of the healthiest elephant populations in the region — and sightings of herds crossing the tracks are the safari's signature moment.
- Nilgai (blue bull), spotted deer, sambar, wild boar and troops of langur are commonly seen; leopard and tiger are present but shy and rarely glimpsed.
- Birdlife is the everyday reward: Rajaji records more than 315 species (some regional listings cite 400-plus), and the Ranipur forest turns up hornbills, woodpeckers, parakeets, peafowl, kingfishers along the watercourses and raptors overhead.
- Safaris run in open canvas-topped Gypsy jeeps with a licensed forest guide, in fixed morning and afternoon slots, and the reserve follows a monsoon closure — the visiting window is broadly mid-November to mid-June, so it is worth confirming dates and permits with the forest office before travelling.
- The experience is naturalist-led rather than a zoo circuit: patience, silence and early starts are rewarded.
- For vegetarian travellers this is easy country.
- No food is sold inside the forest, so eat before or after in Haridwar — a Saptapuri Ganga city that is vegetarian and alcohol-free by custom — where pure-veg thalis, puri-sabzi and mithai are the norm.
- Carry only water into the park, wear muted clothing, and treat the forest as the wildlife's home: no feeding, no noise, no littering.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Ranipur Range Gate, near BHEL township, Ranipur, Haridwar, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, 249403
How to Reach: The Ranipur (BHEL) gate lies about 9–15 km from central Haridwar. From Har ki Pauri or Haridwar Junction railway station, an auto-rickshaw or taxi to the Ranipur/BHEL gate takes 20–30 minutes; shared autos run to Ranipur More, from where the forest gate is a short hop. Most visitors arrange the Gypsy jeep and guide through the forest office or a registered local operator, as private vehicles are not allowed on the safari tracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Ranipur (BHEL) gate of Rajaji National Park?
It sits on the western edge of Haridwar, next to the BHEL township at Ranipur, about 9–15 km from the city centre. It is the closest safari entry point to Haridwar and leads into the Ranipur range of Rajaji's western block, distinct from the better-known Chilla gate on the eastern (Ganga) side.
How much does a jeep safari from the Ranipur gate cost?
There is a modest per-person park entry/permit fee (reported around ₹150 for Indian visitors, more for foreign nationals) plus a separate charge for the open Gypsy jeep and licensed guide, which is usually shared among up to six passengers and typically runs into a few thousand rupees per vehicle. Rates are revised periodically, so confirm the current permit and jeep charges at the forest office or with a registered operator before you go.
What wildlife can you see on the Ranipur safari?
The signature sighting is the Asian elephant, which Rajaji holds in good numbers. You are also likely to see nilgai, spotted deer, sambar, wild boar and langur, along with rich birdlife — hornbills, woodpeckers, parakeets, peafowl and kingfishers among 315-plus recorded species. Leopard and tiger live here but are shy and rarely seen.
When is the best time to visit and is the park open all year?
The reserve follows a monsoon closure and is broadly open from mid-November to mid-June. November to February gives cool, comfortable drives, while March to mid-June improves mammal sightings around waterholes. The early-morning slot is best for activity. Always confirm opening dates, timings and slot availability with the forest office, as they shift seasonally.
How do I reach the Ranipur gate from Haridwar?
From Har ki Pauri or Haridwar Junction railway station, an auto-rickshaw or taxi to the Ranipur/BHEL gate takes about 20–30 minutes. Shared autos run to Ranipur More, near the gate. Private vehicles cannot go on the safari tracks, so arrange the Gypsy jeep and guide through the forest office or a registered local operator.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near the Ranipur safari?
No food is available inside the forest, so eat in Haridwar, which is a vegetarian and alcohol-free pilgrim city. Hoshiyar Puri and Mohan Ji Puri Wale in Bara Bazar are trusted pure-veg puri-sabzi institutions, pure-veg thali and South Indian restaurants cluster near Har ki Pauri, and simple pure-veg dhabas sit around Ranipur More. Choose busy, freshly-cooked stalls and confirm hours locally.
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