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Great Himalayan National Park

Location: Himachal pradesh

Main Wildlife Attractions: snow leopard, Himalayan brown bear, Himalayan thar, blue sheep

Coverage Area: 1171 sq.kms.

Established: 1984

Best Time to Visit:April to June and September to November

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One of the most popular national parks of India, the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP), is located in Kullu region in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Established back in the year 1984, the national park is spread over an area of 1,171 km2 at an elevation of 1500 to 6000m.



How to reach Great Himalayan National Park

By Air

The Great Himalayan National Park is well-connected to major cities of the country and the world via air. Bhuntar, located 60 km from the park is the nearest airport.

By Rail

The closest railway station to Great Himalayan National Park is Chandigarh Railway Station (296km). From the railway station, buses and taxis are available the station to reach the park.

By Road

The Great Himalayan National Park is well-connected by road. Both state and private buses operate between major regions of Himachal Pradesh to the national park.



The Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (GHNPCA) was accorded the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2014. This honor was conferred upon it taking into account its important and significant natural habitat for the in-situ conversation of Western Himalayan biological diversity. This also includes the threated species from point of view of science and conservation. The Great Himalayan National Park is home to numerous flora and fauna which include around 31 mammals, 181 birds, 3 reptiles, 9 amphibians, 11 annelids, 17 mollusks and 127 insects. Hunting is not permitted in the park as it is protected under the strict guidelines of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

Sparkling rivers and streams flow through its thick green forests. While high snow covered mountains add to its beauty while alpine meadows covered with colorful flowers make it brighter.  The beauty of the park is truly unmatched.

 

Entry Fee of Great Himalayan National Park:

  • Indian Nationals per day: INR 50
  • Foreign Nationals per day: INR 200
  • Indian Students  per day: INR 30
  • Foreign Students per day: INR 100
  • Video Camera / Indian Non-commercial / per day: INR 150
  • Video Camera / Foreigner Non-commercial / per day: INR 300
  • Video Camera / Foreigner Professionals need to contact Park Director for approval and fees
  • Timings: All days of the week 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM

Trekking Trails

A paradise for trekkers, the Great Himalayan National Park is home to a number of trekking trails like Jiwa Nala- Parvati River valley, Neuli- Sarangarh loop, Neuli- Sainj valley, Sainj- Tirthan valley, Gushaini-Tinder village, Gushaini- Shilt Hut, Neuli-Manu temple, Siund- Pashi villages, Gushaini- Tirthan valley and Shamshi- Kaza.

Trekking through this beautiful national park offers tourists a great opportunity to have a glimpse of endangered wild animals of the Western Himalayas. Also, these treks take the trekkers closer to nature as they pass through the villages and thick forests.

There are four valleys in GHNP that offer moderate to challenging treks. Multi-day trekking in the Park needs proper preparation, physical training, good health, and stamina.

Accommodation options

Great Himalayan National Park offers a number of accommodation options to the visitors. There are 14 guesthouses inside the park where visitors can enjoy a pleasant stay. Other than these guest houses, forests guesthouses are available at Aut, Sainj, Sairopa, Banjar and Shangarh.

Tourists also have an option of staying at Kullu, which is located 50 km away from the park. There are a number of accommodation options available in Himachal Kullu. These options range from budget to mid-range to luxury hotels and guest houses.

Flora and Fauna

Flora

Because of wide altitude range and undisturbed habitat, the Great Himalayan National Park houses a great variety of plants. There is a wide variety of vegetation in the park as it is entirely covered up with pines, spruces, horse chestnuts, alpine herbs and more. The park is one of the few places in the Western Himalayas where the forests and alpine meadows are seen in their original state.

Fauna

The Great Himalayan National Park is habitat to more than 375 fauna species. Till date, 31 mammals, 181 birds, 3 reptiles, 9 amphibians, 11 annelids, 17 mollusks and 127 insects have been identified in the park. The park is home to a number of Himalayan fauna that have been protected under the high priority protection category of Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

The park has the largest remaining population of Himalayan Tahr in Himachal Pradesh. Other wildlife species found in the park include Snow Leopard, musk Deer, Blue Sheep, Ibex, Wolf, Leopard, Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta), Common Langur (Presbytis entellus), Himalayan black bear, Goral, Muntjac, and Serow.

The best time for sightings is during autumn (September–November) as animals start migrating to lower altitudes in this season.

Best time to visit the Great Himalayan National Park

Summer season (April- June)

Summer season at GHNP is bright and pleasant. It is a good time for trekking in the park. Also, it is a good time for sighting the Musk Deer, Western Tragopan, Goral, Monal, Bharal, and the Himalayan Thar.

Monsoon season (July, August, up to mid-September):

Monsoons arrive with heavy rains in GHNP. This is why, it is not advisable to visit the Great Himalayan Park during monsoon season.

Winter season (December, January, February)

Winter months at Great Himalayan National Park are very chilly. The place also receives heavy snowfall during this season. Only the lower altitude treks remain open at this time.