National Parks In India

Great Himalayan National Park

Over 375 species of fauna have their abode in the Great Himalayan National Park. The species being identified and recorded by now are 31 mammals, 3 reptiles, 181 birds, 9 amphibians, 17 mollusks, 11 annelids and 127 insects that belong to six orders. The Himalayan fauna has been protected under the high degree protection of Schedule I as per the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Hunting has been banned by the Himachal Pradesh state government for over a period of ten years and the ban still remains. If one covers a trek of 35-45 km in the Park's valleys that takes one into the habitat of high altitude (3,500m and above) animals like blue sheep, Himalayan brown bear, snow leopard, Himalayan tahr, musk deer etc. The best sights can be availed in autumn (September-November) because animals begin their seasonal migration towards lower altitude. The amazing ecological feature of the Western Himalaya is the establishment of the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) in the district of Kullu of Indian mountain state, Himachal Pradesh. These characteristics include biodiversity, inaccessibility, less human populations, tourism to a small extent and the local economy which is based on livelihoods that is traditional.

An infinite number of individuals have been inspired by the Himalayas for millennia. They have been the tallest, largest and geologically even the youngest mountains found on this planet. In our country, they are considered as Dehvbumi i.e. the home of gods. The Himalaya is also one of the most fragile mountains of the world having an immense repository of biological diversity. 

General Information

State	Himachal pradesh
District(s)	Kullu
Established	1980
Nearest city	Kullu
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area	1,171 sq km
Elevation	3500m and above
Climate
Precipitation	Heavy
Temperature
Summer	8 degree to 10 degree
Winter	below zero degree

 

History

The Himachal Wildlife Project (HWP) in 1980, did a survey on the upper Beas region to mark the boundaries of the park. The areas that comprise of the watersheds of Sainj, Jiwa and Tirthan rivers fell under the Great Himalayan National Park in the year 1984. Beginning from a 1,700 m altitude above the average sea level, the highest peak of the Park reaches almost 5,800 m. The National Park at present engrosses an area of 754.4 sqkms and is naturally defended on the eastern, northern and southern boundaries by permanent steep ridges covered by snow. For the purpose of conservation, a 5 km broad buffer area, which extends from the western part of the Park, has been categorized as the Eco Zone or Eco development Project Area (EPA). The EPA has an area of 326.6 sq km (including 61 sqkms of Tirthan wildlife sanctuary) with about 120 small villages consisting of 1600 households having a population of around 16,000. Because, the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972 does not allow any habitats in the National Park. There are two villages however technically "outside" the National Park, but are physically situated between two parts of GHNP. Thus, the total area of the National Park administration found is 1,171 sq km. About twenty years were taken from inception to inauguration for the purpose of GHNP and to be considered as part of Indian National Park system. Here is a brief timeline that follows:

1980: In the Banjar area of Kullu, preliminary park survey of the watersheds of Tirthan, Sainj and Jiwanal  1983: the Park Survey continued Park  in the Banjar area of district of Kullu

1984: Notice by Himachal Pradesh state for the intention to create Great Himalayan National Park with buffer zone.

1987: Premier Management Plan of the Great Himalayan National Park.

1988: Settling Proceedings as well as settlement of rights of local communities 

1992: The Himachal Wildlife Project re-assessed wildlife diversity, collection of herbs, livestock grazing and took a review of the existing plans of management.

1994: The Government of Himachal Pradesh revised the Notice of intention for including the Sainj Wildlife Sanctuary as well as the upper Parvati watershed. 

1994-1999: Conservation of Biodiversity Project (CoB), the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun conducted research for assisting the Park management.

1999: Declaring Award upon accomplishment of Settlement Proceedings. Monetary compensation for individuals having rights of forest produce in the area of park, which included a package for giving alternative income generation activities to everyone living in the Eco development Project Area or Eco zone.

Final Notice of the Great Himalayan National Park. The GHNP became the latest National Park of India. 

The Conservation of Biodiversity (CoB) Project gets completed on 31st December, 1999.

Best Time To Visit

Usually, the climate of the Park remains pretty temperate so the best time to visit is in Spring from April to May and Fall from September to October.

Entrance Fee

There is an entrance fee for entering the Park and there are additional charges for video, cameras and filming. The charges for Indian nationals are comparatively lower than the foreigners. One can check with Park officials for the details.

Distance from - National Park

By Road From Delhi

Around 500 kms by road (14+ hour trip).

Approximate Distances From GHNP

Air Port :Bhuntar (Kullu), 50 kms.

Railhead :Joginder Nagar (Mandi), 100 kms. 

Town :Kullu (District HQ), 60 kms.

How To Get There

The beginning point for any trekking or visiting GHNP is the Kullu Valley region in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The region is easily accessible by air and road. There is a recommendation for a pre-trek meeting at headquarters of GHNP in Shamshi (near Kullu).

By Road from Delhi- Approximately 500 kms by road (14+ hour trip)

One can reach from Delhi to Chandigarh by National Highway 1, then to Aut in Mandi district by NH 21. The Swarghat and Chandigarh towns can be targeted for a stay towards the trip. Through the road journey in the mountains of Himachal one can avail good sights of Gobindsagar Lake nearby Bilaspur, which is followed by beautiful Bahl Valley. After Pandoh, the small town, Aut, from where a link road reaches the bridge over River Beas River into the Banjar valley one can reach the Park. The trip can be commuted by a private vehicle. There are Private as well as state run buses available. For details contact the tour guides and books available.

By Air

There is an air service available from Delhi and Chandigarh to Bhuntar.

Approximate Distances From GHNP

Air Port: Bhuntar (Kullu), 50 kms.

Railhead: Joginder Nagar (Mandi), 100 kms. 

Town: Kullu (District HQ), 60 kms.

Things To Do In - National Park

GHNP provides a number of opportunities for experiencing the natural environment of Western part of Himalayas. For real beauty of this unique place, one must go out into the landscape and go for day hikes or multi-day treks. For detailed information have a look at the Eco Tourism module.

The Park and Kullu region avails amazing opportunities for watching birds, wildlife views, cultural tours, religious pilgrimages and having a view of local crafts as well as craft creation. One has options of rafting, fishing, climbing, views of local architecture along with sacred groves. The Park facilitates its tourists with a tourist center at SaiRopa and also an Information Center at Larjee.

The SaiRopa Tourist Center

SaiRopa situated 5 kms from Banjar and 5 kms before the entrance of Gushaini to the Park. Established in the pine forest, the Tourist Center covers over 3 hectares area. It is the headquarters of Tirthan Wildlife Range Office from where one can avail entrance ticket for the Park. The Center has a Forest Rest House, a house for two dormitories (20 beds in all), a conference hall, photo exhibition and a hall meant for photo exhibition related to the Park. There is a 520 m long "Biodiversity Trail" outside, which has medicinal plants and trees transplanted from the Park, a pergola (gazebo) with view of Tirthan river, site for solar energy demonstration and a butterfly enclosure.

The Larji Information Center

Larji looks after the tourists visiting GHNP. It consists of a hall along with training and projection facility for school children, tourists as well as for the village community. It is situated for orientation from Neuli or Gushaini. There is a small hall having Park educational displays. The Park brochures, entry tickets and posters can be availed here. The information is displayed in the open area of the Center, called a pergola  or gazebo.

Places Of Religious Importance

GHNP region consists of a unique cultural mystique. The remote villages consist of Devta or deity institutions which are respected by local people. The Eco zone villages of Ghat seri and Lapah have sacred tree groves. There is a temple as well as a community ground in most of the villages. Some of the old temples exhibit great architectural interest for the tourists like Manu Rishi, thePagoda style temple, Thakur's tower of Shenshar valley, the temples of Galiard and Gushaini having wooden carvings in Tirthan valley. There are, however, market forces and modern television culture seen in the villages now and affect the ancient Devta institutions and village councils.

Pilgrimage Sites

There are sites located at high altitudes which are accessible only in months of Summer and Fall. There is no permission for leather articles in the nearby areas. The 3 major sites are:

- Raktisar, at the headwaters of the Sainj river,

- Hanskund, at the headwaters of the Tirthan,

- SirikhandMahadev, a lake on the southern border of the Park.

Location Map

Accommodation

Rest Houses/Transit Accommodation

Other Rest houses/transit accommodation are available in the vicinity of the Park and include:

Forest Rest House,

Aut. c/o Divisional Forest Officer, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh

Public Works Department Rest House

(PWD RH), Larji. c/o Executive

Engineer, Kullu Division No II,

Kullu, Himachal Pradesh.

PWD RH

Banjar - Larji. c/o Executive

Engineer, Kullu Division No II,

Kullu, Himachal Pradesh.

Forest Rest House,

Sainj c/o Divisional Forest Officer,

Seraj, Banjar, Dist. Kullu, Himachal

Pradesh.

Forest Rest House,

Bandal c/o Divisional Forest

Officer, Seraj, Banjar, Dist. Kullu,

Himachal Pradesh.

Transit Accommodation,

Sairopa c/o Director,

GHNP, Shamshi,

Dist. Kullu,

Himachal Predesh.

One Room Accommodation At Lapah Village In Sainj Valley

c/o Director, GHNP,

Shamshi, Dist. Kullu, Himachal

Pradesh.

PWD Rest House

Bathad. - Assistant Engineer,

Banjar (Kullu), Himachal Pradesh.

Village level private guest houses are being developed at Shangarh and Gushaini. Gushaini presently has one good private guest house run by Mr. Rajiv Bharti.

Weather

The usual climate of the Park is temperate so the best time to visit is the Spring Season (April-May) and Fall season (September-October). There are monsoon rains brought by summer and winter invites colder temperatures along with the possibility of snow storms that might be dangerous, especially at higher altitudes. The park is insulated within the valley of Kullu, and hence it has its own microclimate.

Photo Gallery