Great Himalayan National Park

The Great Himalayan National Park, established in 1984, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the "outstanding significance for biodiversity conservation". The Park includes altitudes ranging between 1500 meters to 6000 meters. The Reserve also comes under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, and is part of the Bird Life International’s Western Himalaya Endemic Bird Area. The park chiefly encloses the crucial Western Himalayan Temperate Forest ecoregion and constitutes one of the most vulnerable Himalayan hotspots. The inception to inauguration journey of the sanctuary took 20 years and was filled with detailed surveys, assessments and consensus. In 1984, it was decided that a buffer zone comprising National Park will be built up in the region, and by 1988 settlement proceedings and local community rights were established. The park was finally inaugurated and opened for public in 2004, and garnered its 7th Natural Heritage Site of India status in 2014, thereby making it the youngest national park in the country. The ecosystem of the Park depends on several factors like the temperature, climate, altitude, soil, etc. Therefore, there are several varieties of flora and fauna that are found on the land. For example, there are about 25 different types of forests and associated wildlife existing therein. About 31 species of mammals, 209 species of birds, 09 species of amphibians, 12 species of reptiles and almost 125 types of insects have been discovered within the reserve’s periphery. It must be noted that the park includes the Sainj Wildlife Sanctuary and the Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuary within it, included in the year 1994. Common animals of the altitude include animals such as mountain goat, blue sheep, snow leopard, Western Tragopan, Himalayan brown bear, Himalayan tahr, and musk deer.

The Great Himalayan National Park is located in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh in India. It extends to an area of 1171 square kilometers and is the newest National Park of the country. The park is located on the western side of the Himalaya Mountain range in the Seraj Forest Division and boasts of exquisite variety of flora and fauna, due to the different altitudes, temperatures, climate and soil. It is also a part of one of the globally cited hotspot of the region.The Great Himalayan National Park comprises of four valleys: The Tirthan Valley, the Sainj Valley, the Jiwa Nal Valley and the Parvati Valley. All these valleys have specified trekking spots that can be reached through vehicles. The park is located 60 kilometers from Kullu, 113 kilometers from Manali, 241 kilometers from Dharamshala, 243 kilometers from state capital Shimla, 296 kilometers from Chandigarh and 523 kilometers from national capital New Delhi. To those travelling via roadways can reach Chandigarh (connected to New Delhi via NH 1) and then take NH 21 to reach Aut (Mandi District). From there, buses and private taxis can be hired to reach Tirthan Valley, where the park is located. Additionally, deluxe buses are available from both New Delhi and Manali to reach Aut. The nearest rail head is the Joginder Nagar Railway Station at 143 kilometers near Mandi district. The stop has regular trains running from Delhi and Chandigarh. To the ones who want to enjoy the Toy Trains, can reach Pathankot Railway Station and then travel to Joginder Nagar in toy trains. It is a 10-hour journey through the beautiful Kangra Valley and the other panoramic views of the highlands. Other nearby railway stations are the Chandigarh Railway Station and the Shimla Railway Station. The nearest airport from the park is the Bhuntar Airport near Manali, located 63 kilometers away from the park. Other than this, tourists can opt for reaching Chandigarh or New Delhi via flights and then take buses to Aut.

The Great Himalayan National Park does not provide for any kind of safari or vehicular navigation. The only way to enjoy the park is through the single and multi-day trekking. There are four valleys in the park. Gushaini, located 52 kilometers from Aut, is the trekking point from the Tirthan Valley. It is accessible all year round via the road. Neuli is the trekking point from the Sainj Valley and located 46 kilometers from Aut. There is a bus service for this trek point. The Siund Village in Jiwa Nal Valley is the third trekking point of the park. It is located 35 kilometers from Aut. The last trekking point is the Barshaini or Pulga Village in the Parvati Valley. The multi-day treks are advisable only for those hale and hearty, as they involve tiring climbing that requires stamina. Additionally, trekkers might also face unwarned fluctuations in temperatures. One must be very cautious and thoughtful in the selection of tents, clothing and other amenities when preparing for the multi day treks. There are varying charges for tent pitching starting from Rs. 75 per day per tent, in addition to a common security amount of Rs. 500. Even for entering the park, permit has to be taken, and there are additional charges for still and video camera.

Monsoons are never a good time to visit any hilly area due to the increased risks of landslides, route blockage and slippery climbs. The Great Himalayan National Park is no exception to this. Despite that the park generally remains open for 24 hours throughout the year (in case otherwise incepted), monsoon months from July to September are strictly not advisable for a visit. The winter months, conversely, are extremely cold. Hilly areas are almost always renowned for lower temperatures, and the weather in the region of the park is extremely chilly and experiences heavy snowfall. The summer months, from March to June and October are therefore the most preferred time to visit the park. The temperature remains mild and pleasant, and these are the months when trekking is allowed within the Park.

The Great Himalayan National Park is a newly founded park (comparatively) in India, that is under extreme protection by both national and international organization. What makes the park unique is its location in the alpine regions, and the resulting panorama and breathtaking views. There are only a handful of such territories located in the world, and are of extreme biodiversity importance, because of the vivid and varying life that they bore. There are several species of wildlife that is a resident of these areas alone, and are not found in the plainlands. Not to mention the exotic nature that are situated unharmed in the bosom of the mountain ranges. To anyone who seeks solace and quiet, while spending some quality adventurous time roaming through the nature, this reserve is a place not to be missed.