One of the newest national parks in India, the Great Himalayan National Park lies in the Kullu region of Himachal Pradesh. It covers an area of 754 sq km that mostly comprises coniferous forests. The terrain is marked by snowcapped mountains, river valleys and cliffs. The national park is a great trekking destination – in particular Sainj and Tirthan valleys. Camping in the alpine forests is an unforgettable experience for most visitors. Four rivers originate from the glaciers in the park. The Himachal Wildlife Project established the boundaries of the park in 1984. The park has a five km buffer area, earmarked for conservation. The national park is considered an important site for community based biodiversity conservation.
Wildlife attractions
This area has many important wildlife species of western Himalayas, like musk deer, brown bear, goral, thar, leopard, snow leopard, bharal, serow, monal, kalij, koklas, cheer, tragopan, snow cock, etc.
Permits: Permits can be obtained from the office of park director at Shamsi, or the range officers at Larji, Sairopa and Sainj.
When to visit: April to June and September to November are the best months.
Accommodation: Accommodation within the park is limited. There are many forest rest houses in the park and also in Aut, Sainj, Sairopa and Shangarh.
How to reach:
Air: The nearest airport is Kullu which is just 60 km from the park.
Rail: While there is a small station of Jogindernagar nearby, the major railhead is Chandigarh.
Road: Kullu is well linked by bus service to Shimla, Chandigarh, Delhi and Ambala. For reaching the park, you can take a vehicle from Kullu to Gushaini or Neuli. From there you need to walk as no vehicles are allowed inside the park.
