Great Himalayan National Park

Fast Facts

Location: Kullu region in the state of Himachal Pradesh

Area: 1,171 km2

Nearest airport: Kullu

Nearest town: Gushaini

Safari: Treks

Entry Fee: INR 50 (per day) for Indian Nationals and INR 200 (per day) for Foreign Nationals (Extra fee for cameras and guides)

Best time to visit: May to June

Number of fauna species: 375 species of animals

Number of avifauna species: 209 bird species

Located in the Kullu district of north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, the Great Himalayan National Park is the latest national park established originally in 1984. Spread in an area 1,171 km2, it stands high at an above sea level ranging between 1500 to 6000m. The park also covers 160 villages with about 2300 houses, which is its Ecozone.

Climate

The climate is a mix of alpine type and Western Himalayan temperate with the seasons being divided into 4 categories: Spring (April-June), Rainy/Summer (July-September), Autumn (October-November) and Winter (December-March). During the winter season, the park receives snow even at the lower levels and around 2 m deep snow at higher elevations. The temperature ranges between -10 to 40 degrees Celsius, with January being the coldest and June being the hottest months of the year.

Wildlife

The national park is home to over 375 fauna species including 31 mammals, 209 birds, 127 insects 3 reptiles, 3 slugs, 11 annelids, 9 amphibians and 17 mollusks.

Mammals

The park houses around 31 species of herbivores, which are its main attractions. The list of mammals includes the Himalayan Goral, the Himalayan Tahr- a wild goat and the Bharal or the Blue Sheep. These mammals are prey for Common Leopards and Snow Leopards. Himalayan Black Bears and Asiatic Brown Bears are also found here.

Birds

The birds at Great Himalayan National Park play an important role in the biological diversity and are also a prime attraction amidst those who love bird watching. The Park is well- known for birds like the endangered Western Tragopan, four species of Pheasant, Monal, Raptors, Himalayan Griffon Vultures, Golden Eagles and with Lammergeiers.

Invertebrates

Popular as providers of ‘ecosystem services’, the invertebrates have a prime role in the maintenance of a number of life processes and the food chains of the park. The park houses mollusks, earthworms and leeches, other than the flying insects.

Amphibians

The National Park is known for having various kinds of vertebrate fauna that includes various Threatened and regionally endemic species. Himalayan Toad (Bufo Himalayanus Gunther) and Marbled Toad (Bufo Stomaticus) are two of them.

Reptiles

Kashmir Rock ( Laudakia tuberculata Agama), Himalayan Ground (Scincella himalayanus Skink ), Eastern Keelback (Tropidonotus platyceps Blyth), Himalayan Pit Viper(Halys himalayanus Gunther) are some of the reptile species that can be found in the Great Himalayan National Park.

Flora in Great Himalayan National Park

The national park houses an amazing diversity of plant life, mainly because of its vast altitude range and undisturbed habitats. The lower valleys have pines, spruces, and horse chestnuts, along with alpine herbs and junipers as well as a vast variety of vegetation. Some plants of the park are famed for their medicinal properties. Around 17 percent of the area of the park is forest with dominance of alpine area, rocky peaks, meadows and rocky-peaks. Over 125 families and 425 genera of higher plants have been found in the park area.

Wildlife safari inside the park

Because of its natural wonders, the Great Himalayan National Park is the perfect place for hikers and trekkers with a vast variety of amazing experiences. The trail in the forest begins from around a day’s walk in the Ecozone going up to difficult treks for a week or even longer than that. You can explore lush oak, conifer and bamboo forests, alpine meadows; free-flowing rivers and snow glaciers at high altitudes. The park has a diverse terrain and geology.

Park treks

There are some very famous GHNP trek routes that have been embarked upon by the staff of the Park along with foreign visitors. However there are other routes too. The minimum but the best trek is about 5 days. Following are the popular trekking routes:

Sainj valley (5-day trek)
Sainj-tirthan valleys (Moderate to difficult 8-day trek)
Gushaini to shilt hut (Easy to Moderate 3-day trek)
Jiwa nala to parvarti river valley (Very strenuous, 7-day trek)
Up to tirath/tirthan valley (Moderate to difficult 8-day trek)
Raktisar in sun valley (Moderate to Strenuous)

Entry Inside The Great Himalayan National Park

Entry in the protected area of the park is possible only by permits, that can be gained from either the range officers stationed at Sairopa, Banjar and Sainj or from the Director's Headquarter at Shamshi. You can also ask for guides from the authorities for which you will have to pay a token fee along with the entry fee. The rolling terrains of the national park have several vantage points, perfect for clicking as well as spotting wildlife.

Entry fee

The entry fee for Indian Nationals is INR 50 (Per Day) and INR 200 (Per Day) for Foreign Nationals. You have to pay extra for cameras and guides.

Around the park

The area adjoining the park is the Ecozone area that comprises of 106 villages that are economically dependent on the resources of the park. The state government of Himachal Pradesh and a number of NGO’s have assisted the villagers in creating alternative economic resources.

The Ecozone is the perfect place to indulge in a number of activities like wildlife spotting, bird watching, pilgrimages, craft creation, cultural tours and interacting with the local craftsmen. You can choices to go for such as fishing, rafting, climbing, enjoying a village festival, admiring local architecture and several pious groves. Enjoy a walk in these beautiful villages.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit the park is from the month of May to June. The park receives a lot of rain between the months of Jul and Sep and trekking can become quite difficult in some parts. The higher altitude area of the Great Himalayan National Park is closed from October to April.

How to reach

By Air:

The nearest airport to the park is in Kullu, around 50 kms away that is connected with prime cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, Dharamsala, Shimla and Pathankot. You can hire taxis to reach GHNP.

The nearest international airport is in Delhi, about 550 kms in distance. The airport is well-connected to chief domestic and international destinations by air. From Delhi airport, you can hire taxis to reach the park.

By Rail:

The nearest railway station to GHNP is in Mandi, about 100 km away but from here you only get trains for Chandigarh. Thus a better option Chandigarh which is connected to all the main cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Allahabad, Kolkata, Kalka, Lucknow and even more. From Mandi, you can take a taxi to go the park.

By Road:

Kullu is located at a distance of 50 kms from the park GHNP. HPTDC runs buses that connect Delhi, Ambala, Chandigarh, Pathankot, Shimla, and other regions to Kullu. Both public and private buses are available from Kullu to Aut from where you can hire taxis till Neuli or Ghushaini. The national park is at a walking distance from here.

General tips

No firearms, weapons, firecrackers or pets allowed
No teasing, feeding or molesting animals
No tape recorders or CD players allowed except in rest houses (at a low pitch)
Hunting or poaching is banned
Do not cause harm to flora, fauna, or the boundary marks in the park
Entry into the park needs prior permission
All trekkers should be accompanied by certified guides
Read literature and book guides before entering the Park
Any incident of forest fire must be reported to the nearest Forest Officer
Avoid any kind of littering in the Park
Cooking fires should be under the control of trek leader
Use 2-foot deep pits to collect personal elimination and burn the toilet paper after use.