Great Himalayan National Park
Location
The Great Himalayan National Park is situated in the Seraj Tehsil of Kullu district in Himachal Pradesh. The park is located at an altitude of 1300 to 6100 m and is around 50 km from the Kullu town.
Best Time to Visit
Though the park is open throughout the year, it should be avoided during the rainy (July to September) and winter season (November to April). During this period, heavy rainfall and snowfall can cause much problems for you. The best time to visit the park is during the summers ( April to June) and autumn ( September to November). During this time, the weather is pleasant and also the snow melts away to clear the path.
About Great Himalayan National Park
The largest protected area in Himachal Pradesh, the park is carved out of the splendid mountain terrain of the Kullu district. Rich coniferous forests, alpine meadows carpeted with flowers, snow-capped peaks and glaciers provide a breathtaking panorama.
The secluded Sainj and Tirthan valleys harbour a variety of animals common to this area - wild mountain goats like the bharal, goral, and serow, the brown bear and predators like the leopard and the rarely seen snow leopard.
Himalayan National Park, Himalayan National Park Himachal Pradesh,Himalayan National Park Tour,National ParksVarieties of colorful pheasants -monal, khalij cheer, tragopan and other Himalayan birds are part of its rich avian population.
Trekking through the Park to Rakte Sar, the origin of the Sainj River, brings in the added pleasure of seeing wildlife in this spectacular natural environment.
Great Himalayan National Park Attractions
Flora
The park is home to a rich variety of vegetation that ranges from subtropical forests at the bottom to alpine and dry alpine forests in the upper areas. Medicinal plants, trees, herbs and shrubs are found in plenty in the Park.
Animals
The star animal attractions of the park includes the Snow Leopard, Blue Sheep, Himalayan Brown Bear, Himalayan Tahr and Musk Deer. Other animals of the park are Serow, Rhesus Macaque, Barking Deer, Goral, Red Fox, Langur, Gray Shrew, Giant Indian Flying Squirrel, Porcupine, Himalayan Palm Civet, Himalayan Weasel and Yellow-throated Marten.
Birds
Birds are a prime attraction in the Great Himalayan National Park. There are around 180 species of birds in the park out of which the most prominent ones are Western Tragopan, Monal Pheasant, Koklas, White-crested Kaleej and Cheer Pheasant. Other birds spotted in the park include Raptors, Shorebirds, Pigeons, Parakeets, Cuckoos, Owls, Gray Nightjar, Himalayan Swiftlets, Fork-tailed Swifts, White-throated Needletail, Eurasian Hoopoe, Brown-fronted Woodpecker, Great Barbet, Scaly-bellied Woodpecker, Himalayan Woodpecker and Speckled Piculet.
The significance of the park as far as its bird population goes can be guaged from the fact that the park constitutes a part of the globally important Endemic Bird Areas identified by the ICDP Biodiversity.
Things To Do
Trekking
This is the only way to explore the wilderness of the park since vehicles are not allowed inside. So, if you want to enjoy the beauty of the park and sight some animals and birds in this park, you need to be perfectly fit physically. A guide will accompany you inside the park to guide you through the terrains which are quiet unknown to you. The difficulty of the trek routes vary from moderate to strenuous. Some of the popular trek inside the park include Sainj Valley Trek ( 66 km and moderate), Sainj Tirthan Valley Trek ( 85 km and moderate to strenuous), Jiva Nala to Parvati River Valley ( 110 km and difficult), Tirthan Valley trek ( 92 km and moderate to strenuous) and lastly Raktisar (92 km and moderate to strenuous).
If you are on a look out for a specific bird, then you can very well consult the park authorities as to which trek will reward you with a viewing. However, one thing to keep in mind is that animals are difficult to see and as such plenty of time should be kept in hand. This will enhance your chances of animal sighting.
