Pin Valley National Park
This is a wild forest that lies high up in the Himalayan mountains. Home to wild animals like the snow leopard and Bharal, Pin Valley National Park is a great place to sight large Ibex herds.
General Information Pin Valley National Park
Declared a National Park in
1987, Pin Valley is located in the cold desert region of the Spiti valley. With its snow laden unexplored higher reaches and slopes, the Park forms a natural habitat for a number of endangered animals including the Snow Leopard and Siberian Ibex. Spreading south of Dhankar in the Spiti district near the Tibetan border, the Park marks the Lahaul and Spiti divisions of the State. The elevation of the Park ranges from about 3,500 mts near Ka Dogri to more than 6,000 mts at its highest point.
Because of its high altitude and extreme temperatures, the vegetation in the area is scant and mostly dominated by alpine trees, patches of Himalayan cedar and smatterings of several medicinal plants. In summer, flowers decorate the valley with startling hues. Along with animals, rare birds like the Himalayan Snow cock, Chukor, Snow Partridge and the Tibet Snow Finch also flourish in the area.
Steeped in history, the influence of Tibetan culture is prevalent in the surrounding areas of the Park, visible in the Buddhist lamas, shrines, monasteries and culture of its residents.
Reaching There
The Park can be approached only on foot from the nearest road terminus at Mikkim. One route to Pin Valley is via Manali, Rohtang Pass and Kumzum La, while another is more commonly used via Shimla, Tapri and Kaza.
