Great Himalayan National Park is a renowned one among various
Indian national parks. The park is better known as the Jawaharlal
Nehru Great Himalayan National Park. It was established in Kulu
district in the year 1984. The lofty peaks of the
Himalayas on three sides enclose it with an opening from the
western side. The park covers an area of 620sq.km.of the Tirthan
Sanctuary, set up in the previous century. The park lies in the
Seraj Forest Division; The Sainj and theTirthan are two narrow
rivers that have their origin in Himalayan massif and merge into the
larger Beas River; about 50 km south of the renowned hill station of
Kullu. Great Himalayan National Park constitutes the catchments
forest of these two rivers and their adjoining tracts. It has an
altitude ranging from 1500 to around 6000 meters with snow-clad
mountains, glaciers, river valleys, cliffs and dense forest.
As per comprehensive wildlife surveys of
the early 1970s , Great Himalayan National Park has been proved to
be ideal abode of several endangered species in this area.
Interestingly, it hosted five species of pheasants, including the
vividly colored western tragopan and the Cheer Pheasant. They can be
easily distinguished due to their huge, wide blocked tail and
elongated crest.
Great Himalayan National Park has a
plethora of green vegetation and beautiful flowers. The vegetation
here ranges from deciduous forests of blue pine and cedar, oak and
bamboo and grass meadows. The fauna constitute of wild mountain
animals like the Himalayan thar, bharal, goral and serow, musk deer,
leopard, brown and black bears, wolf, flying squirrel, langurs,
rhesus macaques.
Numerous birds are found in the Great
Himalayan National Park numerous birds of Indian origin and also
some special migratory birds are found in the park. Koklass, Cheer,
Kalij, Himalayan Monal, Kalij Pheasant, Himalayan Snowcock, Hill
Partridge, Yellow-billed Chough, Grandala, Spotted Nutcracker,
Yellow-billed Blue Magpie. Grey Treepie, Large Hawk Cuckoo,
Scaly-bellied Woodpecker, Great Barbet, Speckled Wood Pigeon,
Striated Laughingthrush, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush,
White-collared Blackbird, Plain Crossbill, Black-and-yellow
GrosbeakHimalayan Monal and Western Tragopan are all found here,
along with a variety of other forest birds. Among the hunting birds,
Himalayan Griffon, Lammergcier, Golden Eagle, Booted Eagle, Common
Kestrel, Oriental Hobby, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Collared Owlet, Tawny
Owl are quite famous.
More than forty categories of
mammals find their resort in the park. The Snow Leopard is found in
the areas of high altitudes with in the park. More frequently
sighted are Brown Bear are also occasionally seen grazing on the
green grounds, especially during the seasons of spring and early
summer. Serow is a `goat -antelope species`, found in the plain
areas of the park. . The hornless Musk Deer is endangered specie
that has been found in the park. Other mammalian species include
Leopard, Himalayan Black Bear Brown Bear, Himalayan Tahr, Goral,
Serow, Musk Deer, Bharal (Blue Sheep), Indian Flying Squirrel, Red
Fox, Himalayan Palm Civet, Leopard-cat and Himalayan Weasel.
Also birds like Spotted Forktail, Brown Dipper, and
White-capped Water Redstart etc gather in huge droves near riverside
areas.
To enter the Great Himalayan National Park, the
tourists require special permits from the Park Director at Shamsi or
the range officers at Larji, Sairopa, Banjar or Sainj. No vehicle is
allowed inside the park. Visitors have to go on foot accompanied by
Guides, which is compulsory, and the entrance is allowed only
between sunrise and sunset. A popular trek through the beautiful
wilderness is to Rakte Sar, the origin of the Sainj river. The
Forests Department provides camping equipment and guides. It is
advisable to stick to the best season from September to November /
April to June as the winters are too cold and the monsoons bring in
landslides and muddy trails.
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