Nanda Devi Wildlife Sanctuary
Location
Located in Garhwal district of Uttaranchal, at the base of Nanda Devi
mountain.
Major wildlife species
Himalayan Tahr, Himalayan Bear, Himalayan Musk Deer and Snow Leopard.
Best Time to Visit
April to October, rest of year being very cold.
A Glance on Nanda Devi National Park
Situated at the base of Nanda Devi mountain, the second highest peak in
India, the Nanda Devi Wldlife Sanctuary is one of the most picturesque
sanctuary in India. The park has a collections of major Himalayan
wildlife species. W.W. Garden was the first person to access to this
region in 1883. But his expedition to the Nanda Devi Peak was not able
to create any major impact. In 1936, Tilman and N.E. Odell scaled the
Nanda Devi once again and made the way for others to follow. The region
became a Game Sanctuary in 1939. In the year 1974 the park became an
open ground of the mountaineers and trekkers. The Government of India
declared this area as a National Park in 1982. Later it was awarded the
special status of a Biosphere-reserve.
Attractions in the Park
Wildlife Attractions
There are more than 80 species of animals in the park. Animal
population of species like bharal, Himalayan tahr, serow, ghoral, snow
leopard, Himalayan black bear, brown bear, leopard, common langur,
Himalayan musk deer, and brown beer dominate the park area.
Floral Attractions
There are more than 300 species of plants, herbs and shrubs in park,
out of which around 20 are rare ones. The forest cover in this park is
mainly restricted to the Rishi Gorge and the main vegetation is of fir,
birch, rhododendron, and juniper. Near the Nanda Devi Glacier, there are
no traces of any vegetation, as the conditions are drier. From Ramani,
the vegetation changes to alpine and only juniper scrubs are the
dominating vegetation. The Juniper scrubs gradually give way to grasses,
prone mosses, and lichens.
Other Attractions
Joshimath, at a distance of around 23 km from the Nanda Devi National
Park, is an important place in any expedition to the higher altitudes of
the Garhwal Himalayas. Badrinath, Valley of Flowers, and Hemkund Sahib
are all wonderful destinations in this region and all can be approached
from the Nanda Devi National Park. The Nanda Devi peak is considered to
be one of the toughest peaks to climb in the world and a favorite
destination of mountaineers from across the globe.
The Park Trip
The park can be explored only by the means of trekking only. The entry
to interiors has been banned, as the site is declared as World Heritage
Site by UNESCO.
How to Reach
The park can be reached by the means of trekking from Joshimath.
Motorable roads are nearest till Joshimath, 23 Km from the park. The
Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, is 295 km from here. Nearest railhead is
Rishikesh, 276 Km away. From these places, one can get taxis and buses
for Joshimath.
Where to Stay
The park has no stay facilities in the vicinity. Good and comfortable
stay is available in Joshimath. There are several hotels, guest houses
and lodges including those of the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam.
