Primary Himalayan forests unlimited! From foothill to 3200 meter. Combine it with the inner valleys and a snow-covered pass at 4200 meter and the low terai where the highlands meet the plains. Best birding road of the world?
As professional photographers our needs are many and specific, but your office staff, guides and drivers worked in concert to meet our constant demands.We appreciate your expertise and friendly customer service for making our trips to India so successful. Jami Tarris & Theo Allofs, Canada - 2007
The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP), situated in Himachal's Kullu region, is India's newest park. It is an overlap of four ecological zones - the Oriental and Palearctic belt, the dry deserts of interior Asia and lush lowlands of the Indian plains, the high plateau of Tibet and Western Himalayan peaks and the catchment areas of the Beas and Sutlej rivers. Because of its complex geography and great altitudinal variation (5000 to 20000 ft) in such a small area, the park exhibits great biological diversity, from subtropical to the alpine with characteristics of Siberian to Southeast Asian species.
The park lies adjacent to the Rupi Bhaba Sanctuary, Pin Valley National Park and Kanawar Wildlife Sanctuary. Together, these areas constitute one of the largest tracts of relatively undisturbed Western Himalayan ecosystems in India. Its remote location has spared the park many of the problems that have affected natural ecosystems elsewhere in India.
The terrain, characterized by high ridges, deep gorges, precipitous cliffs, rocky crags, glaciers and narrow valleys, supports diverse Himalayan wildlife. Apart from species like Tahr, Serow, Bharal (Blue Sheep), Goral, the much sought-after Musk Deer and the Snow Leopard, the park is also renowned for its rich community of pheasants. The endangered Western Tragopan, the Himalayan Monal and the Cheer Pheasant, all nest here. The best months to visit are September to November (when the rainy season is just over) and April to June.
Fauna:
Notable mammals include Serow, Himalayan Thar, Goral, Bharal, Indian Pika, Giant Indian Flying Squirrel, Himalayan Black and Brown Bear, Leopard, Red Fox, Himalayan Palm Civet, Yellow Throated Marten, Musk Deer and Snow Leopard.
Over 200 bird species have been recorded in Great Himalayan National Park that includes spectacular pheasants such as Cheer Pheasant, Himalayan Monal, Koklass, Khaleej Pheasant and the endangered Western Tragopan. Other birds are Black and Yellow Grosbeak, Rufous Breasted Accentor, White Collared Black Bird, Spotted Nutcracker, Red-billed Chough, Eurasian Hobby, Himalayan Griffon and the Lammergeier.
Flora:
The park has extensive forest cover with numerous tree species that include subtropical Chir Pine, Coniferous and mixed deciduous woods of the temperate zone. Green and white oaks mingle with horse chestnut and walnuts amidst tall deodar and blue pines. The forest gradually transforms into smaller sized birches and rhododendrons with occasional grassy patches of the sub-alpine zone. Above this level are alpine meadows, splashed with a great variety of tiny flowers and medicinal herbs. Still higher is the realm of rock, ice and strong winds.
Fact sheet:
State : Himachal Pradesh Area : 1171 sq. km (Combining Core and buffer forest) Altitude : 1300 to 5805 m above mean sea level Vegetation : Coniferous, Temperate and Alpine Meadows Water resources : Jiwa, Sanj and Tirthan river and numerous snowfed streams Winter : November to March Summer : June to August Monsoon : August to September Rainfall : 1500 mm Temperature : Min Sub 0 °C - Max 30 °C
