Great Himalayan National Park

The park officially known as the Jawaharlal Nehru Great Himalayan National Park, was established in1984 in Kulu district. Bounded by the towering peaks of the Himalayas on three sides with an entrance from the west, the park covers an area of 620sq.km.of the previously-established Tirthan Sanctuary. The park which lies in the Seraj Forest Division in the upper catchments of the rivers Thirthan, Jiwa and Sainj has an altitude varying from 1500 to around 6000 meters with snowy mountains, glaciers, river valleys, cliffs and dense forest.

The vegetation here ranges from deciduous forests of blue pine and cedar, oak and bamboo and grass meadows covered with wild flowers. The fauna consist of wild mountain goats and sheep like the Himalayan thar, bharal, goral and serow, musk deer, leopard, brown and black bears, wolf, flying squirrel, langurs, rhesus macaques and snow leopards which are rarely seen.

 The birds both indigenous and migrant variety are found including the Western tragopan, monal pheasant, cheer pheasant etc.

Special permits from the Park Director at Shamsi or the range officers at Larji, Sairopa, Banjar or Sainj are required by tourists for entrance to the Great Himalayan National Park. No vehicle is allowed inside the park. Visitors has 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.