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.
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Wildlife 
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