The Great Himalayan National Park

Constituted in the year 1984, The Great Himalayan National Park was formally notified as a national park in the year 1999. Situated in the Banjaar Sub-Division of Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh, the national park is one of the most recent additions to the huge network of wildlife reserves founded in the Himalayan region of India. The national park is a beautiful habitat of alpine flora and fauna and was enumerated as the World Heritage site by UNESCO in the year 2014.

Attractions
Encircled by Rupi Bhaba Sanctuary, Pin Valley National Park and Kanwar Wildlife Sanctuary, the Great Himalayan National Park is located at an altitude of 1500-6000 meters and offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.

In 1994, some part of the land was delineated from the park area and labeled as buffer zone or eco zone. The eco zone of Great Himalayan National Park consists of 160 villages.

The National Park boasts of a unique ecological aspect, with four valleys namely, Sainj Valley, Tirthan Valley, Jiwa Nal Valley and Parvati Valley. The Park is home to over 180 bird species, some rare mammals including Himalyan Brown Bear, musk deer and snow leopard along with a number of invertebrate, reptiles and rare amphibian species.

What makes the national park an ideal retreat from the usual metropolis life is its verdant oak and rhododendron forest, gushing water streams, unpolluted air and sweeping view of the pristine Himalayan peaks.

Another factor that makes this park a must visit among the nature lovers, and wildlife enthusiasts is its rich flora and multitude of wildlife.

The Great Himalayan National Park also offers plenty of ecotourism activities to try out from. From relatively easy walks in the ecozone to moderate and tough trekking trails spanning over several days, there are an array of ecotourism activities to choose from.

The habitat inside this National Park varies from lush Oak, Conifer and Rhododendron forests to alpine meadows and from sweeping valleys and gushing water streams to high altitude glaciers.

Entry Fees
For Indian nationals, the entranced fee of the park is INR 50 per person per day. An additional charge of INR 150 per day is also taken for carrying video camera for non commercial purpose.

For Foreign Nationals, the entrance fee is fixed at INR 200 per person per day. For carrying non-commercial video camera, foreign national need to pay an extra amount of INR 300 per day.

How to reach
By Air - The nearest airport to the Great Himalayan National Park is at Bhunter located 63 kilometers away but it is not well connected with any major airline service.
By Train - There are 2 ways to reach Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) through train. One is via train to Chandigarg, and another way is to reach Pathankot.
By Road - Great Himalayan National Park is well connected by road. Both state run and private bus service operate regularly from Delhi, Shimla, Chandigarh, Manali and Dharamsala.