Endowed with a variety of seductive landscapes and climates, Himachal Pradesh has visibly distinct physiographic zones that are home to numerous animals and plants. This variable topography has resulted in breathtaking views and allowed a wide variety of wildlife to wander. From the trans-Himalayan wilderness to lush deodar forests to snow-fed rivers and glacial lakes, the state’s great topographic diversity has made it a nature-lover’s paradise.
If you want to catch a glimpse of exotic wildlife, Himachal Pradesh is the place to be. The wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in Himachal provide a perfect opportunity to witness wild and strange animals in their natural habitat.
Covering an area of 37,691 square kilometers, there are currently 32 national parks, 2 wildlife sanctuaries and 3 game reserves in Himachal Pradesh. These are:
1. Great Himalayan National Park
One of the most important wildlife parks in India, the Great Himalayan National Park was established in the year 1984 in the Kullu region of Himachal. In June 2014, this natural site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. This biodiversity park, which extends over an area of 754 square kilometers at an altitude of up to 6000 meters above sea level, is home to more than 370 species of fauna, the most famous of which are the snow leopard, the bharal and the grizzly. , musk deer, monal, tragopan and snow rooster.
2. Pin Valley National Park
Located within the Lahaul and Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh, Pin Valley is a cold desert biodiversity park, the only one in the state. With freezing temperatures for most of the year, it is a vast sparsely populated landmass, famous in large part for the presence of snow leopards and ibex. It is important to note that the national park does not receive foreigners and even national tourists require a permit to enter.
3. Suketi Fossil Park
Suketi Fossil Park, which is sometimes also known as Shivalik Fossil Park, is a national geo-heritage site in the Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh. The fossil park is home to numerous skeletons and fossils of vertebrates, all of which were recovered from the middle and upper Shivalik formations. It displays an exhibit of six life-size fiberglass prehistoric animal models. Within its facilities there is also a museum that contains the skeletal remains of different mammals.
4. Renuka Wildlife Sanctuary
The Renuka Wildlife Sanctuary is located at a distance of 40 kilometers from Nahan in the Sirmour district. Covering an area of more than 4,000 square kilometers, the wildlife sanctuary is located in the lower Himalayan ranges and is protected by the sacred Renuka Lake. It is said to have large populations of brown bears, barking deer, leopards, and jackals, among many others.