National Parks in Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is home to 5 national park.

Table of Contents

Great Himalayan National Park

Location: Banjaar Sub-Division, Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh, India; western Himalayas; junction of Indomalayan (south) and Palearctic (north) biogeographic realms.
Protected Area: Established by the Government of Himachal Pradesh in 1984.
National Park: Declared in 1999 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
UNESCO Status: Inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2014.
Wildlife Sanctuaries: Sainj Wildlife Sanctuary located within the park; bordered by Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuary to the southeast.
Area: ~1,171 sq.km (452 sq miles).
Valleys: Tirthan Valley; Parvati Valley; Jiwa Nal Valley; Sainj Valley.
Rivers: Tirthan River; Sainj River; Jiwa Nal River; Parvati River.
Plants: Deodar, Blue Pine, Chir Pine, Oak, Rhododendron, Maple, Himalayan Blue Poppy (endemic species).
Animals: Snow Leopard, Himalayan Brown Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan Tahr, Musk Deer, Bharal (Blue Sheep), Serow, Himalayan Griffon Vulture.
Special Fact: World’s largest known population of the Western Tragopan is found in the upper reaches of the park.

Location: Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh, India; situated in the Kullu Valley.
National Park: Established in 2010.
Area: ~104 sq.km (40 sq miles).
River: Beas River passes through the park.
Plants: Deodar, Blue Pine, Silver Fir, Spruce, Oak, Maple, Rhododendron, Bamboo.
Animals: Common Leopard, Himalayan Ibex (Siberian Ibex), Brown Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, Mountain Deer, Mountain Goats.

Location: Parvati Valley, Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh, India; flanked by Great Himalayan National Park and Pin Valley National Park.
National Park: Established in 2010.
Area: ~710 sq.km (274 sq miles).
Elevation: ~5,500 meters.
River: Parvati River.
Hot Springs: Near Khirganga village; known for therapeutic properties.
Plants: Deodar, Blue Pine, Silver Fir, Oak, Maple, Horse Chestnut, Rhododendron.
Animals: Snow Leopard, Himalayan Brown Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan Ibex, Bharal (Blue Sheep), Himalayan Tahr, Musk Deer, Himalayan Monal, Western Tragopan, Himalayan Griffon.

Location: Lahaul and Spiti District, Himachal Pradesh, India; cold desert region of Spiti Valley; surrounded by Pir Panjal and Parvati ranges.
National Park: Established in 1987; part of Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve; only national park in Himachal Pradesh located in cold desert.
Area: ~675 sq.km (261 sq miles).
Elevation: 3,500–6,000+ meters.
Hills: Pir Panjal Range, Parvati Range.
River: Pin River (tributary of Spiti River, which joins Sutlej River).
Plants: Juniper, Willow, Poplar, Birch, Alpine meadows, Alpine tundra.
Animals: Snow Leopard, Siberian Ibex, Bharal (Blue Sheep), Weasel, Red Fox, Marten, Pika, Snow Cock, Bearded Vulture, Himalayan Chough.

Location: Paonta Valley, Sirmour District, Himachal Pradesh, India; foothills of Shivalik Range.
Wildlife Reserve: Created in 1958.
Wildlife Sanctuary: Designated in 1974.
National Park: Established in 2010; also known as Col. Sher Jung National Park; created to protect Goral habitat.
Area: ~27.88 sq.km (10.76 sq miles).
Plants: Sal forests.
Animals: Tiger, Leopard, Goral, Sambar, Himalayan Black Bear, Fan-throated Lizard.