National Parks in Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand is home to 6 national parks.

Table of Contents

Gangotri National Park

Location: Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, India; Garhwal Himalayas; upper catchment of Bhagirathi River.
Name Origin: Named after Gangotri Glacier, one of the primary sources of the holy River Ganges.
Temple: Gangotri Temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga is located within the park.
National Park: Established in 1989.
Area: ~2,390 sq.km (920 sq miles).
Hills / Peaks: Shivling, Thalay Sagar, Bhagirathi Group of Peaks, Meru.
River: Bhagirathi River.
Lakes: Kedartal, Gaumukh Tal, Vasuki Tal.
Valley: Nelong Valley; Gartang Gali located near Indo-China border.
Flora: Alpine Meadows, Deodar Cedar, Blue Pine, Silver Fir, Rhododendrons, Birch, Willow.
Animals: Snow Leopard, Black Bear, Brown Bear, Himalayan Tahr, Musk Deer, Bharal (Blue Sheep), Ibex.

Location: Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, India; Garhwal Himalayas; bordered by Tons River (west), Yamuna River (east), Himachal Pradesh (north).
Name Origin: Named after Indian freedom fighter and politician Govind Ballabh Pant.
Wildlife Sanctuary: Established in 1955 as Govind Wildlife Sanctuary.
National Park: Declared in 1990.
Area: ~958 sq.km (370 sq miles).
Hills / Peaks: Swargarohini, Black Peak, Bandarpunch.
Valleys: Tons Valley, Har Ki Dun Valley.
River: Tons River.
Lake: Ruinsara Lake.
Flora: Oak, Himalayan Oak, Banj Oak, Himalayan Maple, Indian Maple, Deodar, Blue Pine, Spruce, Alpine Flowers.
Animals: Snow Leopard, Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan Brown Bear, Himalayan Tahr, Serow, Musk Deer, Bharal.
Special Feature: One of the remaining strongholds of the Himalayan Bearded Vulture.

Location: Nainital district, Uttarakhand, India; Kumaon and Pauri-Garhwal regions; foothills of the Himalayas; between Siwalik Himalayas and Terai region; spans Patli Dun Valley and Ramganga River basin.
Historical Significance: India’s first national park; Asia’s first national park.
Name Origin: Named after Jim Corbett, British-Indian hunter, naturalist, and conservationist.
Hailey National Park: Established in 1936, named after Sir Malcolm Hailey.
Ramganga National Park: Renamed in 1954–1955.
Corbett National Park: Renamed in 1956.
Tiger Reserve: Declared in 1973 (Corbett Tiger Reserve).
Area: 520 sq.km (core area of Corbett Tiger Reserve).
Hills: Nainital Hills, Bhimtal Hills, Naukichital Hills, Rishikesh Hills, Sattal Hills.
River: Ramganga River, Sonanadi River, Mandal River, Palain River, Kosi River.
Valley: Patli Dun Valley.
Tourism Zones: Bijrani Safari Zone, Jhirna Safari Zone, Dhela Safari Zone, Dhikala Zone, Durga Devi Zone, Sitabani Buffer Zone.
Plants: Sal, Sheesham, Khair, Rohini, Dhak, Jamun, Fig, Arjun, Amla, Harad, Bel, Dhikala Grasslands.
Animals: Tiger, Elephant, Leopard, Barking Deer, Sambar Deer, Hog Deer, Chital, Sloth Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan Goral, Gharial, Mugger Crocodile, King Cobra.

Location: Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India; Garhwal Himalayas; part of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Name Origin: Named after Nanda Devi Peak (7,816 m), second highest peak in India and highest in Uttarakhand.
Historical Use: Area around Nanda Devi Peak declared as a game sanctuary in 1936 by British colonial government.
National Park: Established in 1982 (initially named Sanjay Gandhi National Park, later renamed Nanda Devi National Park).
UNESCO Status: Designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
Biosphere Reserve: Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve declared in 1988 along with Valley of Flowers National Park.
Area: 630 sq.km (240 sq miles).
Hills/Peaks: Nanda Devi Peak, Devistan I, Devistan II, Rishi Kot.
Rivers: Rishi Ganga River, Dhauli Ganga River, Alaknanda River.
Plants: Rhododendron, Juniper, Birch, Fir, Spruce, Alpine Flowers.
Animals: Snow Leopard, Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan Musk Deer, Himalayan Brown Bear, Bharal (Blue Sheep), Himalayan Tahr, Mainland Serow.

Location: Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri Garhwal districts, Uttarakhand, India; nestled between the Shivalik ranges and the Indo-Gangetic plains.
Name Origin: Named after C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji), prominent leader of the Indian independence movement.
Historical Use: Established as a protected forest reserve in 1948, known as Rajaji Wildlife Sanctuary.
National Park: Chilla Wildlife Sanctuary, Motichur Wildlife Sanctuary and Rajaji Wildlife Sanctuary were merged and upgraded to Rajaji National Park in 1983.
Tiger Reserve: Declared as a tiger reserve in 2015, second tiger reserve in Uttarakhand after Jim Corbett.
Area: 820 sq.km (316 sq miles).
Hills/Ranges: Chilla Range, Motichur Range, Rajaji Range, Shyampur Range.
Rivers: Ganges River, Song River, Suswa River.
Lakes: Jhilmil Jheel, Chilla Barrage.
Tribe: Van Gujjars.
Plants: Sal, Shisham, Khair, Semal, Rohini, Khagra, Chir Pine.
Animals: Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant, Leopard, Dhole, Goral (Mountain Goat), Sloth Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, Sambar Deer, Hyena, Black Napped Hare.

Location: Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India; western Himalayas; Pushpawati River valley.
National Park: Declared in 1982.
UNESCO Status: Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005; part of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve.
Area: 87.50 sq.km (33.75 sq miles).
River: Pushpawati River.
Lake: Hemkund Lake (Sikh pilgrimage site, near the park).
Plants: Brahma Kamal, Blue Poppy, Cobra Lily, Himalayan Blue Poppy.
Animals: Snow Leopard, Asiatic Black Bear, Brown Bear, Musk Deer, Blue Sheep, Red Fox, Yellow-throated Martens.