Here HP Exam Adda has provided you with detailed article about National Parks in Himachal Pradesh. There are 5 National Parks in Himachal Pradesh. It is expected from the aspirants of competitive exams that they knew about the geography of Himachal Pradesh. National Parks in Himachal Pradesh is an important topic from which question is asked in almost all the competitive exams of Himachal Pradesh.
There are five National Parks in Himachal Pradesh.
1.) Great Himalayan National Park (Kullu)
2.) Khirganga National Park (Kullu)
3.) Inderkilla National Park (Kullu)
4.) Pin Valley National Park (Lahaul & Spiti)
5.) Simbalbara National Park (Sirmaur)
National Parks in Himachal Pradesh
1.) Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP)
- Great Himalayan National Park is located in Kullu Valley (formed by Beas River) covering an area of over 1171 square kilometers. It is the largest National Park of Himachal Pradesh.
- The park was established in 1984 and was formally declared a National Park in 1999.
- It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2014.
- It includes the upper mountain glacial and snow melt water source origins of the westerly flowing Jiwa Nal, Sainj and Tirthan Rivers and north-westerly flowing Parvati River.
- Great Himalayan National Park is known for its rich variety of flora and fauna.
- It is home to several rare and threatened species including the western tragopan, chir peasant, snow leapord, Himalayan musk deer, Asiatic black bear, Himalayan tahr, blue sheep and serow. Some 25 IUCN red-listed plant species are recorded from the park.
- It is situated at the confluence of Oriental and Palaearctic* realms.
To Read More About :- Great Himalayan National Park
2.) Khirganga National Park
- Khirganga National Park is located in Kullu district covering an area of 710 square kilometers. It is the second largest national park of Himachal Pradesh.
- It was established in 2010.
- It is situated in Parvati river valley of Kullu District.
- It is flanked by Great Himalayan National Park and Pin Valley National Park.
- The park includes high-altitude meadows, alpine forests, and snow-capped peaks.
- Parvati Parbat (6632 m) is situated in this national park.
- The park is home to a variety of forests ranging from sub-tropical to alpine. The lower elevations of the park are covered in sub-tropical forests, which are characterized by broad leaved trees such as oak, maple and chestnut. At higher elevations these forests give way to coniferous forests dominated by species such as blue pine, deodar and spruce. Above the treeline, there are alpine meadows and shrubs.
- Major Fauna : Snow Leopard, Himalayan Musk Deer, Himalayan Tahr, Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan monal, Western tragopan, Himalayan Snowcock, Golden eagle.
To Read More About :- Kirganga National Park
3.) Inderkilla National Park
- Inderkilla National Park is located in Kullu Valley (formed by Beas River), the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh.
- This national park was established in the year 2010. It covers an area of 104 square kilometers.
- Beas River Passes through Inderkilla National Park. It is major source of water for wildlife in the park.
- Hampta Valley is in this National Park. Hampta Pass connects Kullu and Spiti .
- Major Fauna : Black Bear, Snow Leopard, Himalayan Brown Bear, Himalayan Tahr, Musk Deer, Himalayan Ibex (Siberian Ibex).
- Vegetation : Inderkilla National Park is adorned with a variety of vegetation, including mixed coniferous forests, moist temperate deciduous forests, subalpine fir forests and rolling alpine pastures. Juniper and Rhododendron are prevalent throughout the area.
To Read More About :- Inderkilla National Park
4.) Pin Valley National Park
- Pin Valley National Park is situated in Spiti Valley of Lahaul & Spiti District.
- It was established in the year of 1987 and covered an area of 675 square kilometers.
- Pin Valley is the only National Park in Himachal Pradesh which is situated in the cold desert area.
- Pin Valley National Park is renowned for the protection of endangered Snow-Leopard.
- Pin Valley is characterized by alpine pasture or dry alpine Scrub Forest.
- Major Fauna :- Blue Sheep, Ibex, Snow-Leopard, Red Fox, Golden Eagle
- Pin River is a tributary of Spiti River (a tributary of Sutlej).
- The Chham dance and Buchen dance are very famous dances in the valley.
To Read More About :- Pin Valley National Park
5.) Simbalbara National Park
- Simbalbara National Park is located in the Paonta Valley of Sirmaur District, Himachal Pradesh along its border with Haryana.
- Established in 1958 as a wildlife reserve and later was re-established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1974.
- It was declared a National Park in the year 2010.
- It covers an area of 27.88 square kilometers.
- It is also known as Col. Sher Jung National Park.
- Vegetation :- Dense Sal forests and lush green grassy pastures.
- Major Fauna :- Goral, Sambhar, Spotted Deer, Chittal, Hanuman langurs, Nilgai (Blue Bull), Leopard.
To Read More About :- Simbalbara National Park
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