Fast Facts
Location : Chamoli District, Uttaranchal.
Area : 630 sq. km
Major Attractions : Leopard, Snow Leopard, Himalayan Black
Bear etc.
Best Time To Visit : April to October.
Eco Tourism Fee : Rs. 60 per adult and Rs. 30 per student,
for seven days.
Tent Fees : Rs. 50 per tent, per day, Rs.100 per tent, per
day for camping.
Introducing Nanda Devi National Park
Set
amidst the upper Himalayan ranges in the Garhwal division of Uttaranchal,
the Nanda Devi National Park is a paradise for the nature lovers, tourists
as well as pilgrims. Over the years, the park gave the Nanda Devi hill the
aura of a forbidden territory, an untouched and unseen holy place. India's
second highest mountain peak Nanda Devi has been revered for thousand of
years as a manifestation of Lord Shiva's wife, Parvati, whose father was
Dunagiri.
Eric Shipton and HW Tilman, were the first person to step inside this inner
sanctuary. They discovered a route up the Upper Rishi Ganga Gorge in 1934.
Two years later in 1936, Tilman and NE Odell made the first ascent of Nanda
Devi, since then, many people have attempted to climb the Nanda Devi peak.
In 1939, this region became a sanctuary called the Nanda Devi Sanctuary.
By the early 1960s and 70s, the sanctuary became a favourite haunt for
trekkers and climbers and the local residents and shepherds from the nearby
villages were also frequent visitors to this sanctuary. Alarmed by the
piling garbage and the ecological damage caused by the people, the
government banned entry to this sanctuary and declared it a national park in
1982. Due to its unique high altitude floral and faunal species, the
national park was awarded the status of a Biosphere Reserve and a declared a
UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.
Flora of the Park
Nanda Devi National Park is home to around 312 floral species and 17 of
them are regarded as rare. Main vegetation found in the forests are of Fir,
Rhododendron, Juniper and Birch. There is almost no vegetation near the
Nanda Devi Glacier and the conditions are even drier in the inner part of
the park. Inside the park, from a place called as Ramnani, the vegetation
changes to alpine and further only juniper scrubs dominate, which gradually
give way to grasses, prone mosses and lichens.
Fauna of the Park
Around 80 animal species and several bird species have been spotted here
over the years. Faunal species found in the park area are Leopard, Snow
Leopard, Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan Tahr, Himalayan Musk Deer, Common
Langur, Brown Bear, Bharal, Goral, Serow etc.
Nanda Devi National Park also provides shelter to a number of avian
species. Bird species which you can spot here are Rose Finches, Ruby Throat,
Grosbeaks and Warblers.
Activities You Can Take Part In
Though Nanda Devi National Park offers limited leisure activities to the
visitors but whatever available here are enough to thrill you. During the
summers, trekking through the park is a perfect leisure option for you. You
can also stay in any nearby village such as Rainee and Lata where people are
friendly and expenses will never exceed Rs 500. If you can beat the cold,
then October and November are the best months for watching wildlife.
Nearby Attractions
Rainee Village : Located close to the park, Rainee Village
is renowned as the launch pad of the famous Chipko movement. From here, on
25th March, 1974, Gaura Devi led the women of her village against the timber
contractors, by hugging the trees that the government had marked out to be
cut.
Lata : Lata is the another popular village near the park.
It houses the Nanda Devi's idol in an ancient temple.
Where to Stay
Accommodation is not available in the park area, but if you wish, you can
stay with the villagers. Close to the park at Joshimath, plenty of
accommodation options are available in hotels, guest houses and lodges
including those of the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam.
How to Reach
Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun (270 kms) is the nearest airport from Nanda
Devi National Park. There are several flights which connect Dehradun with
Delhi. Nearest railway stations from the park are Rishikesh (276 kms) and
Haridwar (300 kms). From Dehradun, Haridwar and Rishikesh, you have to take
the road route to reach the park. Good motorable road connect the Joshimath,
nearest town from the park with towns like Dehradun, Rishikesh and Haridwar.
From Joshimath you have to trek to reach the national park.
