Located in the Western Himalayas, after which this park is named Great Himalayan National Park Close to both Kullu and Manali Himachal Pradesh And it is the ideal place for your next wildlife trip.

The park is a safe haven for more than 31 species of mammals and 209 species of birds, each of which has adapted to the mountains in its own way. You may also get a chance to see some of the truly awe-inspiring titans of the Himalayas, be it the Himalayan brown bear or the elusive snow leopards that inhabit the region.

If you are an avid bird-watcher, you may also want to keep an eye out for the variety of Himalayan birds that visit here during the off-season. According to their official website, it includes many vibrant and iconic species such as long-tailed minivets, yellow-bellied fantails, wallcreepers, white-collared and grey-winged blackbirds and many others.

Best time to visit Great Himalayan National Park

Probably the best time to visit GHNP would be during the months of April, May, June and then October and November. If you are not really used to cold weather, you may want to avoid timing your visit between December to March as GHNP experiences heavy snowfall during these winter months.

Area in the Great Himalayan National Park

The largest area within the Great Himalayan National Park may be the ecozone, which is a buffer zone that includes a number of isolated villages and lands within a 5 km radius around the park. Trekking is probably the best way for you to explore this area. There are several trekking and hiking routes within the park.

Although you can opt for a short 2-day trip through some routes, the longer trip can take up to 9 days and goes deep into the heart of the park to the source of the rivers. Of course, for non-trekkers who want to enjoy the experience of camping in the Himalayas, there is also an option to explore the “night under the stars” in the ecozone of GHNP.

Permits and Accommodation

While staying in the Great Himalayan National Park, you can only stay in tents as there are no guest houses, hotels or forest rest houses within the park premises. During all treks (and camping), you will be sleeping in imported, lightweight European tents with sleeping mats and sleeping bags. The equipment is safe and comfortable and is built for even harsh weather conditions. The tents are carried by porters who are part of the staff that runs along all the treks.

Hotels near Great Himalayan National Park

Before or after your trek in GHNP, you can find accommodation outside the park. You have a choice of homestays and guesthouses in the area. With the recent development (post Covid) in Tirthan Valley, you can also find hotels around the park. Sai Ropa, at the GHNP office in Tirthan Valley is a government managed guesthouse with a few rooms and a dormitory, just 15 minutes from the start of the trek at Gushaini.

Also read: Your safari guide to the exotic wildlife paradise of Natangki in Nagaland

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