| Great Himalayan National Park |
| Visiting the park The Great Himalayan national park (GHNP) is located in central Himachal Pradesh, 60 km from Kullu and 75 km from Mandi. Although most people visit the park by booking in tour in Manali or Shimla, it is possible to travel there independently and arrange your trip yourself. The park is easily accessible from Mandi or Kullu with regular bus services daily (see the transport section for more details). The main route to the park involves traveling from either Mandi or Kullu to the small town of Aut. After Aut, the next village is Banjar and 10 km further on the road ends at the village of Gushaini where the main trail into the park begins. At Banjar there is accomodation, a few small restaurants and internet facilities. On the road between Banjar and Gushaini is the Sai Ropa tourist lodge (see below). Visiting the park can be difficult to do on a low budget. During the summer the prices asked by the guides can go up to around Rs 3000 a day, making a trip into the park an expensive experience. One possibility is to visit the park during the winter months. December to February is considered low season time and prices drop to more affordable levels. However, the weather during this period can get extremely cold, especially at night. A good sleeping back and several layers of warm clothes are advisable if you choose to make your trip in winter time. Tourist Centres The Park has two centres for tourists, one at Sai Ropa and another at Larjee. Sai Ropa is located 5 km away from Banjar and 5 km before the Gushaini entrance to the Park. Entrance tickets, permits and guides can be arranged at both these locations and there is accommodation available at the Sai Ropa tourist centre (see to sleep section for more details). Guides A guide is compulsory when making any kind of trip into the park. Guides will be arranged for you at the tourist centre at Sai Ropa. Alternatively, you can find your own guide by asking around in the villages of Banjar and Gushaini. In the low season you should be able to get a guide for around Rs 500 a day. In the high season, prices can go up to Rs 3000 a day. Entrance Fees There are fees for entering the Park and additional fees for cameras, video, and filming. Prices are liable to change, check with Park officials for the latest entrance fees and requirements. Current Rates for the entry into the Great Himalayan National Park Per person: Rs 200 per day Student Charges: Rs 100 per day Still Camera: Rs 150 Video Camera: Rs 2000 Permits Entry to this protected region is by permits, which can be obtained, either from the Director's Headquarter at Shamshi or from the range officers stationed at Sai Ropa, Banjar and Sainj. Insurance Officially all multi-day foreign visitors must provide evidence of insurance coverage in the event that emergency medical or evacuation procedures are needed. However, during low season this will rarely be checked. |
| About the Park The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) covers an area of 765 sq Kms. The park is enclosed on the northern, eastern and western boundaries by the Greater Himalayan range. The altitude varies greatly, from 1300 m to 6100 m. More than half of the area is above 4,000 meters with most of the eastern part perennially covered with snow. The park forms part of the boundary between four ecological zones: (1) the dry deserts of interior Asia and the well-watered lowlands of the Indian plains (2) the Oriental and Palearctic faunal realms0 (3) the high plateau of Tibet and the jumbled Himalayan peaks (4) the catchments of the Beas and Sutlej Rivers, both tributaries of the Indus. The topography of this region is characterized by dazzling high ridges, glaciers and deep gorges. It is one of the largest areas of relatively undisturbed Western Himalayan eco-systems. With its natural beauty, and dedicated conservation, the Park is a virtual treasure for the researcher, the nature lover and the adventure seeker. GHNP is a major source of water for the rural and urban centers of the region with four major rivers of the area originating from the glaciers in the Park. It is also a source of sustenance and livelihood for the local community living close to GHNP. In addition to lumber, the forest environment provides local people with Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) such as honey, fruit nuts, bark of birch and yew, flowers and fuel wood. The habitat shelters a large number of mammals. It is possibly the only place in the Himalayas where the 'Bharal' (blue sheep) occurs virtually side-by-side with the Himalayan 'Thar'. The largest population of the Himalayan Thar (endemic to India) is in this park. The endangered Musk Deer can also be found here. The elusive and highly endangered Snow Leopard has also been reported. |
