Famous Wildlife Sanctuaries in Uttarakhand
Located by the foothill of the Himalayas, Uttarakhand is blessed with rich biodiversity filled with lush forests and some of the amazing endangered species found around the world. Packed with numerous mountains, dramatic terrains, glaciers, gorging rivers, and placid lakes, this small and beautiful state is an ideal destination to rejuvenate yourself from the daily chaos of life and is an ideal destination for wildlife and nature activities.
With a total of 12 National parks and 9 Wildlife Sanctuaries, Uttarakhand is one of the wildlife destinations in India. Nature lovers get mesmerized with spectacular sights and exotic wildlife spread across the thick forest and twisting roads of Uttarakhand.
Ranging from gigantic to small species, the wildlife of Uttarakhand is made of a ragtag group that will dazzle you beyond a shadow of a doubt. Here one witness the indisputable expressions of the wildlife protected by sanctuaries and reserves and is an ideal destination if you are an avid nature lover, traveler, photographer or wildlife enthusiast.
Not only wildlife, but Uttarakhand is also well-known for renowned Spiritual Centers like Rishikesh and Haridwar situated on the banks of River Ganga.
Apart from the captivating nature and wildlife, Uttarakhand is the home of 2 Conservative Reserves: The Asan Barrage and Jhilmil Tal Conservation Reserve. It also has two world Heritage sites namely Valley of Flowers National Park and Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve offering you the chance to witness some of the endangered and rare species of the world.
Some of the signature species of Uttarakhand are tigers, monkeys, elephants, antelopes, wild sheep, oxen, butterflies, langurs, leopards, etc. Though there are subtle chances to spot a tiger or a leopard you will find elephants and antelopes almost everywhere.
Here you will also witness some of the endangered species like Musk Deer, Snow Leopard, Ghorals and Monal. Uttarakhand will undoubtedly satisfy your thirst to witness wildlife.
1. Govind National Park
Also known as Govind Pashu Vihar, this National Park was established on 1st March 1955 as a home to protect the endangered species. Among all the wildlife sanctuaries and National Parks in Uttarakhand, this particular park is known for its exceptional flora and fauna.
Spread over an area of 957.969 sq. Kms, the national park is an appendage of the Upper Tons Valley. This sanctuary witnesses heavy snowfall and the temperature here reaches a maximum of 25.1-degree centigrade during summers and falls down as low as 10-degree centigrade during winters.
Enriched with more than 15 species of mammals, 150 species of birds, exceptional medicinal plants, this National Park is one of the sought after destinations for tourists and wildlife enthusiasts. Here you will witness Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan snow leopard, brown bear, musk beer, Bharal, Himalayan tahr, serow.
Among some of the endangered species, here you will find koklaas pheasant, monal pheasant, bearded vultures, golden eagle, Himalayan snowcock, western tragopan, black eagle, steppe eagle and many more. Apart from the wildlife, the captivating mountains and glaciers are among the few of the sights worth witnessing.
2. Jim Corbett National Park
Perfectly cradled amidst the foothills of the Himalayas, Jim Corbett national park is one of the oldest national parks of Uttarakhand. This famous park is named after the famous naturalist and photographer Jim Corbett.
Divided into five zones, this park is filled with lush greenery and uneven mountains with varying heights. The majestic view of the Tigers with all its wildness is the ultimate attraction of this park. It is one of the few tiger reserves in India that allows an overnight stay in the lap of Mother nature.
Here you will witness more than 580 varieties of bird species making it a heaven for bird lovers.
At this park you will also witness, barking deer, spotted deers, chinkara, sambar and a variety of different kinds of od species. Along with the onshore animals, different types of aquatic reptiles can also be spotted in this park.
Suggested Tours in Corbett
3. Rajaji National Park
Renowned for its pristine scenic beauty and rich bio-diversity, Rajaji National Park is situated along the foothills of the Shiwalik range in The Himalayas. Named after the famous freedom fighter Late Sri C. Rajgopalachari, this National Park is an amalgamation of 3 sanctuaries, i.e. Chilla, Motichur, and Rajaji.
Blessed with tigers, elephants, leopards, ghorals and deers, this park is nothing less than a paradise for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. With around 400 species of birds like Black-bellied Tern, Great Hornbill, Scaly Thrush, and more, there is no doubt about the fact that this national park will make your trip worth remembering.
Spread over an area of 820.42sq km, this National Park sis the home of 23 species of mammals and magnificent ecosystem.
Located in the beginning of the vast Indo Gnategic plains and Shivalik ranges, here you will witness the vegetation of several distinct zones and different forest types like riverine forests, sal forests, board-leaved mixed forest, grassy and scrublands. Rajaji National Park is an ideal destination for wildlife conservatives, nature lovers and eco-friend lists.
4. Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary
Located in the banks of river Yamuna, Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary is the first conservative reserve established in 2005. Popular for winter migrated birds, Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary is listed as an Important Bird Area.
With a total area of 4.5 sq.km area, this sanctuary was established as a small man-made wetland at the convergence point of Rivers Yamuna and Asan in Dehradun.
Also known as Dhalipur Lake, this sanctuary is a heaven for bird lovers, with a large number of migratory and resident wildfowl.
With over more than 251 bird species, it is not uncommon to witness as many as 8000 waterfowl with high species diversity.
