6 National Parks in Uttarakhand The state of Uttarakhand is known for its wildlife, which is a key draw for visitors. The state is blessed with vast swaths of greenery, which support a diverse range of wildlife. Uttarakhand contains six national parks and four wildlife sanctuaries in total. Jim Corbett National Park is a prominent Uttarakhand national park where you have a good possibility of seeing a tiger because it is also a tiger reserve.
Similarly, wildlife safaris may be enjoyed at Kedarnath Sanctuary, Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajaji National Park, Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary, Askot Wildlife Sanctuary, and Nanda Devi National Park. Because of their diverse ecosystems, Valley of Flowers National Park and Nanda Devi National Park have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
During your wildlife tour, you’ll get to meet a wide range of flora and fauna. Uttarakhand is noted for being home to a diverse range of animals and birds, in addition to being a religious destination and beautiful splendour. Goats, sheep, oxen, different butterflies, antelopes, Musk Deer, Ghorals, Snow Leopards, and Monals are just a few of the endangered and unique wildlife species found in Uttarakhand.
Jim Corbett National Park: Watch The Tigers
Jim Corbett National Park, which is at the top of the Uttarakhand national park and wildlife sanctuary must-see list, is a wildlife lover’s dream. The National Park’s huge length was originally established to safeguard Bengal Tigers. But, over time, a diverse range of extraordinary and unique fauna from around the country found a home in this location. You’ll be surprised to learn that this 6 National Parks in Uttarakhand contains over 500 plant species, 590 bird species, and rare wild animals such as Himalayan Black Bears and Rhesus Macaques. Enjoy the famous elephant ride in this National Park, and if you book ahead of time, you may also embark on a Jeep safari.
Facts & Figure About Corbett National Park
- The Project Tiger was launched in 1973 and Corbett National Park become the first such Tiger Reserve in the country
- Flora found in the Corbett National Park includes approx 488 different species of plants
- Top elevation of the park ranges from 1300 ft to 4000 ft
- Sprawl over an extent of 520 sq .km, its whole area comprises of hills, marshy depressions, riverine belts, grasslands and large lake
- Corbett and its adjoining area is a home to more than 650 species of residents and migratory birds
Safari Zones of the Corbett National Park: The park administrator has divided the area into five different safari zones in order to promote tourism in the region. There areas are segmented as a core area or buffer zone of the park where wildlife lovers can cherish the magnificent beauty of the park. The Jeep/Elephant safari zones are named as BIjarani Safari Zone, Jhirna Safari Zone, Dhela Safari Zone, Dhikala Safari Zone, Durga Devi Safari Zone and Sitabani Safari Zone.
Rajaji National Park: Admire The Natural Beauty
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 6 National Parks in Uttarakhand.
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.
Valley Of Flowers National Park: See Colorful Valleys
Valley of Flowers is located in Chamoli district (near Badrinath) of Uttarakhand, approximately 300 km to the north of Rishikesh. Valley of flowers is a World Heritage Site for its wild untamed blooms surrounded by white peaks. It is open from June to September every year.
At the meeting point of the Himalayan ranges, Zanskar and Western and Eastern Himalayas, the valley of flowers discovered by Mountaineer Frank S Smith in 1931 has been declared a world heritage site for its wild untamed blooms surrounded by white peaks. Famous for its exotic varieties of medicinal herbs, it is also believed that Hanuman brought Sanjivani to the ailing Lakshmana from the valley of flowers. A perfect place to laze around the umpteen number of Himalayan water-falls, streams and paddocks and let the beauty of the place sink in, 6 National Parks in Uttarakhand.
Entry Fees:
- INR 150 for Indians and INR 600 for foreigners (for three days)
- Timings: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Best Time to Visit:
The months of June to October are the most suitable time to explore Valley of Flowers National Park in Uttarakhand.
Nanda Devi National Park: A World Heritage Site
Nanda Devi National Park is also located in the Chamoli District of Uttarakhand. It is not only the best national parks in Uttarakhand, but also a popular UNESCO World Heritage Site. With an unique and exotic range of flora and fauna such as Brahma-Kamal and Bharal (the blue mountain goat), this place has exceptional experiences for you in store.
And while you are visiting Nanda Devi National Park, make sure your camera is completely charged and so are you on energy, because the restricted entry to this place makes it only once in a lifetime opportunity, 6 National Parks in Uttarakhand.
Entry Fees: NA
Timings: 4:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Best Time to Visit: The months of May to October are the most suitable time to explore Nanda Devi National Park.
Things to Do at Nanda Devi National Park:
- Trekking
- Witness the spectacular glaciers
- Admire the famous peaks around the park
Gangotri National Park: Witness The Different Species
Coming to the Gangotri National Park means involving yourself in a nature walk on a boulder-strewn valley, flanked by lush hills replete with eye-catching forests. While walking through this park, you will see many birds flying about their normal day, and an occasional blue sheep may stray in your path too! If walking is a hectic activity for you, a jeep ride will work the same wonders of showing you the many attractions that make up for the unrivalled beauty.
And if you are having a rough day, a sight of the many streams that adorn the park will surely allay all the worries in that mind of yours. All this makes it one of the best national parks in Uttarakhand. A fun fact? It is the biggest national park in Uttarakhand.
Gangotri being the place of origin of River Ganga, this national park offers brilliant views of the flowing rivers, which are quite enough to sooth your eyes and rejuvenate your mind and body 6 National Parks in Uttarakhand.
- Entry Fees: INR 150
- Entry Fees: INR 150
Best Time to Visit: An ideal time to explore Gangotri National Park is the months from April to October.
Things to Do at Gangotri National Park:
- Nature walk
- Sightseeing
- Capturing the unique species of mammals
Govind Pashu Vihar National Park & Sanctuary: Admire Valleys
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 6 National Parks in Uttarakhand 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.