Great Himalayan National Park, Kullu - Timings, Safari Cost, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 14 km from Gushaini, 63 km from Bhuntar, 75 km from Kullu, and 113 km from Manali, the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) is a high altitude national park situated in Himachal Pradesh. It is one of best national parks in India, and among the must-include places in Kullu sightseeing packages.

The Great Himalayan National Park spreads across Parvati valley, Thirthan valley, Sainj valley & Jiwa Nal valley of Kullu region. It is one of the best national parks in Himachal. The park was established in 1984 and is spread over an area of 754 sq km at an altitude varying between 1500 to 6000 m. GHNP was formally declared a national park in 1999. In June 2014, the Park was declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The GHNP is situated adjacent to Pin Valley National Park, Rupi-Bhaba Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Tirthan and Sainj Wildlife Sanctuaries, making it one of the biggest areas for wildlife conservation in the whole Himalayan range. It is one of the best wildlife sanctuaries near Delhi.

The Park is home to more than 375 fauna species including approximately 31 species of mammals and 181 species of birds. More than 15,000 residents of 160 villages in the buffer zone are dependent on GHNP's natural resources. The fauna of the park includes some of the most exotic species of animals like snow leopard, blue sheep, Himalayan brown bear, Himalayan tahr, musk deer, goral, and many others. The bird species found in GHNP include golden eagles, Himalayan griffon vultures, lammergeyers, raptors, etc.

There are no roads that lead directly to the Park boundary, access is by foot mainly through its western boundary. The park has four main entry points; Gushaini (40 km from Aut) is the road head for trekking in the Tirthan Valley, Neuli (40 km from Aut) is where trekking trails in Sainj valley start. Siund village (30 km from Aut) is the starting point for treks in the Jiwanala Valley and Barshaini is the preferred starting point for the trek up to Mantalai and the Pin - Parvati Pass in Parvati valley.

Trekking is the only way to enjoy and explore the Great Himalayan National Park. The park offers hikes and treks, ranging from one day to 8 days. Adventure seekers can also participate in activities like rappelling, river crossing, Rock climbing, and fishing. There are many trails within the park. Gushaini - Tinder village, Gushaini - Shilt Hut, Gushaini - Tirthan valley, Neuli - Manu temple, Neuli - Sarangarh loop, Neuli - Sainj valley, Sainj - Tirthan valley, Siund - Pashi villages, Jiwanala - Parvati River valley, and Shamshi - Kaza are some of the famous trails. A major attraction is the Pin - Parvati Pass trek. Three important pilgrimage spots within the GHNP are Raktisar, Hanskund, and Srikhand Mahadev.

GHNP offers limited accommodation options. There are 14 guesthouses inside the park with basic facilities, which can be used for shelter after getting the required permission from the park officials. Forest guest houses are also available at Aut, Sainj, Sairopa, Banjar, and Shangarh. Visitors are advised to carry tents if they intend to stay inside the GHNP.

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 Sairopa, Banjar, and Sainj. Guides are provided by the authorities and a token fee is charged as an entry fee.

This Park is best visited between April-June and September-October. Not suggested visiting in monsoons (July to Aug) due to heavy rains and in peak winter (Dec to Feb) as there will be heavy snowfall.

Entry: 6 AM - 5 PM

Entry Fee: Rs. 50 for Indians and Rs. 200 for Foreigners

More details on trekking trails: http://greathimalayannationalpark.com/park-treks