Your Safari Guide To Exploring The Wonders of The Great Himalayan National Park. Credit: Canva
Located in the Western Himalayas from which this park derives its name, The Great Himalayan National Park is close to both Kullu and Manali in Himachal Pradesh and is the ideal spot for your next wildlife getaway.
The park is a safe haven to over 31 species of mammals, and 209 species of birds, each of which have adapted to the mountains in their own way. You might even get a chance to check out a few truly awe-inspiring titans of the Himalayas, whether it’s the Himalayan Brown Bear or the elusive snow leopards in this region.
If you’re an avid bird-watcher, you might also want to keep an eye out for the variety of Himalayan birds that land here during the off-season. According to their official website, this includes many vibrant and distinguished species like the Long-tailed Minivets, Yellow-bellied Fantails, Wallcreepers, White-collared and Gray-winged blackbirds, and many more.
Best Time to Visit The Great Himalayan National Park
Possibly the best times to visit GHNP would be during the months of April, May, June, and then October and November. If you’re not really accustomed to cold weather, you might want to avoid timing your visit between December to March as GHNP receives heavy snowfall during these winter months.
Zones in The Great Himalayan National Park
The largest zone within the Great Himalayan National Park may be the Ecozone, which is a buffer zone that includes a number of different villages and lands within a 5km radius around the park. Trekking is possibly the best way for you to explore this zone. There are several trekking and hiking routes within the park.
Although you can opt for a short 2-day trek through some routes, longer treks can take up to 9 days and goes deeper into the heart of the park to the source of rivers. Of course, for non-trekkers who want to enjoy the experience of camping in the Himalayas, there is also an option to explore a “Night under the Stars” in the ecozone of the GHNP.
Permits and Accommodations
While 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 when camping), you will be sleeping in imported, lightweight European tents with sleeping mats and sleeping bags. The equipment is secure and comfortable and built for even harsh weather conditions. The tents are carried by porters who are part of the staff that accompanies all treks.
Hotels Near The 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 region. With the recent developments (post-COVID) that have happened in the Tirthan valley, you can also find hotels in the vicinity of the Park. The GHNP office in Sai Ropa, Tirthan Valley, has a government-managed guesthouse with a couple of rooms and a dormitory, which is only 15 minutes away from the start of the trek in Gushaini.
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