The Great Himalayan National Park is located in the Banjaar Sub-Division of Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh, India.
It is situated in the western part of the Himalayan mountain range.
The Great Himalayan National Park is situated at junction of world’s two major biogeographic realms:
Indomalayan realm to the south
Palearctic realm to the north
It is bordered by the Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuary to the southeast.
Sainj Wildlife Sanctuary situated within Great Himalayan National Park.
In 1984, it was officially established by the Government of Himachal Pradesh as a protected area.
In 1999, the area was declared a national park under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
In 2014, the Great Himalayan National Park was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Area: The park covers an area of about 1,171 square kilometers (452 square miles).
Valley: The park includes several valleys within its boundaries:
Tirthan Valley
Parvati Valley
Jiwa Nal Valley
Sainj Valley
River: Some notable rivers in the park:
Tirthan River
Sainj River
Jiwa Nal River
Parvati River
Flora: Coniferous Forests (Deodar, Blue Pine, and Chir Pine), Broadleaf Forests (Oaks, Rhododendrons, and Maple), Alpine Meadows (Kobresia, Carex), Endemic and Rare Species (Himalayan Blue Poppy, Himalayan Edelweiss and orchids.) etc.
Fauna: Snow Leopard, Serow, Himalayan Tahr, Musk Deer, Bharal (Blue Sheep), Himalayan Brown Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, Western Tragopan, Himalayan Griffon Vultures, Golden Eagles, Himalayan Pit Viper , Kashmir Rat Snake, Himalayan Pitless Skink etc.
World’s largest known population of the Western Tragopan is found in the upper part of Great Himalayan National Park.