National Parks in Himachal Pradesh
National park is an area which is strictly reserved for the betterment of the wildlife & biodiversity, and where activities like developmental, forestry, poaching, hunting and grazing on cultivation are not permitted. Their boundaries are well marked and circumscribed. They are usually small reserves spreading in an area of 100 sq. km. to 500 sq. km. In national parks, the emphasis is on the preservation of a single floral or faunal species.National Park declared by the Central Government.
“National Park” means an area declared, whether under sec.35. or sec.38 or deemed, under sub-section (3) of sec.66. to be declared, as a National Park.
1. Great Himalyan National Park
The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP), is located in Kullu region in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The park was established in 1984 and is spread over an area of 1,171 km2 at an altitude of between 1500 and 6000 m. The Great Himalayan National Park is a habitat to numerous flora and more than 375 fauna species, including approximately 31 mammals, 181 birds, 3 reptiles, 9 amphibians, 11 annelids, 17 mollusks and 127 insects. They are protected under the strict guidelines of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972; hence any sort of hunting is not permitted.
In June 2014, the Great Himalayan National Park was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. The UNESCO World Heritage Site Committee granted the status to the park under the criteria of "outstanding significance for biodiversity conservation". The GNHP also supports a great diversity of plant life due its wide altitude range and relatively undisturbed habitats. Blue sheep, snow leopard, Himalayan brown bear, Himalayan tahr, and musk deer are some species which park is known to protect them.
2. Pin Valley National Park
Pin Valley National Park is located within the Lahaul and Spiti district, in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Pin Valley National Park was established on 9th January 1987.
Because of the park's high altitude and extreme temperatures, the vegetation density is sparse, consisting mostly of alpinetrees and groves of Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara), the Park forms a natural habitat for a number of endangered animals including the snow leopard and Siberian ibex.In summer, rare birds such as the Himalayan snowcock, chukar partridge, snow partridge and snowfinch flourish in the park.
Medicinal Plants :
Some plants within the park's alpine habitats have significant medicinal properties. Twenty-two rare and endangered medicinal plant species, have been discovered in and around Pin Valley National Park, which are distributed over 10 different habitat types. Aconitum rotundifolium, Arnebia euchroma, Ephedra gerardiana, Ferula jaeschkeana, Hyoscymus niger are the threatened but medicinally important plants occur in this national park.
3. Inderkilla National Park
Inderkilla National Park is a national park in Kullu, established in 2010. It covers an area of about 104 square kilometres (40 sq mi).
4. Khirganga National Park
Khirganga National Park is a national park in Kullu , established in 2010. It covers an area of about 710 square kilometres (270 sq mi).
5.Simbalbara National Park
Simbalbara National Park is a national park in India, located in the Paonta Valley of Sirmour District, Himachal Pradesh. The vegetation consists of dense Sal forests with grassy glades. The protected area was created in 1958 as the Simbalbara Wildlife Sanctuary with 19.03 km². In 2010, 8.88 km² were added to it and it was made into a National Park in 2010, covering an area of about 27.88 square kilometres (10.76 sq mi).
There is a perennial stream in the valley. The Travel and Tourism department of Himachal Pradesh has preserved the park in its natural form. Goral, Sambharand Chittal are the common animals found here.
The national parks, especially the Great Himalayan National Park and the Pin Valley, are a big attraction with nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts and has a sizable number of visitors every year.