Nanda Devi National Park

“The forest was dark, leeches thick, and the climb steep”.

The Nanda Devi National Park is located in the Chamoli district of Uttaranchal. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. Spread over an area of 630 sq . Km , just next to the Nanda Devi peak, lies the Nanda Devi National Park. It was established in the year 1980. The first men on record to have reached this sanctuary, while yet in its pristine form, were the British Mountaineers Eric Shipton and Bill Tilman. The park's inaccessibility has given Nanda Devi an aura of a forbidden territory, an untouched and unseen holy place. The park offers breathtaking scenaries, wooded environment and riches of biosphere.

Flora and Fauna
The main vegetation growth in the forests is of fir, birch, rhododendron and juniper. The conditions are drier in the inner part of the sanctuary. There is almost no vegetation ear the Nanda Devi Glacier. The vegetation changes to alpine from the place called Ramnani and only juniper scrubs dominate the vegetal growth. This type of vegetation gradually give way to grasses, prone mosses and lichens. There are around 312 floral species found in this national park out of which around 17 are considered rare.

Animal population of species like bharal, Himalayan tahr, serow, goral, snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, brown bear, leopard, common langur, Himalayan musk deer, and brown beer dominate the park area. There are nearly 80 species of birds in this area. Warblers, gresbreaks, rose finches and ruby throat are commonly seen here.
Straight Stuff
Location - Uttaranchal
Total Area - 630 sq . km
Declared As - A National Park in 1982
Visiting Season - April to October
Baits - Alpine flora and fauna
Entry Fee - Rs. 60

Accommodation
Nearest accommodation is available at Joshimath You will find numerous accommodation here. There are several hotels for the tourists designed according to the taste of every single tourist visiting the place. There is a Tourist Rest House and a P.W.D. Inspection House for the tourists.

How To Roll In
The nearest airport to the Nanda Devi National Park is the Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun. It is at a distance of 295 km from the national park. There are flights connecting Dehradun with Delhi.
The nearest railway station to the Nanda Devi National Park is at Rishikesh, which is at a distance of 276 km.
The metaled roads connect Joshimath to other towns of Uttaranchal like Dehradun, Rishikesh and Haridwar. One has to trek till the national Park from Joshimath.