07 Best Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttarakhand
There are 6 National Parks and 7 Wildlife sanctuaries situated in the state of Uttarakhand.
In this blog i will talk about the wildlife Sanctuary in Uttarakhand. A Wildlife sanctuary is different from a National Park. While a National Park is a designated area to protect all the plants, animals and the entire landscape inside the park, a Wildlife Sanctuary is meant to provide a safe and suitable living environment for only the animals inside the sanctuary. Wildlife sanctuaries in Uttarakhand provide protection to the rare species of animals and birds like the Musk Deer, Snow leopard and Monal birds.
The state of Uttarakhand is blessed with a very rich bio-diversity. There are 6 National Parks and 7 Wildlife sanctuaries in the state.
1- Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary
Kedarnath Sanctuary is situated in Chamoli and Rudraprayag district of the state. The sanctuary is the largest of all and is spread in an area of 975 sq km. Founded in 1972, it is mainly located in the upper Himalayan highlands of Uttarakhand. The famous Kedarnath Temple is situated inside the sanctuary. Many other famous and revered temples like Rudranath, Madmaheshwar, Tungnath and Kalpeshwar are also located inside the sanctuary. People also call it the Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary as it protects the endangered species of the Himalayan Musk deer. The sanctuary is full of snow covered mountains, hills, valleys, bugyals and vast lands covered with wild and beautiful flowers. The place also has a huge number of birds and butterflies for the nature lovers.
Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary has the richest flora and fauna among all the sanctuaries. The trees found in the forest are mainly of pine, oaks and rhododendrons. One can also find a number of medical plants and herbs growing in the sanctuary. A large variety of animals can also be spotted here. The most common are the Indian Jackal, snow leopard, Himalayan bear, red fox and leopard cats. Other animals like Indian boar, Himalayan musk deer, red giant flying squirrel, langurs and many type of monkeys are also part of the sanctuary. Some of the rare bird species are also found in Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary like the Snow Partridge, Kalij pheasant, Himalayan Monal, West Himalayan bush warbler and Rusty-flanked treecreeper.
Apart from the above mammals and birds, the wildlife sanctuary also has many reptile species like the Himalayan pit viper and Boulenger’s keelback. April to June and from September to November is the best time to visit here as it rains a lot in the monsoons and in winters the sanctuary experiences a considerable amount of snowfall.
How to Reach –
The sanctuary is close to Chopta and Kedarnath and is about 220 -230 kms from Dehradun. This can be reached by road in 5-6 hours.
2- Binsar Wildlife Sactuary
This was established in the year 1988 and is spread in an area of 45 sq km. The sanctuary is located on the top of the Jhandi Dhar Hills and is at a distance of about 33 kms from Almora town. Binsar used to be the summer capital of Kumaon rulers for a very long period of time and it has been a very popular destination for tourists visiting the Kumaon region. It is very famous for its numerous sunset and sunrise points.
The major attraction here is the huge variety of bird species inside this naturally blessed part of Kumaon. The place is full of huge varieties of rare and beautiful birds which are not found elsewhere. Somehow the natural surroundings of the place is such that it is a home for a large number of birds and it also attracts new species with every passing year. This must be a preferred destination for anyone even remotely interested in bird watching. One just needs a good pair of binoculars and enthusiastic legs to walk deep into the sanctuary for sighting the birds. The sanctuary has more than 200 species of birds as per the last data available in official records.
Popular Birds and Nearby Attraction
All bird lovers can visit the website www.birdlife.org for information on birds in general and the efforts being taken by them for their protection and conservation. Binsar Wildlife sanctuary mainly has Oak and Rhododendron trees which bloom during the spring time.
The Binsar Mahadev temple, the museum and the Zero point are must visit places when in Binsar. One must also try to watch as many sunrise and sunsets as possible in Binsar as these are simply the best in Uttarakhand.
One can visit the sanctuary throughout the year. But, April to June and September to November are the most preferred months for the tourists. The Grand Oak Manor and KMVN rest house are some beautiful stay options inside the sanctuary.
How to Reach –
It is situated at a distance of 15 Kms from Almora. Delhi to Almora is 372 kms and takes around 8 hours by cab. One can also reach Rampur by train from Delhi. Almora is only 163 kms from Rampur and takes about 4 hours.
3- Naina Devi Himalayan Bird Conservation Reserve , Pangot - Kilbury
It is situated at a distance of only 15 kms from Nainital and is spread in an area of 111 sq kms and opened recently in 2015. It has more than 200 species of the rarest birds. The bird reserve located in Kilbury is very popular among bird watchers as the reserve has a large number of bird species. There are a few beautiful settlements inside the reserve which are loved by the tourists.
The reserve is also a perfect weekend getaway for couples, families with kids and foreigners who wish to enjoy the unspoilt natural beauty in silence. Nature walks among the dense forests of pine and oak is also a very popular activity inside the reserve. There are many small streams inside the reserve with crystal clear water flowing. Apart from a wide variety of bird in the reserve some animals like the barking deer and Himalayan Gorals can also be found here.
How to Reach –
It is situated at a distance of only 15 Kms from Nanital. Nainital is 305 kms from Delhi and can be reached in 6-7 hours by cab.
4- Beong Wildlie sanctuary
Benog Wildlife Sanctuary also called as the Vinog Mountain Quail Sanctuary, was established in the year 1993. It is located just 11 kms from Mussoorie hill station and should be on the places to see while visitng Mussoorie. It was developed as a bird watching reserve for tourists and is also full of many medicinal plants, cedar and pine trees. Many species of animals like the leopard, bear and various species of birds like the red-billed blue magpie and white-capped water redstart can be found here. The place is surrounded by snow-capped mountains like Chaukhambha and Bandarpunchh . The Aglar River flowing inside the sanctuary is an ideal spot for spotting the birds. The best time to visit the Benog Wildlife Sanctuary is any time except the monsoons. The place has also got a number of sunrise and sunset points for nature lovers.
How to Reach –
It is situated at a distance of 11 Kms from Mussoorie. Dehradn to Mussoorie is 35 kms and usually takes about an hour. Delhi to Dehradun is 275 kms and usually takes 5 hours.
5- Govind Wildlife sanctuary
This is located in the Uttarakashi district of Uttrakhand and is named after the famous freedom fighter and politician Govind Ballabh Pant. It is spread in an area of 485 sq kms and was established in 1955. It is at a distance of 190 kms from Dehradun. The bearded vulture which is an endangered and important animal for the ecology can be found in large numbers here. The peaks of Swargarohini, Bandarpunchh and Black peak are visible from the sanctuary. This place attracts many tourists because of its wild life and snow clad peaks and glaciers. It is also a preferred trekking destination because of the famous Har Ki Dun trek. The forest rest houses on the route to Har Ki Dun are also very popular among tourists because of their beautiful location and surrounding wild flowers. The Ruinsiyara high altitude lake is also very popular among tourists.
The sanctuary has a large number of species of rare and endangered birds like the bearded vulture, eagles and Monal pheasant. This is also the home to a large number of beautiful and rare small birds which can be found in plenty. This is also the sanctuary where the Indian government has launched the Snow leopard project to protect the highly endangered snow leopards. Visit to the park is generally avoided in the monsoons. Other months are suitable for visiting here.
How to Reach –
It is situated at a distance of 190 Kms from Dehradun and can be reached only by road in about 5-6 hours.
6- Askot Wildlife sanctuary
It is a high altitude reserve surrounded by snow-capped mountains like Panchachuli, Chhiplakot and Naukana and spreads into Nepal and Tibet. The Kali River forms the international boundary of this sanctuary from Nepal. It is situated at a distance of 54 km from Pithoragarh town and is spread in an area of 600 sq km. It was established in 1986 mainly to conserve the Musk deer and its natural habitat. The Musk deer has been hunted by poachers for the musk secreted by the male deer, which is used in making medicines and perfumes.
A lot of measures have been taken to protect this highly endangered species of Musk deer. Other animals like tigers, leopards, barking deer and brown bears can also be found here. Many birds which are only found in the higher Himalayan altitude can easily be spotted here. The rivers Dhauli and Ilki start from this sanctuary and the River Gori Ganga passes through it. The sanctuary offers a lot of opportunities to capture the wildlife in one’s cameras.
There is a huge variety of herbal plants in the sanctuary. Trees like teak, sheesham, fir, eucalyptus, grevillea, pine and sal are abundant in the sanctuary. Since the place usually witnesses snowfall during winters, the months from April to October are the most preferred for exploring the sanctuary.
How to Reach –
It is situated at a distance of 54 Kms from Pithoragarh town. Delhi to Pithoragarh is 490 kms and takes more than 10 hours by cab. One can also take a flight to Pant Nagar airport, from where Pithoragarh is 240 kms by road.
7. Sonanadi Wildlife sanctuary –
Sonanadi is situated between the Rajaji National Park and Corbett National Park. It is spread in an area of 301 kms and can be accessed from the Corbett national Park. and very popular among tourists visiting Nainital and Corbett. Sonanadi was founded in 1987 and was part of the area for the “project Tiger” mission for protecting the Tigers in the region. The place is also the home for a large number of bird species living in its natural habitat. This sanctuary is also the home for elephants, tigers, boars, sambhars bears and leopards. Jeep and Elephant safaris can be booked to enjoy the reserve closely and watch the animals living in their habitats.
The Forest rest houses inside the reserve can offer a truly wonderful experience to the tourists visiting the park. The Sonanadi Wildlife sanctuary can be reached from any of the following 4 gates of Corbett- Vantanvasa, Kalagarh, Kotdwar or Durgadevi. The reserve is usually closed from mid June to mid October.
How to Reach –
It is located in the Jim Corbett National Park near Nainital. Delhi to Nainital is 305 kms by road. It is also connected to Delhi by train(Kathgodam) and flight(Pant Nagar airport).
Contact for planning your trip -
So when are you planning your trip for these Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttarakhand? You can comment below for your queries or feedback. You can also tell me what you like about this post and which other treks you would like me to write about in future.
Hope a visit here is in your bucket list.
Thanks.
-Neeraj Tiwari
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