Lesser-known national parks of the Himalayan region

India is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. With different types of landscape, comes different kinds of flora, fauna and herpetofauna. It is safe to say that the Indian Himalayan region’s flora and fauna is not as explored and understood as that of central India.

These high altitude zones are home to many rare and endangered plants and animals species, and they are found in some of the best yet less-explored national parks.

Here are five such amazing national parks from the Himalayan region that we need to take a look at.

Hemis National Park, the largest national park in India, covers an area of approximately 4,400 sq km. Located in Ladakh, Hemis National Park is home to the endangered snow leopard, great Tibetan sheep, blue sheep, Ladakhi urial, Tibetan wolf, Eurasian brown bear, red fox, marmot, and birds like the golden eagle, Lammergeier vulture, Himalayan griffon vulture, brown accentor, Chukar, Himalayan Snowcock, to name a few. Among these, the snow leopard is the park’s star resident. These amazingly shy creatures are very difficult to spot in that rocky and snowy terrain. Do the Snow Leopard Trek in the winter; it is a great way to explore the park.

Kanchenjunga National Park in Sikkim is one of the most scenic national parks in India. This park is home to many important medicinal plants, some of which are rare, endemic and endangered. The national park is, as the name suggests, surrounded by Mt Kanchenjunga, and is a birder’s delight. Here, there’s a very healthy birdlife. Birds like the Blood Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan, Osprey, Himalayan Griffon, Lammergeier, Tragopan Pheasant, Green Pigeon, Tibetan Snowcock, Snow Pigeon, Himalayan monal, Asian Emerald Cuckoo to name a few. The park is also home to musk deer, snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, red panda, Tibetan wild ass, takin, among others.

Did you know that 10 villages were relocated while creating the Dachigam National Park? The park is approximately 22 km from Srinagar and though the park was declared a protected area in 1910, it was declared a national park only in 1981. Dachigam is a great place to see Hangul, the Kashmir stag. It is one of the rare species of stags in India. Dachigam National Park is open to the public from 8 AM to 6 PM.

Pin Valley National Park is located in Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh. It is located in far northern India. It is an important part of the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve. Even with vegetation as sparse as the one we find here in Pin Valley National Park, 22 rare and endangered species of medicinal plants were discovered from this park.

Khirganga National Park is located in Kullu, and was established in 2010. It is a very scenic park with lofty mountains and lush alpine forest all around. These forest areas are perfect home for the Himalayan brown bear, Himalayan Tahr, the endangered Himalayan musk deer and the very beautiful Western tragopan. The next time you go on a hike, do watch out for the fauna.