Nanda Devi National park: site for exotic flora and fauna

5 years ago

Nanda Devi National Park is a popular tourist destination which is about 24 km from Joshimath. This National Park, 630 sq km is spread over an area that is surrounded by Mount Nanda Devi from all sides. Nanda Devi Mountain is the second-highest mountain range in the country.

Nanda Devi peak
Image credit: google

The park became a national park in 1982.  In 1988, the park was declared as World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Apart from this, the park also comes under the Western Himalaya Endemic Bird Area (EBA). Nanda Devi National Park and Valley of Flowers National Park were jointly declared as World Heritage Sites in 1988. In 1984, it was decided to close the national park due to excess of human indulgence which was disturbing the ecological balance of the place. But in May 2013, the national park reopened. Subsequently, under strict rules and policies in this National Park, only two groups of five people are allowed on a single day and no more than four such groups are allowed to visit each week.

Image Credit: Google

Today, Nanda Devi National Park is one of the most prominent ecological attraction centers in the world and it is home to many birds, mammals, plants, trees, and butterflies. Nanda Devi National Park offers tourists a special opportunity for trekking and hiking. This place is a paradise for adventure and nature lovers. Nanda Devi National Park is open to visitors from May 1 to October 31 for only six months throughout the year. Tourists or travelers who want to discover the beauty of nature, then Nanda Devi Park is a perfect tourist destination for you.

Image credit: Google

A wide variety of plants and animals of various species are found here in abundance. A total of 312 flora species are found in the park, of which about 17 are considered rare.  Brahma-Kamal, a rare species of flower found here. The fauna species found here are snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, brown bear, leopard, Himalayan musk deer, common langur, and bharal (blue mountain goat).

How to Reach Nanda Devi National park By Airplane:

 If anyone wants to travel to Nanda Devi National Park by plane, then Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport to Nanda Devi National Park which is 295 kilometers from the National Park. From here tourists can easily reach the national park with the help of taxis and cabs, or by bus to Joshimath and then take a shared jeep to the national park.

How to Reach Nanda Devi National Park by Train

To Nanda Devi National Park nearest railhead is in Rishikesh which is about 280 km from Nanda Devi National Park. A taxi can be easily reached from Rishikesh railway station to Nanda Devi National Park. Nanda Devi National Park is connected by motorable roads through Joshimath to Lata village, which is the gateway to the park.

The best time to visit the Nanda Devi National Park is when it is open to tourists for only six months from May 1 to October 31. During this time the snow gets clears and allows trekkers to travel safely to the national park. The weather in the park is pleasant during these months.

Seema Jain

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