Major wildlife sanctuaries and reserves of Himachal Pradesh

Bandli Sanctuary: Himachal Pradesh

This sanctuary is situated in district Mandi and is 7-kms away from Sunder Nagar Town. It is heavily disturbed sanctuary with a small population of Chir pheasant and Leopard. The area was earlier a protected forest. Other wildlife found over here includes Himalayan Black Bear, common Palm Civet, Barking Deer, Goral, Indian hare, Rhesus Macaque.

Chail Sanctuary: Himachal Pradesh

Chail is a hill station visited by many tourists. The Deodar and Oak forests with grasslands around the township are the abode of wildlife. Chail sanctuary was notified on 21st March 1976 near Chail Town in District Shimla and covers an area of 10,854.36 hectares.

Fauna: One can see Sambar, Goral, Himalayan Black Bear, Red Deer, Silver-White Oak, Barking Deer, Indian Hare Common Langur, Leopard, Rhesus Macaque, Himalayan Yellow Throated Marten, Indian Porcupine, Common Giant and Kashmiri Flying Squirrel.and Chir Pheasants at Blossom and Jhajja. A Chir Pheasant breeding and rehabilitation programme has been started in 1988.

Churdhar Sanctuary: Himachal Pradesh

Churdhar peak, with height of 3,647m, is the highest peak in outer Himalayas. The total covered area of this sanctuary is 5616 hectares and this is notified on 15th November 1985. This is one of the newest sanctuaries of the State. Now at the point of local extinction, Churdhar still contains good habitat for Monals and other pheasants. Other fauna includes Himalayan Black Bear, Barking Deer, Musk Deer, Common Langur and Leopards but Musk Deer has been severely depleted by hunting.

Daranghati Sanctuary: Himachal Pradesh

Daranghati sanctuary located in the upper area of Shimla District, has undisturbed forest area with plenty of wildlife and was notified on 27th March 1974. The total covered area of this sanctuary is 16740 hectares.

Fauna: Himalayan Black Bear, Brown Bear, Himalayan Palm Civet, Barking Deer, Musk Deer, Flying Fox, Goral, Indian Hare, Stripped Hyena, Himalayan Ibex, Leopard, Himalayan yellow throated Marten, Serow, Blue Sheep, Common giant flying Squirrel and Himalayan Weasel are the animals that are found over here.

Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary: Himachal Pradesh

This sanctuary area with its well-laid out trekking jungle trails both at Kalatop and Khajjiar is a tourist paradise. The sanctuary is rewarding for the view but its Ibex, deer, bears and leopards rarely come out of their hiding. Visitors should look for pheasants and Serow in these forests but should be beware of Black bear, which can be encountered often in the area.

Kanwar Sanctuary: Himachal Pradesh

This sanctuary is located in Parbati valley of Kullu district. This sanctuary has large population of Himalayan Thar in Himalayas and seeing this big goat on high mountain cliffs is dream fulfillment of any wildlife lover.

Maharana Pratap Sagar: Himachal Pradesh

This lake sanctuary is a big attraction for migratory ducks from Siberian region during winter. One can see thousands of ducks in the swamp area between Shahnahar barrage and Pongdam and the surrounding shallow waters of the lake. Clean blue water all around with the panoramic view of Dhauladhar Ranges and Kangra Valley make the visit to Ransar Island an unforgettable experience.

Fauna: In 1983, the Sagar was declared a wildlife sanctuary and over 220 species of bird belonging to 54 families have been sighted over the waters and the fringing mud-banks-these include black - headed gulls, plovers, terns, ducks, water-fowl and egrets. The land portion of the sanctuary has barking deer, sambar, wild borars, nilgai, leopards and claw-less others.

Majathal Sanctuary: Himachal Pradesh

This sanctuary has a very steep and rugged terrain away from habitation. This sanctuary has the highest concentration of Goral which can be seen in its natural habitat. This sanctuary is reported to have the maximum population of endangered Cheer pheasant.

Manali Sanctuary: Himachal Pradesh

This sanctuary is located in District Kullu's nearest town, Manali. The area of this sanctuary is 3,180 hectares. The sanctuary was notified on 26th Feb 1954, under the Punjab Birds and Wild Animals Protection Act, 1933.

Fauna: One may see Musk deer, Monal and Brown bear digging or ploughing the land and also pug marks with scent of Leopard or Snow leopard. Those who venture up to snows can see herds of Ibex in the glacier zone in summers. Other fauna in the sanctuary include Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan Palm Civet, Barking Deer, Flying Fox, Goral, Indian Hare, Stripped Hyena, Leopard, Himalayan yellow throated Marten, Serow, Kashmir flying Squirrel and Himalayan Tahr.

Pin Valley Park: Himachal Pradesh

Pin Valley national park is situated in Lahual Spiti district. In this park there is a variety of rare animals such as wooly hare, Tibetan gazelle and snow Leopard. The entire area is a cold desert. It was declared National Park on 9th January 1987 and occupies an area of 67,500 hectares.

Fauna: Animals that are found in this sanctuary includes Red Indian Fox, Tibetan Gazelle, Wooley Hare, Snow Leopard, Himalayan Marmot, Himalayan Mouse-hare, Indian Hodgsoris Porcupine, Blue Sheep and Wolf. In this area visitors come across large herds of Ibex and Bharal.

Pong Lake Sanctuary: Himachal Pradesh

The Pong Dam Lake is significant for a wildlife sanctuary with wild life species like Nilgai, Sambar, Barking Deer, Wild Buar, Clawless Otter, and Leapord. The reservoir is developed on a large scale for promoting water sports for tourists. This lake sanctuary is a big attraction for migratory ducks from Siberian region during winter. One can see thousands of ducks in the swamp area between Shah Nahar barrage and Pong Dam and the surrounding shallow waters of the lake.

Renuka Sanctuary: Himachal Pradesh

Renuka sanctuary is situated at Renuka, which is an excursion from Nahan. Renuka Lake and the temples attract a large number of people from hills and plains. Forests and the catchments of the lake add to its beauty and attraction.

Fauna: The Renuka Sanctuary also adds much to the ambience of the place. It is home to a large number of animals including Asiatic lions, spotted deer, lion tailed macaques, peacocks, nilgai or large grey Indian antelope, barking deer and Himalayan black bears.

Simbalbara Sanctuary: Himachal Pradesh

This sanctuary is located in Paonta Valley of Sirmour District. The area surrounding the sanctuary bears beautiful dense Sal forests with grassy glades. This is probably the most picturesque area of Shivaliks. Goral, Sambhar and Chittal can be easily seen here.

The Great Himalayan National Park: Himachal Pradesh

The National Park with an area of 620 sq. km. is located in Kullu District and has the representative area of temperate and alpine forests of Himachal. It has some the virgin coniferous forests of the State. Vast areas of alpine pastures and glaciers cap this park.

Fauna: This area has many important wildlife species of Western Himalayas, like Musk deer, Brown bear, Goral, Thar, Leopard, Snow leopard, Bharal, Serow, Monal, Kalij, Koklas, Cheer, Tragopan, Snow cock etc.