A Guide to the Great Himalayan National Park in Himachal Pradesh

The park serves as a habitat for a wide variety of flora and more than 375 species of fauna. The animal population is highly diverse, including approximately 31 mammals, 181 birds, 3 reptiles, and 9 amphibians.

In addition to larger animals, the park supports smaller organisms such as 11 annelids, 17 mollusks, and 127 insects. All species within the park boundaries are protected under the strict guidelines of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, which prohibits any form of hunting.

The Great Himalayan National Park sits at a unique geographical crossroads where two of the world's major biogeographic realms meet. To the south lies the Indomalayan realm, while the Palearctic realm is situated to the north.

The temperate forest flora and fauna found here represent the westernmost extension of the Sino-Japanese Region. This positioning allows for a distinct mixture of species from different biological zones.

Because of its high elevation, the Northwest Himalaya ecosystem within the park shares common plant elements with adjacent regions. These include botanical links to Western and Central Asiatic regions.

The varying altitudes from 1500 to 6000 meters create different environmental zones, allowing the park to support a broad spectrum of life that is significant for global conservation efforts.