Nanda Devi National Park

History

The Nanda Devi National Park is named after the famous Himalayan summit, Mount Nanda Devi. The first try to penetrate and explore the Nanda Devi inner basis was made way back in 1883, by W.M. Graham. In the year 1936, N.E. Odell with his friend Tilman, was successful in scaling the summit. The forest land at the foothills constitutes a major portion of the park.

In the year 1939, 8 years before India gained its independence, the park was declared as a wildlife sanctuary. About 11 years after that, there was no significant human activity in the park (except by the locals). From 1950, expeditions were organized in the park. 

The forest region of the park achieved the status of a National Park in the year 1982. The Nanda Devi National Park proudly flaunts dual titles from UNESCO. In the year 1988, it became a World Heritage Site. After 16 years, in 20004, the park gained the title of a Biosphere Reserve.

Useful Information

Total area – 630.33 sq km 

Elevation range – More than 3500 meters 

Latitude –  30.6588° N

Longitude – 79.8387° E

Nearest river – Rishi Ganga 

Nearby hills – Garhwal Hills, Sivalik Hills 

Avg. annual rainfall – 7817 mm 

Flora of Nanda Devi National Park

A national park is not only about animals, but also a wide range of flora species. A true wildlife enthusiast also takes interest in exploring the atypical trees, plants, flowers, shrubberies etc in the forest regions of a National Park, availing Nanda Devi holiday packages. Nanda Devi National Park is no exception, as it has several varieties of both common and exotic trees and plants, scatted in various regions within its premises. 

There are a total of 312 species of flora in the park. Among these 312 species, 17 species of plants have been identified as rare. The predominant floras in the park are fir and birch trees. The typical jungle area of the park is also marked by rhododendron trees. You could also find juniper trees as those species are in abundance in most places in and around the park, when you avail Nanda Devi tour packages. 

The density of vegetation in the inner regions of the Nanda Devi National Park is less. The number of plants and trees is significantly lesser, compared to the flora species in its outer premises. The main reason for this is dry weather condition. Lack of moisture content and the nature of soil are major factors. 

When you explore the forest areas of Nanda Devi National Park and gradually move towards the Glacier, you would be unable to find any vegetation. There are other important flora species that could be spotted in the park, such as ramani and lichens, in your Nanda Devi sightseeing packages. You could also spot prone mosses and alpine trees. 

Fauna of Nanda Devi National Park

Arguably, the main attraction of the Nanda Devi National Park in Uttarakhand is the snow leopard, due to the fact that the animal is absent in national parks located in plain lands. Also, there are many other exotic faunal species that are typical of the Himalayas. For example, you could spot the unique mainland serow in the thickets of the park, in you Nanda Devi wildlife packages. The musk deer, a common Himalayan herbivore, could also be spotted. The sighting of Himalayan tahr is common. Unique ungulates like Gorals could be seen in Nanda Devi safari tours, roaming in the buffer zone of the park. 

The Himalayan signature black bear could be spotted, if you are fortunate enough. There are brown bears living in the park, too. One of the common animal species in Nanda Devi forests is langur. The buffer zone of the park has animals such as rhesus macaques, which could be spotted while availing Nanda Devi adventure packages. 

Way back in 1993, there was a scientific expedition organized, which revealed that the park had 114 avian species. In recent years, a few studies reveal the number to have increased. There is a huge probability of spotting several migratory bird species when you visit the park during winter months. 

Climate of Nanda Devi National Park

It is a mandatory step to consider about the climate conditions of a national park before you design the itinerary for the trip. Due the distinct location totally different from a usual National Park in India, the Nanda Devi National Park has a very unique climate, marked by extreme winter and cool summer, with occasional rains. 

If you consider the winter months, then the season begins from early October. It can extend till March-end. Even first weeks of April experience cold winds. The rest of the year is mainly summer, rainy and autumn season. Particularly, the span from April to June marks the summer. The highest temperature you could get is about 25 degree Celsius. The weather is very pleasant. Also, it is dry, as the level of humidity is quite low. The lowest temperature could be 12 degree Celsius, akin to winter temperature in many places in India. After sunset, you could feel a sudden fall in the temperature level even during summer months. 

There are rains from June till September. But, the monsoon is not heavy. The month of September and early October mark the autumn season when big trees across the park shed leaves. The summer season in Nanda Devi National Park is actually more similar to springtime.

Best Time to Visit Nanda Devi National Park

It is highly essential to assess the best time to visit the park in order to make the tour enjoyable and memorable. Keep in mind that the park remains closed to tourist for a six-month period, starting from November and ending in April. Hence, you need to plan to visit the park in rest of the year. Tourists visit the park from May to October. During May and June, there is summer season in the park. This is the best time to visit Nanda Devi National Park, availing Nanda Devi family packages, as the weather is very pleasant, with a constantly flowing cool breeze. Humidity is low, too. 

You can also plan the trip in July or August. But, note that the region receives a fair amount of occasional rains during this time. So, there could be some problems in exploring the park in a detailed manner. Particular areas in the park could be very difficult to reach due to clogged water. 

You could also visit the park in October, a few weeks before it closes down. The weather is generally dry and the incidence of rainfall is negligible. 

How to Reach Nanda Devi National Park

When you chalk out a plan to reach the Nanda Devi National Park, you can either opt for a roadway travel or select the option of railways. If you live in a far-off city, away from Uttarakhand, then traveling by flight is the fastest choice. 

By road – The Park is excellently connected to various local towns and major cities in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Joshimath is merely 19 km away from the park. If you are on a tight budget, then you can avail a public bus from the town. Cities like Nainital and Rishikesh are approximately 300 km from the park. You can either hire a private car or book tickets in public / private bus to reach the destination. If you are traveling from Delhi, then you can hire a private vehicle directly to the park. 

By Rail – The closest railway station to the Park is Rishikesh. If you are particularly fond of traveling by train, then you can book tickets to Rishikesh station, from any major city a few hundred kilometers away. It is convenient traveling to Rishikesh from cities like Delhi, Lucknow and Varanasi. After reaching Rishikesh, you can hire a private vehicle to the destination. 

By Air – When you plan to travel from a city in Eastern or Southern India, or any far-off place from the Park’s location, then consider taking a flight. The Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport to the park. After landing, you can hire a private car to the destination. You can also reach the Park by bus. 

Connectivity & Distances

Railway station: Rishikesh Railway Station 

Bus Stand: Joshimath Bus Terminus 

Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun

Nearest city/town: Joshimath

Places to Visit Near Nanda Devi National Park

When you create the Nanda Devi National Park itinerary for an extensive tour of the place, you must also include other highly intriguing tourist interest places in your list of priorities. Major such places are mentioned below for easy reference. 

Lata – It is a picturesque region with a hamlet that you can consider exploring on a weekend getaway tour to the Nanda Devi National Park. The place is lush green in summer months, with many wildflowers growing on its mountainous terrains.

Chenab Lake – The enthralling Chenab Lake is merely 3 km away from the Nanda Devi National Park, which you should include in your high priority list on a weekend trip, to get immersed in its unrivalled natural beauty.

Kuari Pass – If you have a special interest in trekking, then you get the opportunity to trek to Kuari Pass, and stay in a tent there for adventurous experiences. It is about 13 km away from the Park. 

Natural & Cultural History Museum – There is a museum approximately 15 km from the Park, where you can visit on a weekend getaway tour package, in order to gain knowledge about the flora, fauna, local tradition and culture of the region.