5 Incredible National Parks in Himachal Pradesh Map UPSC 2024

National Parks in Himachal Pradesh – A total of 5 national parks are located in the Himachal Pradesh state. In this article, we will read about all the National Parks in Himachal Pradesh in detail along with the map. If you are preparing for any exam like UPSC, IAS, SSC MTS, SSC GD, SSC CHSL, SSC CGL, SSC CPO, NDA, CDS, Bank PO, IBPS then this post will be important for you.

• All State-Wise National Parks

Himachal Pradesh Map

The Indian state of Himachal Pradesh is home to a varied diversity of habitats and plant and animal species. Himachal Pradesh has five national parks, 28 animal sanctuaries, and three conservation reserves covering 15.10% of the state’s land area. Himachal Pradesh’s forest department manages the parks and sanctuaries. The protected areas are crucial for the conservation of the state’s ecological resources and ecotourism.

Himachal Pradesh covers 55,673 km², accounting for 1.69 percent of the country’s total size. The state is surrounded to the north by Jammu and Kashmir, to the west by Punjab, to the south by Haryana, and to the southwest by Uttarakhand.

List of National Parks in Himachal Pradesh

There are a total of 5 national parks in Himachal Pradesh and their names, year of declaration, and total area are given in the following table.

All 5 National Parks in Himachal Pradesh are marked in the map given below.

Now we will discuss in detail all 5 National Parks of Himachal Pradesh State.

Great Himalayan National Park

• The Great Himalaya National Park is a protected area located at an altitude of 1500–6000 m in the Kullu district of the state of Himachal Pradesh.
• It was given the status of National Park in the year 1984 and it is spread over a total area of 1171 km².
• The Great Himalayan National Park was included in the World Heritage List by UNESCO in the year 2014 for its excellent conservation of biodiversity
• The tributaries of the Beas River such as the Sainj, Tirthan, Jiva Nal, and Parvati Rivers originate from the melting of glaciers and snow-covered in the Great Himalayan National Park.
• The Great Himalayan National Park is also included in the 200 Global Critical Ecosystems declared by the World Wide Fund for Nature in the year 2001 and this national park is also part of the 34 internationally protected biodiversity hotspots of the Himalayan region.
• 31 mammals, 181 birds, 3 reptiles, 9 amphibians, 11 annelids, 17 mollusks, and 127 species of insects are found in the Great Himalayan National Park.
• Major fauna – Himalayan Tahr, Western Tragopan, Snow Leopard, Musk Deer, Himalayan Blue Poppy, etc.

Pin Valley National Park

• Pin Valley National Park is a protected area in the Lahaul and Spiti districts of the state of Himachal Pradesh.
• This national park is part of the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve.
• This protected area was given the status of National Park in the year 1987 and it is spread over an area of 675 km².
• Pin River flows through the valley of this national park.
• Major fauna – leopard, snow leopard, marten, red fox, bharal, golden vulture, raven, Siberian ibex, etc.

Inderkila National Park

• Inderkila National Park is a protected area located in the Kullu district of the state of Himachal Pradesh.
• This national park was established in the year 2010 and it is spread over a total area of 104 km².
• Black bears, brown bears, Himalayan tahr, leopards as well as 250 species of birds are found in this national park.

Khirganga National Park

• Khirganga National Park is a protected area located in the Kullu district of the state of Himachal Pradesh.
• This national park was established in the year 2010 and it is spread over an area of 710 km².
• This national park shares a boundary with the Great Himalayan National Park (Sea Map in Map)

Simbalbara National Park

• Simbalbara National Park is a protected area in the Paonta Valley in the Sirmour district of the state of Himachal Pradesh.
• It is also known as Colonel Sher Jung National Park.
• In the year 1958, an area of 19.03 km² was declared as Simbalbara Wildlife Reserve, in the year 1974 as a wildlife sanctuary, and in the year 2010, its total area was increased to 27.88 km² and it was given the status of a national park.

Forest Covers in Himachal Pradesh

According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021, the state’s forest cover is 15,443 square kilometers, which constitutes 27.73% of the state’s geographical area (55,673 square kilometers).

The state comprises forest canopy density categories.

• Very Dense Forest (VDF) covers 3,163 km²
• Moderately Dense Forest (MDF) covers 7,100 km²
• Open Forest (OF) covers 5,180 km².

Tree growth in this area is limited due to the harsh climate. The annual rainfall is around 1,800 mm. The temperature can vary from below 0 degrees Celsius to 35 degrees Celsius.

FAQs related to National Parks in Himachal Pradesh

Question – How many national parks are in Himachal Pradesh?

Answer – There are a total 5 national parks in Himachal Pradesh and their names are –

1. Great Himalayan National Park
2. Pin Valley National Park
3. Inderkila National Park
4. Khirganga National Park
5. Simbalbara National Park

Question – Which is the largest national park in Himachal Pradesh?

Answer – Great Himalayan National Park is the largest national park in Himachal Pradesh with a total area of 754.4 km².

Question – Which is the smallest national park in Himachal Pradesh?

Answer – Simbalbara National Park is the smallest national park in Himachal Pradesh with a total area of 27.88 km².

Question – Why is Great Himalayan National Park famous?

Answer – The Great Himalayan National Park is one of the Himalayas’ most protected regions. It additionally protects about 800 species of wildlife and 350 kinds of vegetation, some of which are critically endangered.

Question – Where is the Great Himalayan National Park?

Answer – The Great Himalayan National Park was established in 1984 and was designated as a national park in 1999. It is situated in the Banjaar Sub-Division of Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu District.

Question – What is the Pin Valley National Park famous for?

Answer – This park is particularly well-known for its preservation of the endangered Snow Leopard, an estimated number of around twelve. Ibex, Bharal, Red Fox, Marten, Weasel, Pika, Snow Cock, Bearded Vulture, Chukar, Golden Eagle, Griffon, Himalayan Chough, Raven, and more species are also present.

Question – Which state is Pin Valley National Park situated in?

Answer – Pin Valley National Park is an Indian national park situated in the Spiti Valley in the Lahaul and Spiti region of Himachal Pradesh.

Question – What is Inderkilla National Park famous for?

Answer – Tourists visiting Inderkilla National Park can see a variety of rare animals. Brown and black bears are among the most lovable creatures. Aside from that, visitors to this National Park can view leopards, ibex, and numerous varieties of deer and mountain goats.

Question – Where is the Inderkilla National Park situated?

Answer – Inderkilla National Park was established as a national park in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh in 2010. It has an area of around 104 square kilometers.

So in this way, we have covered all the important facts about all 5 National Parks in Himachal Pradesh State from various exam points of view. Hope you liked this article.