The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) is a national park in India, located in the Banjar area of Kullu in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The park was created in 1984 and covers an area of 1171 km; the land within the park ranges in height from 1500 to 6000 meters. The park is home to many types of plants and over 375 species of animals, including about 31 mammals, 181 birds, 3 reptiles, 9 amphibians, 11 annelids, 17 mollusks, and 127 insects. These species are protected by the strict rules of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, so hunting is not allowed.

In June 2014, the Great Himalayan National Park was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites because it has "outstanding significance for biodiversity conservation."

Biogeography

The GHNP is located where two major biogeographic regions meet: the Indomalayan region to the south and the Palearctic region to the north. The plants and animals in the temperate forests of GHNP are found farthest west in the Sino-Japanese Region. The high-elevation ecosystems of the Northwest Himalaya share some plant species with nearby Western and Central Asiatic regions. Because the park ranges in elevation up to 4,100 meters, it contains many different zones, each with its own unique plants and animals, such as alpine, glacial, temperate, and subtropical forests.

These biogeographic features result from the geological changes in the Himalaya, which continue today due to plate tectonics and continental drift. More than 100 million years ago, the Indian subcontinent separated from the large southern landmass, Gondwanaland, and moved north. It eventually collided with the northern landmass, Laurasia, forming the folded mountain range of the Himalaya. This connection between Gondwanaland and the Asiatic landmass allowed plants and animals to spread between the regions, creating the area’s unique biogeographic characteristics.

Timeline of creation

It took 20 years from the start to when it officially opened for GHNP to become part of the Indian national park system. Here is a brief timeline:

1980: A preliminary survey of the watersheds of Tirthan, Sainj, and Jiwanal in the Banjar area of Kullu district was conducted.
1983: Surveys of the Banjar area of Kullu district continued.
1984: The Himachal government announced its plan to create GHNP.
1988: Work began to settle the rights of local communities in GHNP.
1994–1999: The World Bank funded a project to conserve biodiversity. During this time, 16 village eco-development committees were formed to involve local communities in protecting biodiversity. The Wildlife Institute of India also conducted a research project at GHNP.
1996: The Biodiversity Conservation Society (BiodCS) was registered to help manage GHNP.
1999: GHNP was officially named India’s newest national park. Compensation was given to local communities who had traditional forest rights in the area.
2000: Organizers of WSCG formed SAHARA (Society for Advancement of Hill and Rural Areas) to work with GHNP management.
2008: Research on the western tragopan population in GHNP was conducted in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India.
2010: A proposal was made to declare 710 square kilometers of the Parvati watershed as Khirganga National Park, located north of GHNP, to improve conservation efforts. It was also proposed to merge the Tirthan and Sainj wildlife sanctuaries into GHNP for greater protection.
2011: An application was submitted to nominate GHNP as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2012: An IUCN evaluation team visited GHNP to analyze the area.
2013: GHNP’s nomination was reviewed and added to a referral list. A management council was formed by involving leaders from 13 local governing bodies.
2014: GHNP was awarded World Heritage Natural Site status during the 38th World Heritage Committee meeting in Doha, Qatar.

Biodiversity

The Great Himalayan National Park is home to more than 375 animal species. Scientists have identified and recorded 31 mammal species, 181 bird species, 3 reptile species, 9 amphibian species, 11 annelid species, 17 mollusk species, and 127 insect species from six different groups. Most of the animals in the Himalayas are protected under Schedule I, a special list of protected animals in the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972. The government of Himachal Pradesh has banned hunting in the state for more than ten years. A trek of 35 to 45 kilometers through any of the park’s valleys leads to high elevation areas above 3,500 meters, where animals such as blue sheep, snow leopards, Himalayan brown bears, Himalayan tahr, and musk deer live. The best time to see these animals is during autumn (September–November), when they begin their seasonal migration to lower elevations.

The park also has a wide variety of plant life, due to its range of elevations and areas that have not been disturbed much. Lower valleys have tall trees like pines, spruces, and horse chestnuts, while higher areas have low-growing plants like alpine herbs and junipers. Some areas have been affected by grazing, but this is one of the few places in the Western Himalayas where forests and alpine meadows remain close to their natural state. The subalpine zone has the most plant species, followed by the alpine and upper temperate zones.

Trekking and tourism

In recent years, the GHNP has become a popular place for hiking and ecotourism. The GHNP office at Sai Ropa provides permits for the treks. There are many popular hiking routes in the park, ranging from short trips that take one or two days to longer trips that last a week to ten days. Ecotourism and homestay tourism have also been gaining popularity in areas near the park but outside its boundaries.

The Director's office for GHNP is located in Shamshi, which is in the Kullu valley.