The Great Himalayan National Park, Kullu

The Great Himalayan National Park, otherwise known as Jawahar Lal Nehru Great Himalayan Park, is one of the prominent tourist attractions of Kullu. Sprawled over an area of 50 sq km, the national park is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna including over 30 species of mammals and more than 300 species of birds.

It is especially known for the western tragopans, highly endangered species of birds, which live in the forests of this park. The park, along with Kanawar Wildlife Sanctuary, Rupi Bhaba Sanctuary and Pin Valley National Park, make up one of the largest regions of ecosystems of the Western Himalayan region in North India that are relatively undisturbed.

Animals such as brown bears, ibex, black bears, musk deer, rare species of snow leopard and the Himalayan thar can be spotted here. The vegetation of this park includes a canopy forest, an oak forest, alpine scrubs, sub-alpine communities and alpine meadows. Berberis, Indigofera, Sarcococca and Viburnum are other species of the vegetation seen in the area. The park is also home to numerous herbaceous species that can be utilised for their aromatic and medicinal properties.