Nandadevi National Park

Nestled amidst the Himalayan Ranges of the Chamoli District of the state of Uttaranchal, is the Nandadevi National Park. It has got its name from the Nanda Devi Peak (the second highest mountain peak of India), which is close by. It is bounded on all sides by the mountains, leaving the west side, as it features a gorge. Regarding the latitude of this park, it needs to be said here that the park stretches from the 79degree 53’in longitude in the East to 30 degree 24’in latitude in the North. It occupies an area of 630 square kilometers. The Nandadevi National Park is the home to a wide variety of flora as well as fauna. The rich vegetation of this park includes 312 species of plants.

As you step inside this park, you would come across 17 species of plants, which are rare to find. The plants or the trees that dominate this park are the birch, fir and the rhododendron. The Alpine vegetation also occupies a major portion of the land and the alpine vegetation comprises mosses, juniper, lichens and scrubs.

However, at the Nandadevi National Park, you would also come across wild creatures, such as the Himalayan Musk Deer, Himalayan Black Bear, Brown Bear and the Snow Leopards. This park provides you with the scope to see these animals in their natural habitat. To be specific, it needs to be stated here that it is the home to 80 species of wild creatures.

The best way to explore this park is to opt for the nature trails. For this purpose, it is best to take the help of a professional guide. As you walk through, you would not be able to restrict yourself from admiring the beauty of this park, which has been enhanced by the gorges, the waterfalls, the cliffs and the undulating lush green lands.

After a few years, since it got declared as a National Park in the year 1982, it came to be recognized as a Biosphere Reserve. Its proudest moment was, when it was declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.

To get to this park, the easiest way is to drive through the Lata Village, situated at a distance of 23 kilometers from the Joshinath.