Great Himalayan National Park

The Great Himalayan National Park was established in 1984 and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in June 2014 for its biodiversity. The UNESCO property, the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area, covers about 1,171 km²; the national park at its core is roughly 754 km². It ranges from about 1,500 m to over 5,800 m and protects habitat for species such as the Himalayan tahr, blue sheep, musk deer, monal and, at higher elevations, the snow leopard. No roads run into the core zone, so visits are on foot from entry points near Gushaini, Sai Ropa and Sainj. Multi-day treks with local guides go to areas like Rolla, Shilt and Tirath.

1. Base at Gushaini or Sai Ropa in the Tirthan valley, ~60 km from Aut on the Manali highway.
2. Nearest airport is Bhuntar (~50 km); Aut on the Manali highway is the road junction, reached from Chandigarh.
3. Get the entry permit at the park range office and arrange a registered guide.

April to June and September to early November. The core is snow-bound in winter and leeches are common during the monsoon.

• The core zone has no lodges — treks are camping-based with guides and porters.
• Permits and guides are mandatory for entry beyond the ecozone.
• The buffer 'ecozone' villages offer homestays and short day walks without a deep trek.

Individual pages for these are added as they are reviewed.

• Best time to visit Himachal Pradesh (month by month, by region)
• A 4-day Kullu–Manali itinerary