1. 1. The Himalayas have been a source of awe and inspiration for millennia to countless individuals. They are the largest, tallest and geologically youngest mountains on our planet. The himalaya are also one of the most fragile mountain regions of the world and hold an enormous repository of biological diversity which is increasingly under pressure from human activities. The unique ecological aspects of the western himalayas led to the creation of the great himalayan national park (GHNP) in the kullu district of India's mountain state of Himachal pradesh. These features include biodiversity, sparse human populations, inaccessibility, little tourism, and a local economy based on traditional livelihoods.
2. 2. It is located in kullu district of himachal pradesh . Initially constituted in 1984 , GNHP was formally declared a national park in 1999 covering an area of 1171 km .
3. 3. In june 2014, GHNP was added to the UNESCO list of the heritage sites. The UNESCO world heritage site committee granted the states to the park under the criteria exceptional natural beauty &conservation of biological diversity
4. 4. Extent In 1984, the Himachal Wildlife Project (HWP) surveyed the upper Beas region to help establish the boundaries of the park. An area comprising the watersheds of Jiwa , Sainj, and Tirthan rivers became the Great Himalayan National Park in 1984. Starting from an altitude of 1,700 metres above mean sea level, the highest peak within the Park approaches almost 5,800 metres. The national park is protected on the nothern ,eastern,&southern boundaries by permanent snow . To facilitate conservation a 5 km wide buffer area, extending from the western periphery of the Park, has been classified as the Ecodevelopment Project Area (EPA) or Ecozone.
5. 5. The EPA has an area of 326.6 km (including 61 km of Tirthan wildlife sanctuary) with about 120 small villages, comprising 1600 households with a population of about 16,000. Since, the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972 does not permit any habitation in the National Park, an area of 90 km in Sainj valley encompassing the two villages of Shakti and Marore has been classified as Sainj Wildlife Sanctuary
6. 6. flora The Great Himalayan National Park supports a great diversity of plant life. From the lofty pines and spruces and the great, spreading horse chestnuts of the lower valleys, to the dense cushions and prostrate branches of the alpine herbs and junipers, the Park presents an endless variety of vegetation. Although some areas have been modified by grazing, this is one of the few areas of the Western Himalayas where the forests and alpine meadows can be seen in something approaching their original state.
7. 7. Horse chestnut junipers Horse chestnut leave.
8. 8. Within the Great Himalayan National Park, birds such as Long-tailed Minivets, Yellow-bellied Fantails, Wallcreepers, White-collared and Grey-winged blackbirds become common at the lowest altitudes in winters. Heavy snow may bring down more exotic species, such as variegated laughing thrush, Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler, Spectacled Finch and Golden Bush Robin, all of which may occur from October to February in the lower parts of the main valleys of the Park. In addition, there are a few species of longer distance migrants that winter preferentially in the Park: Blue-capped Redstart, Black-throated Thrush and Black-throated Accentor
9. 9. Spectacled finch Golden bush robin Wall creeper bird Minivet bird
10. 10. SRIYAMINI.E BY