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Govind Wildlife Sanctuary
Set amidst the scenic beauty of the Himalayas, the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Uttarkashi district of Uttararanchal.
Established on March 1, 1955, the sanctuary is home to many endangered animals, including the elusive snow leopard. The area is also rich in flora, especially medicinal plants.
The sanctuary is important as far as the snow leopard goes. In the Eighth Plan, the Government of India launched the Snow Leopard Project for the conservation of this elusive cat. Govind Wildlife Sanctuary was one of the sites identified by an expert team throughout the Himalayas to implement this project. The upper reaches (the snow leopard habitat) of the sanctuary were notified as a national park, which covers an area of 472.08 sqkm. The sanctuary gets light to heavy snowfall in winter, while the summers are cool. Trekking is an attraction not only inside the park, but also outside it. Dehradun, Haridwar and Rishikesh are not far off from the park.
Area: 957.969 sq.km
Mammals: Snow leopard, black bear, brown bear, musk deer, bharal, Himalayan thar, serow and common leopard.
Birds: Over 150 species of birds are found here. Monal pheasant, koklas pheasant, western tragopan, Himalayan snow cock, golden eagle, steppe eagle, black eagle, bearded vulture, parakeets, cuckoos, owls, minivets, bulbuls, warblers, thrushes, finches and buntings.
How to get there
Naitwar, the entrance to the sanctuary, can be approached from Dehradun.
Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 231 km.
Road: Accessible by road via Rishikesh-Uttarkashi or via Mussoorie- Purola-Saur.
Bus services are available from Uttarkashi, Barkot Dehradun, Naitwar to Saur-Sankri.
Rail: The nearest railhead is Dehradun, 207 km.
Best time to visit: From April to June and September to November.
Contact: Director, Rajaji National Park, Dehradun, ph: 0135-2621669 or visit www.rajajinationalpark.org
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