National Parks by District

Kullu District

Lahaul-Spiti District

Sirmaur District

National Parks Sorted by Establishment Year (Oldest to Newest)

National Parks Sorted by Area (Largest to Smallest)

Detailed Guide to Each National Park

1. Great Himalayan National Park

District: Kullu

Area: 1171 sq km

Establishment Year: 1984

(Add your detailed content for Great Himalayan National Park here…)

2. Pin Valley National Park

District: Lahaul-Spiti

Area: 675 sq km

Establishment Year: 1987

(Add your detailed content for Pin Valley National Park here…)

3. Inderkilla National Park

District: Kullu

Area: 104 sq km

Establishment Year: 2010

(Add your detailed content for Inderkilla National Park here…)

4. Khirganga National Park

District: Kullu

Area: 710 sq km

Establishment Year: 2010

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5. Simbalbara National Park

District: Sirmaur

Area: 27.88 sq km

Establishment Year: 2010

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Summary of Sanctuaries

Here is a quick overview of all 32 wildlife sanctuaries in Himachal Pradesh, grouped by district and sorted by area and establishment year for your reference.

Wildlife Sanctuaries by District

Mandi District

Solan District

Sirmaur District

Shimla District

Bilaspur District

Chamba District

Kullu District

Kangra District

Lahaul-Spiti District

Kinnaur District

Wildlife Sanctuaries Sorted by Area (Largest to Smallest)

Wildlife Sanctuaries Sorted by Establishment Year (Oldest to Newest)

Detailed Guide to Each Sanctuary

1. Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Mandi

Area: 32.11 sq km

Establishment Year: 1962

(Add your detailed content for Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

2. Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Mandi

Area: 132.3731 sq km

Establishment Year: 1962

(Add your detailed content for Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

3. Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Mandi

Area: 29.94 sq km

Establishment Year: 1962

(Add your detailed content for Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

4. Darlaghat Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Solan

Area: 6 sq km

Establishment Year: 1974

(Add your detailed content for Darlaghat Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

5. Majathal Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Solan

Area: 30.86 sq km

Establishment Year: 1962

(Add your detailed content for Majathal Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

6. Shilli Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Solan

Area: 2 sq km

Establishment Year: 1963

(Add your detailed content for Shilli Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

7. Chail Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Solan

Area: 16 sq km

Establishment Year: 1976

(Add your detailed content for Chail Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

8. Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Sirmaur

Area: 55.52 sq km

Establishment Year: 1985

(Add your detailed content for Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

9. Renuka Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Sirmaur

Area: 3.87 sq km

Establishment Year: 1964

(Add your detailed content for Renuka Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

10. Daranghati (I & II) Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Shimla

Area: 171.50 sq km

Establishment Year: 1962

(Add your detailed content for Daranghati (I & II) Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

11. Shimla Water Catchment Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Shimla

Area: 10 sq km

Establishment Year: 1958

(Add your detailed content for Shimla Water Catchment Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

12. Talra Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Shimla

Area: 46.48 sq km

Establishment Year: 1962

(Add your detailed content for Talra Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

13. Govind Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Bilaspur

Area: 100 sq km

Establishment Year: 1962

(Add your detailed content for Govind Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

14. Naina Devi Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Bilaspur

Area: 123 sq km

Establishment Year: 1962

(Add your detailed content for Naina Devi Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

15. Gamgul Siyabehi Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Chamba

Area: 108.40 sq km

Establishment Year: 1949

(Add your detailed content for Gamgul Siyabehi Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

16. Tundah Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Chamba

Area: 64 sq km

Establishment Year: 1962

(Add your detailed content for Tundah Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

17. Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Chamba

Area: 405.49 sq km

Establishment Year: 1962

(Add your detailed content for Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

18. Sechu-Tuan Nalla Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Chamba

Area: 390.29 sq km

Establishment Year: 1962

(Add your detailed content for Sechu-Tuan Nalla Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

19. Kalatop-Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Chamba

Area: 17.17 sq km

Establishment Year: 1949

(Add your detailed content for Kalatop-Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

20. Kanwar Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Kullu

Area: 107.29 sq km

Establishment Year: 1954

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21. Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Kullu

Area: 14.94 sq km

Establishment Year: 1954

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22. Manali Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Kullu

Area: 29 sq km

Establishment Year: 1954

(Add your detailed content for Manali Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

23. Kais Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Kullu

Area: 12.61 sq km

Establishment Year: 1954

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24. Sainj Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Kullu

Area: 90 sq km

Establishment Year: 1994

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25. Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Kullu

Area: 61 sq km

Establishment Year: 1976

(Add your detailed content for Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

26. Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Kangra

Area: 982.86 sq km

Establishment Year: 1994

(Add your detailed content for Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

27. Pong Lake Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Kangra

Area: 207.59 sq km

Establishment Year: 1983

(Add your detailed content for Pong Lake Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

28. Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Lahaul-Spiti

Area: 2220.12 sq km

Establishment Year: 1992

(Add your detailed content for Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

29. Chandratal Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Lahaul-Spiti

Area: 38.56 sq km

Establishment Year: 2007

(Add your detailed content for Chandratal Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

30. Rupi-Bhaba Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Kinnaur

Area: 503 sq km

Establishment Year: 1982

(Add your detailed content for Rupi-Bhaba Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

31. Rakchham-Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Kinnaur

Area: 304 sq km

Establishment Year: 1962

(Add your detailed content for Rakchham-Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

32. Lippa Asrang Wildlife Sanctuary

District: Kinnaur

Area: 31 sq km

Establishment Year: 1962

(Add your detailed content for Lippa Asrang Wildlife Sanctuary here…)

Summary of Ramsar Sites

Here is a quick overview of all 3 Ramsar Sites in Himachal Pradesh, grouped by district and sorted by designation year and area.

Ramsar Sites by District

Kangra District

Lahaul-Spiti District

Sirmaur District

Ramsar Sites Sorted by Designation Year (Oldest to Newest)

Ramsar Sites Sorted by Area (Largest to Smallest)

Detailed Guide to Each Ramsar Site

1. Pong Dam Lake

District: Kangra

Area: 156.62 sq km

Designation Year: 2002

(Add your detailed content for Pong Dam Lake here…)

2. Chandertal

District: Lahaul-Spiti

Area: 0.49 sq km

Designation Year: 2005

(Add your detailed content for Chandertal here…)

3. Renuka Lake

District: Sirmaur

Area: 0.2 sq km

Designation Year: 2005

(Add your detailed content for Renuka Lake here…)

Summary of Conservation Reserves

Conservation Reserves by District

Solan District

Bilaspur District

Shimla District

Lahaul-Spiti District

Conservation Reserves Sorted by Establishment Year (Oldest to Newest)

Conservation Reserves Sorted by Area (Largest to Smallest)

Detailed Guide to Each Conservation Reserve

1. Darlaghat Conservation Reserve

District: Solan

Area: 0.67 sq km

Establishment Year: ~2012

• Converted from its earlier status as a Wildlife Sanctuary (est. 1974, covering ~6 sq km).
• The conversion and area reduction reflect a “rationalization” process to exclude inhabited villages and cultivable land.
• This smaller reserve focuses on targeted species protection with community participation.

2. Shilli Conservation Reserve

District: Solan

Area: 1.49 sq km

Establishment Year: ~2011

• Originally established as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1963 (re-notified 1974), covering 2.14 sq km.
• The sanctuary was created specifically to preserve the endangered Himalayan Black Bear.
• Following conversion, the area was reduced to 1.49 sq km, but the biodiversity focus remains.
• Continues to support populations of leopards, musk deer, peacocks, and pheasants.

3. Naina Devi Conservation Reserve

District: Bilaspur

Area: 17.01 sq km

Establishment Year: ~2010

• Represents the most significant area reduction among converted reserves.
• Original Wildlife Sanctuary (est. 1962) covered ~120.72 sq km.
• Conversion reduced the protected area to 17.01 sq km, aimed at balancing conservation with local land use.
• Remains ecologically important, hosting leopards, barking deer, sambar, wild boar, Himalayan black bear, and over 200 bird species.
• Recognized as part of an Important Bird Area (IBA) designation.

4. Potter Hill Conservation Reserve

District: Shimla

Area: 2.24 sq km

Establishment Year: ~2012

• Unique as it was directly designated as a conservation reserve, not converted from a sanctuary.
• Home to the Western Himalayan Temperate Arboretum (WHTA), an important research facility.
• WHTA is established by the Himalayan Forest Research Institute (HFRI), under ICFRE.
• Recognized for its significance in forest research and preserving temperate forest ecosystems.

5. Tsarap Chu Conservation Reserve

District: Lahaul-Spiti

Area: 1585 sq km

Establishment Year: 2025

• Officially notified on May 7, 2025, a landmark in India’s conservation history.
• Covering 1,585 sq km, it is India’s largest conservation reserve (surpassing Rapan Chakot, WB).
• Established after extensive consultations with local panchayats.

Geographic Boundaries and Connectivity:

• Bounded by Ladakh (North), Kibber WLS (East), Kabjima Nala (South), and Chandratal WLS/Baralacha Pass (West).
• Located in the catchment area of Charap Nala.
• Serves as a vital wildlife corridor connecting the Kibber and Chandratal sanctuaries.

Fauna and Biodiversity:

• Hosts a high density of Snow Leopards (3,000-5,000m altitude).
• Other important species: Tibetan wolf, Bharal (blue sheep), Himalayan ibex, Kiang (wild ass), and Tibetan argali.
• Rare birds include the rose finch, Tibetan raven, and yellow-billed chough.

Management and Community Participation:

• Managed by a Conservation Reserve Management Committee with representatives from local panchayats.
• Ensures conservation efforts are aligned with community interests.
• Expected to promote wildlife conservation, research, and sustainable livelihoods (eco-tourism, trekking, etc.).

Legal Framework and Management Principles

• All reserves established under Section 36A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• They differ from sanctuaries by being managed collaboratively with local communities (Panchayats, partners) rather than focusing only on strict protection.
• The process requires:
  • Consultations with local communities.
  • Field surveys and ecological data analysis.
  • Official notification under Section 36A(1).
  • Formation of Conservation Reserve Management Committees.

Significance of Conservation Reserves in HP

• The 5 reserves cover 1,606.41 sq km.
• Tsarap Chu (1,585 sq km) accounts for the vast majority; the other four combined cover only 21.41 sq km.
• Critical roles include:
  • Biodiversity conservation (especially high-altitude ecosystems).
  • Maintaining wildlife corridors for animal movement.
  • Community engagement in conservation.
  • Generating sustainable livelihoods.
  • Building climate resilience in fragile regions.
• Tsarap Chu’s position within the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO recognition, Sep 2025) integrates it with Pin Valley NP, Kibber WLS, and Chandratal Wetland.

major zoo in himachal pradesh

Shimla

• Himalayan Nature Park (Kufri): Located in Kufri, famous for high-altitude species like the Himalayan Monal.

Kangra

• Dhauladhar Nature Park (Gopalpur): Located near Palampur.
• Durgesh Aranya Zoological Park (Bankhandi): [Upcoming] Located in the Dehra subdivision; set to be a large international-standard zoo.

Sirmaur

• Renuka Ji Mini Zoo: The oldest zoo in Himachal, located around the Renuka Lake.

Mandi

• Rewalsar Mini Zoo: A small animal enclosure maintained by the forest department near Rewalsar Lake.