Introduction
Uttarakhand is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and widely visited states in northern India crossed by the Himalayas. It is widely renowned and recognised for its Hindu pilgrimage sites and one of its famous cities known as Rishikesh is said to be a major centre for yoga study which was made quite famous by the Beatles in their 1968 visit. The spiritual gathering on the sacred Ganges River and the evening Ganga Aarti are worth praising and it is also the major factor which has been attracting an endless number of Hindu pilgrims throughout the year.
The very famous and utmost mesmerising Jim Corbett National Park which is home to Bengal tigers and several other native wildlife species is located right here in the heart of Uttarakhand. Being such a great tourist destination, it is very obvious to have several amazing attractions for tourists to explore however in this article below we would be precisely discussing wildlife sanctuaries in Uttarakhand which one must definitely visit and enjoy a day amid the wildlife.
7 Best Wildlife Sanctuaries In Uttarakhand
Some of the finest wildlife sanctuaries located in Uttarakhand are mentioned below which one must visit to explore the various species which roam around here.
1. Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary
2. Pangot And Kilbury Bird Sanctuary
3. Rajaji Wildlife Sanctuary
4. Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand
5. Askot Sanctuary, Pithoragarh
6. Govind Pashu Vihar Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttarakhand
7. Benog Wildlife Sanctuary, Mussoorie
1. Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary
Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary is well located in the foothills of the mighty Himalayas right in Almora district of Uttarakhand. When we speak of the wildlife sanctuaries in Uttarakhand then it is for obvious reasons the very amazing Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary always tops the chart. Since its inception in the year 1988, it has been offering the best it could to every visitor who had been here. It is rightly set at an altitude of 2,270 m and it is said to cover an area about 47.04 sq. km. Besides protecting wildlife and offering the visitors to see and witness the wildlife species of various kinds, it was initially established to conserve the broad leaf oak forests.
Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary is very well rich in diversified flora and fauna and it is certainly known to be home to an endless number of plants and animals. The prestigious Bird Life International has declared the said sanctuary as an Important Bird Area owing to the 200 plus bird species which can be spotted here such as Forktail, Blackbirds, Laughing Thrush, Pheasant, Nuthatches and Monal. While speaking of the wildlife species spotted here, we can start with Barking Deer, Himalayan Bear, leopard, for, musk deer, porcupine, langur, chital, flying squirrel and several others. Though the sanctuary is open throughout the year however it is best recommended to visit between February and April or October and November.
Entry fee: INR 150 for person/day, INR 75 for Students, INR 600 for foreigners
Safari Timings: NA
Safari: NA
Movie / Video: NA
Rafting: NA
Cost of Guide: NA
Vehicle Entry fee: INR 250 for Small, INR 500 for Medium, INR 800 for Heavy
Timings: 6 AM to 6 PM
Ideal for: Friends, family
Ideal trip duration: Half/Full day
Location: Almora, Uttarakhand, India
How to reach: Distance (From Almora): 26 Kms
Staying options: Tourists seeking to spend a night here can stay at Jungle Resort
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2. Pangot And Kilbury Bird Sanctuary
Pangot and Kilbury Bird Sanctuary is one of the best sanctuaries in Nainital District located about 15 km away from Tallital Bus Stand and nearly within 3 km from Pangot. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that this very sanctuary is considered to be a bird watcher’s paradise for obvious reasons. Being graciously set at an altitude of about 2,528 m, it is very well known to offer some decent scenic and picturesque views which will lure your eyes and leave you in awe.
This amazing sanctuary is well situated amidst lush dense forest of oak, pine and of course, rhododendron and the visitors can spot several species of bird within its vicinity. The commonly spotted birds here are Brown Wood Owls, White-Throated Laughing Thrushes, Fork Tails and Collared Grosbeaks. With more than 580 species of birds to see and spot, this sanctuary can truly be considered to be the best for visitors travelling with friends and family including children. A wide variety of mammals such as Leopard Cat, Sambhar, Himalayan Goral, Wild Boar, Barking Deer, Red Fox and several others can be spotted here and as the said sanctuary is set midst mountains hence driving here is quite exciting and fun for sure.
Timings: NA
Safari Timings: NA
Entrance Fee: NA
Safari: NA
Movie / Video: NA
Rafting: NA
Cost of Guide: NA
Ideal for: Family, friends
Ideal trip duration: 2 hours
Location: Nainital, Uttarakhand, India
How to reach: Distance (From Nainital Bus Station): 15 Kms
Staying options: CKilbury has a tourist bungalow for visitors who want to spend a day in the company of birds.
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3. Rajaji Wildlife Sanctuary
Image Credit: A.J.T. Johnsingh for Wikimedia Commons
Rajaji Wildlife Sanctuary is a fine and quite renowned wildlife sanctuary and a recognised Tiger Reserve located near Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun about 8 km, 21 km and 55 km away respectively. This is quite a huge spot sanctuary which is stretched over 820.42 sq. km and it is certainly considered to be one of the must-visit national parks in India for various reasons. It is very well known to boast a wide variety of fauna with over 23 mammals and about 300 plus bird species.
It is a very fine home to a wide variety of wildlife species such as tiger, leopard, Himalayan bear, cheetah, hog deer, barking deer, Nilgai, Goral, Jackal, Hyena, Jungle Cat, Civets, Sloth Bears, Pythons, King Cobra, Common Krait, Monitor Lizard and several others. There is a river that flows through the said sanctuary which provides shelter to several species of fish such as goonch, chilwa, trout and mahseer. Visitors can avail the opportunity to go for the wild safari within the sanctuary’s vicinity which will give a better and much closer look at the flora and fauna provided the safari needs to be booked in advance.
To add some more relevant information, the typical 30 km jeep safari is said to last about an hour. Bird watching, treks and walking across the sanctuary is one of the favourite pastimes witnessed here and this place is recommended to visitors coming with friends and family let alone with children where they can have their fair share of fun and excitement too.
Timings: 6 AM to 5 PM in summer, 6 AM to 3.30 PM in winter
Safari Timings: 6 AM – 9 AM and 2 PM – 5 PM.
Entrance Fee: INR 150 for Indian, INR 600 for Foreigners
Safari: INR 250 for Indians, INR 500 for Foreigners
Movie / Video: INR 2500 for Indians, INR 5000 for Foreigners
Rafting: INR 800 per person
Cost of Guide: INR 300 for general guide, INR 600 for experienced Bird and wildlife guide
Ideal for: Friends, family
Ideal trip duration: 3 to 4 hours
Location: Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India
How to reach: Distance (From Haridwar Jn Railway Station): 8 Kms
Staying options: Nearby lodge and hotels
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4. Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand
One of the famous wildlife sanctuaries in Uttarakhand is Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand located in the Himalayan foothills. The park offers shelter to rare species such as tigers, a variety of flora and fauna. If you are a wildlife photographer or wildlife enthusiast then this is a must visit for you as you will get to capture some of the endangered species like Royal Bengal Tiger.
Timings: Winter season that is November and February when all the zones are open
Safari Timings: NA
Entrance Fee: INR 200 /- for Indians, INR 1000 /- for Foreigners
Safari: INR 250 /- for Indians for light vehicles, INR 500 /- for Foreigners for light vehicles
Movie / Video: NA
Rafting: NA
Cost of Guide: INR 3000 / person for foreigners, INR 1500 / person for Indians
Ideal for: Friends and Family
Ideal trip duration: 1 to 2 hours
Location: Nainital district, Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand, India
How to reach: You can reach Corbett National Park from Ramnagar which is the nearest railway station.
Staying options: Corbett Leela Vilas, Corbett Hideaway, Dhikala Forest Lodge
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5. Askot Sanctuary, Pithoragarh
If you are a wildlife lover or say a botany enthusiast then Askot Wildlife Sanctuary will lay before you a wide variety of flora and fauna. Askot Sanctuary is one of the famous wildlife sanctuaries in Uttarakhand at a height of 5412 meters located at a distance of 54 km from Pithoragarh. The environment is great here and you are going to have fun.
Timings: 8 AM to 5 PM
Safari Timings: NA
Entrance Fee: No fees charged
Safari: No fees charged
Movie / Video: NA
Rafting: NA
Cost of Guide: NA
Ideal for: Adventure Groups
Ideal trip duration: 2 to 3 hours
Location: Near Didihat, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, India
How to reach: You can reach Askot Sanctuary easily via road transport from Haldwani, Almora or from Tanakpur, Pithoragarh.
Staying options:You can prefer to stay in Askotias Himalayan Guest House or in any nearby lodge.
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6. Govind Pashu Vihar Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand is known for its wildlife sanctuaries and national parks giving shelter to wildlife along with a variety of flora and fauna. One such famous wildlife sanctuary in Uttarakhand is Govind Pashu Vihar Wildlife Sanctuary known for providing a safe haven for the endangered wildlife. Initially it was a wildlife sanctuary but now is a National park.
Timings: April to June and from September to November
Safari Timings: NA
Entrance Fee: INR 50 /- for Indians, INR 250 /- for Foreigners
Safari: Minimal charges are charged which might change
Movie / Video: NA
Rafting: NA
Cost of Guide: NA
Ideal for: You can prefer to stay in Askotias Himalayan Guest House or in any nearby lodge.
Ideal trip duration: 1 to 2 hours
Location: Near Dharkadhi, Uttarakhand, India
How to reach: At a distance of 207 kms from Railway Station Dehradun.
Staying options: You can choose to stay in one of the nearby hotels in Supin Range.
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7. Benog Wildlife Sanctuary, Mussoorie
Benog Wildlife Sanctuary is known for providing shelter to the endangered species such as mountain quails, leopards, deer and some red billed blue magpie. You will get to experience rare species of birds also and beautiful views of Himalayan peaks where you can take a walk. If you visit Uttarakhand then make a plan to visit Benog Wildlife Sanctuary in Mussoorie.
Timings: 7 AM to 5 PM
Safari Timings: NA
Entrance Fee: INR 150 /- for Indians, INR 600 /- for Foreigners
Safari: INR 250 /- for Indians for light vehicles, INR 500 /- for Foreigners for light vehicles
Movie / Video: NA
Rafting: NA
Cost of Guide: NA
Ideal for: Wildlife lovers and friends
Ideal trip duration: 3 to 4 hours
Location: Mussoorie Range, Uttarakhand 248179, India
How to reach: Benog Wildlife Sanctuary is located at a distance of approx. 11 kms from the library point in Mussoorie. You can easily reach by using any land mode of transport.
Staying options: There are variety of options near the sanctuary for staying purposes
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