Valley of Flowers

Valley of Flowers is as full of flowers as of exotic animal species and birds. It is a sight to watch, explore and absorb. The valley is a riot of colors and fragrances so unique and exotic that one needs an entire day just to take in whatever nature is giving us that time. The valley of flowers was ‘discovered’ accidentally by Frank S. Smith in 1931 after he lost his way on a trek back to his base. It was fully explored by botanist Margaret Legge in 1939 but unfortunately she lost her life in a landslide soon after. Spread over an area of over 87.50 sq km, the Valley of Flowers was declared a national park in 1982. It was acknowledged as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.

Location
Valley of Flowers is located on the upper extension of Bhyundar Ganga, Zanskar range of the Himalayas in Chamoli District of Uttarakhand.

Best Time to Visit
Best time to visit Valley of Flowers is between the months of July to September since the valley is at full bloom in that period. Though it is open from June to October, the summer and autumn holiday rush respectively makes it impossible sometimes to get a reservation in the rest house.

Entry Requirements
All visitors to the Valley of Flowers need to obtain an entry permit from the Forest Check Post at the entrance to the park, beyond Ghangaria. Though the charges are nominal, extra charges for still cameras and video recorders are only allowed if one has written permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden.

Flora
The valley is of course filled with flowers of hundereds of species mostly being Orchids, Poppies, Primula, Calendulas, Iris, Lily, Roses, Violets, Rhododendron, Angelica, Himalayan Fritillary, Daisies and Anemones. The trees consist of mainly Birch and Rhododendron since the region is alpine in nature.

Fauna
The reserve is home to animals such as the Himalayan Tahr, Snow Leopard, Musk Deer, Red Fox, Common Langur (a type of monkey), Bharal, Serow, Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan Brown Bear, Pica (Mouse hare) and a huge variety of butterflies. The variety of birds consists of avian-fauna such as Himalayan Golden Eagle, Griffon Vulture, Snow Partridge, Himalayan Snow Cock, Himalayan Monal, Snow Pigeon, Sparrow Hawk etc.

Source:http://www.bharatonline.com/

Jim Corbett National Park

Jim Corbett National Park used to be just another Himalayan forest until in 1936 it was demarcated as a reserve area by the British Government. Jim Corbett Park is spread over 520 sq kms and is covered with huge stretches of Savannah type grasslands and Sal forests. In 1957 this place was renamed as Jim Corbett National Park from Hailey national Park. It was declared as an almost exclusive Tiger Reserve on 1st April 1973 with the help of World Wildlife Fund. Since the place is situated on the lower Himalayan belt of vegetation, it is an eco-tourism spot too.

Location
Jim Corbett National Park is located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand, near Ramnagar-Kashipur highway. The reserve takes in the Patli Dun valley formed by the Ramganga River.

Climate
The weather in the reserve is almost temperate and sunny, though it may be foggy in early mornings. The temperature varies from 5^o C (4^o F) to 30^o C (86^o F). Summer temperatures normally do not rise above 40^o C (104^o F). Rainfall ranges from light during the dry season to heavy during the monsoons. The average rainfall per year ranges from 1400mm - 2800mm.

Flora & Fauna
Prior to 1936, the Maharaja of Rewa exploited this place as his ‘shikar jungle’, largely due to its varied vegetation and animal population. The species of animals in Jim Corbett consists of the White Tiger, Throated Martem, Himalayan Palm Civet, Indian Grey Mongoose, Para, Kakka, Ghoral, Bar-headed Goose, Duck, Grepe, Snipe, Turtles, Python, Common Otter, Porcupine, Clack-taped Hare, Chital, Spotted Deer, Viper, Cobra, Krait, King Cobra, Tortoise, Graylag, Sandpiper, Gull, Cormorants and Egrets. The 488 species of flora residents are Sal, Savannah Grass, Anogeissus-Acacia catechu forests, Mallotus philippensis, Jamun and Diospyros tomentosa.

Source:http://www.bharatonline.com/uttarakhand/wildlife/jim-corbett.html

Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary

Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary was established in the year 1967 as a small man-made wetland at the convergence point of Rivers Yamuna and Asan in Dehradun. Since it is near to Dhalipur power house, it is also known as Dhalipur Lake. The area is full of lush green trees and a calm 287.5 m long water body which attracts a humungous population of local as well as migratory birds. The area covered by this avian haven is just four sq kms but the profusion of foliage ensures that birds are not disturbed by bird-watching enthusiasts. The humbling thing is that many of the birds seen here are globally threatened and are listed in the extremely endangered IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red Data book.

Location
Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary is located at approximately 40 kms west of Dehradun on Dehradun-Paonta road.

Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Asan Barage Bird Sanctuary is from October to December and from mid March to almost end of April. Serious and professional bird watchers can also have a wonderful time between the months of early May to September end. A lot of migratory birds come visiting the place at this time.

Suggestion
It is advisable to carry some woolen clothing and a windcheater with comfortable trek shoes. Mosquito repellent and binoculars are other things one must not forget to take.

Birds
The Asan Barage Bird Sanctuary attracts around 53 species of avian fauna out of which 19 are winter migratory birds from Eurasia. The population of birds consists of Pintail (Anas acuta), Red Crested Pochard (Netta rufina), Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Coot (Fulica atra), Eurasian Wigeon (Anas Penelope), Gadwall (Anas strepera), Common Teal (Anas crecca), Shoveller (Anas smithii), Egrets (Ardea alba), Herons (Ardea herodias), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) and Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus).

Flora
The terrestrial foliage is dominant by the vegetation of Shiwalik range like Sal (Shorea robusta), Dhaora / Axlewood (Anogeissus latifolia), Jhingan (Lannea coromandelica), Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo) and Red Silk Cotton Tree (Bombax ceiba). The marine plants in the area are Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Sago Pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus), Elephant Grass (Typha elephantina) and Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum).

Source: http://www.bharatonline.com/uttarakhand/wildlife/assan.html

Nanda Devi National Park

Nanda Devi National Park along with the nearby Valley of Flowers was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Nanda Devi National Park is a forest reserve cum national park (established 1982) in the area surrounding the Nanda Devi peak and covers an area of 630.33 sq kms. The name Nandadevi has been inspired from the name of the resident deity of the area Nanda Devi (a manifestation of Goddess Parvati). The Nanda Devi peak is basically a glacial basin with a height of about 7,817 m (25,646 ft) drained by Rishi Ganga through the sharp Rishi Ganga gorge.

Location
Nanda Devi National Park is located in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, in the transition range between the Zanskar range and Himalayan foothills.

Best Time to Visit
The Nandadevi National Park remains open only for six months, from 1st May to 31st October every year.

Rules for Visit
Visitors must move in groups and not venture alone in any condition. Each group will have five members and one registered guide has to accompany each group. A maximum of two groups per day and four groups per week are allowed. Children only above 14 years of age will be allowed for park visit. It is mandatory for all visitors to obey the list of rules and wildlife protection act inside the park area.

Suggestion
Carry woolen clothing in layers since it sometimes gets very chilly there. Take along an extra pair of sturdy trekking shoes and hiking equipment because one has to walk a lot. Apply sunscreen and mosquito repellent to save yourself from sun burns and mosquito bites. Lastly, consult your doctor before coming since high altitude may be adverse in cases of asthma or heart troubles.

Flora
The flora is found abundantly in the Nanda Devi National Park since the confluence of two mountain ranges provides a tremendous range of diversity to the area. It is known that the local populations use a total of 97 species of plants. The breakdown includes 55 as food plants, 17 for medicine, 16 for fuel, 15 as fodder, 11 for religious purposes, eight for building houses, six for miscellaneous, five as tools and two as fibers. There are also many rare and almost extinct plants like Saussurea sudhanshui, Nardostachys grandiflora, Picroehiza kurrooa, Cypripedium elegans, C. himalaicum, Dioscorea deltoidea and Allium stracheyi.

Fauna
Nanda Devi National Park is well-known for the profusion of its varied 83 species animal population. It is common to find rare species here like Bharal (Pseudois nayaur), Himalayan Musk Deer (Moschus chrysogaster), Mainland Serow (Capricornis sumatraensis), Himalayan Tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus), Goral (Nemorhaedus goral), Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia), Common Leopard (Panthera pardus), Himalayan Black Bear (Selenarctos thibetanus), Common Langur (Presbytis entellus), Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mullata). Also, there are about 114 avian species and 27 species of butterflies alone.

Source: http://www.bharatonline.com/uttarakhand/wildlife/nanda-devi.html

Rajaji National Park

Rajaji National Park was established in 1983 amidst the bio diverse area of the Shivalik Hill range on the Himalayan foothills. The national park’s name has been dedicated to C. Rajagopalachari, fondly known as Raja Ji. He was a prominent freedom fighter, the 1954 recipient of Bharat Ratna and the second and last Governor-General of Independent India. The reserve is spread over 820.42 square kms, covering almost three districts of Uttaranchal (Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri Garhwal). The park has 10 comfortable guest houses and visitors are allowed to cook their own food.

Location
Rajaji National Park is situated in the foothills of the Shiwalik Eco-System near Dehradun, Haridwar and Ramgarh.

Best Time to Visit
The park is open from 15th November to 15th June every year. It is closed during monsoons. The altitude level ranges from 300 to 1345 m above sea level so the temperature hovers around 13.1^o C (minimum) to 38.9^o C (maximum).

Accessibility
There are three ways to enter the Rajaji National Park. The first is through the Dehradun to Delhi State Highway which forms the western boundary of the park. The second is through Dehradun-Doiwala-Rishikesh-Haridwar State Highway which passes through the forests of Ramgarh, Motichur, Kunao and Chila. One can also reach the park through Saharanpur by train. One has to get off at Mohand and them its and hour’s journey by road.

Flora
The stable vegetation of the park is basically Northern Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest and can be separated into six categories. The divisions include the Sal forest (the dominant tree vegetation in the area), the mixed forest (which includes trees like Acacia catechu and Vetiveria zizanioides), the riverside forest which has the vegetation occurring in water logged areas like moss, the ‘scrub’ forest is the dry deciduous forest area, the grassland and the sub-tropical pine forest on the higher Shiwalik range with small or stunted trees such as Pinus roxburghii (Chir). The other vegetation species consist of Haldu, Bachera, Kharpat, Phauri, Amaltas, Peepal, Bel, Kachnar, Ber and Karaunda.

Fauna
The Rajaji National Park has approximately 49 species of mammals, 315 species of birds, 49 species of reptiles, 10 species of amphibians and 49 of Piscean species. This park has the largest population of elephants in Uttarakhand and a large population of tigers and leopards. The other inhabitants of the park consist of Wild Cat, Goral, Rhesus Macaque, Himalayan Yellow Throated Marten, Monitor, Lizard, Indian Hare, Sloth, Himalayan Black Bear, King Cobra, Jackal, Barking Deer, Sambar, Wild boar, Indian Langur, Indian Porcupine and Pythons. The population of birds consists of the Great Pied Hornbill, Himalayan Pied Kingfisher, Sparrows, Fire Tailed Sunbird and the Peacock (Indian National Bird).

Source:http://www.bharatonline.com/uttarakhand/wildlife/rajaji.html

Uttarakhand Wildlife

Uttarakhand is a wonderful tourist destination. Thousands of people go there every year to rejuvenate themselves amidst the mountains. The mountains in Uttarakhand are home to rare species of plants and animals which are protected by sanctuaries and reserves. The major sanctuaries and reserves of the area are Jim Corbett National Park, Valley of Flowers National Park, Govind National Park, Nanda Devi National Park, Rajaji National Park and Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary.

The most common animals found in Uttarakhand are wild sheep, goat, oxen, antelopes and butterflies but rare and endangered animals such as Musk Deer, Snow Leopard, Ghorals and Monal are also found here.

Jim Corbett National Park is one of the most famous wildlife sanctuaries of Uttarakhand. Established by the British government as a reserve area to protect tigers, today one can observer them in their natural habitat.

The Nanda Devi National Park & Valley of Flowers have been named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since the Valley of Flowers resembles Kashmir when in full bloom, it is worth giving a visit.

Both Rajaji National Park and Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary are very close to Dehradun, the capital city of Uttarakhand. Though one cannot cover both of them in a day, one can certainly make Dehradun the base and then explore both the wonderful places, especially for a wildlife aficionado.

Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary
Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary was established in the year 1967 as a small man-made wetland at the convergence point of Rivers Yamuna and Asan in Dehradun. Since it is near to Dhalipur power house, it is also known as Dhalipur Lake.

Govind National Park
Govind National Park, also known as Govind Pashu Vihar, was established to save the increasingly endangered species. This sanctuary is spread over an area of 957.969 sq. kms with a varying altitude of 1,300 m to 6,323 m.

Jim Corbett National Park
Jim Corbett National Park used to be just another Himalayan forest until in 1936 it was demarcated as a reserve area by the British Government. Jim Corbett Park is spread over 520 sq kms and is covered with huge stretches of Savannah type grasslands and Sal forests.

Nanda Devi National Park
Nanda Devi National Park along with the nearby Valley of Flowers was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Nanda Devi National Park is a forest reserve cum national park (established 1982) in the area surrounding the Nanda Devi peak and covers an area of 630.33 sq kms.

Rajaji National Park
Rajaji National Park was established in 1983 amidst the bio diverse area of the Shivalik Hill range on the Himalayan foothills. The national park’s name has been dedicated to C. Rajagopalachari, fondly known as Raja Ji.

Valley of Flowers
Valley of Flowers is as full of flowers as of exotic animal species and birds. It is a sight to watch, explore and absorb. The valley is a riot of colors and fragrances so unique and exotic that one needs an entire day just to take in whatever nature is giving us that time.

Source: http://www.bharatonline.com/uttarakhand/wildlife/index.html

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About Dehradun

Dehradun is the Capital of the North Indian state of Uttarakhand which was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in the year 2000. The city is also the headquarters of the Dehradun district. The scenic beauty of the city has been captivating generations of tourists and settlers ever since the first group of Sikh wanderers camped in these valleys after being banished by the mughul emperor Aurangzeb to the wilderness. Touristplacesinindia offers complete information about Dehradun including its history and tourist attractions.

History

Tapkeshwar Temple,Dehradun Travel, Dehradun Tour, Dehradun Uttaranchal, Places to Visit in Dehradun Dehradun is the Capital of the North Indian state of Uttarakhand which was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in the year 2000. The city is also the headquarters of the Dehradun district. The scenic beauty of the city has been captivating generations of tourists and settlers ever since the first group of Sikh wanderers camped in these valleys after being banished by the mughul emperor Aurangzeb to the wilderness. Touristplacesinindia offers complete information about Dehradun including its history and tourist attractions.


The area has been ruled by many groups over the centuries. The Katyuris of Garhwal ruled here for a long time to be followed by the Sikhs and the Mughuls. The area went under the control of the Gurkhas after that. Following the war between the Gurkhas and the British, the treaty of Sugauli was signed in 1816 and the area came under British control.


FACT FILE
Area 37.17 sq. km
Population 270,159
Altitude 695 metres
Languages spoken Hindi and English
Best Time to Visit November-December and April-July
STD code 0135

From Dehradun , tourists can visit Rishikesh, Hardwar , Auli, Mussoorie and other tourist destinations in Uttarakhand. There are many reputed schools, academic institutions and research centers in Dehradun.


Dehradun is famous for a special variety of rice popularly known as Dehradun rice. The district is home to many famous schools including the Army school and the Doon school.

Touristplacesinindia.com offers all inclusive information about Dehradun and other tourist places in India.

Source: http://www.touristplacesinindia.com/dehradun/about-dehradun.html

Malsi Deer Park

Malsi Deer Park, located in the outskirts of Dehradun, equally enthralls both the adults and children. It is one of the major tourist attractions in the city and also acts as a savior of natural environment from unnecessary business propositions. It falls on the way to Mussoorie (with a little diversion of course), another highly rated tourist spot. Malsi Deer Park is Zoological Garden based amidst the Himalayan vegetation and Shiwalik foothills.

Deer Family in Park
The place is full of sprightly young spotted deer breeds with a shy yet curious nature. More than once they will stare at you and when you go near them to take a better look or click a picture, they will just sprint away. Other than the Deers, there are beautiful peacocks enclosed in net cages for their fear of being poached. This reservoir also has a Neelgai, also known as the Indian Antelope. Since they are extremely rare and are on the endangered species list, it is a wonderful sight to see them in their natural environment.

Package for Entire Family
The park also has the Two-Horned Deer and a large population of different birds, making it an ideal place to have a mini picnic. The park authorities also have installed several slides to let the children enjoy while adults take a breather. They can also feed the different types of cute and cuddly rabbits. All these things make it a package for the entire family to go on an impromptu outing, the best part being they don’t have to carry snacks as the park has a small but resourceful canteen.

Guchhupani & Lachhiwala

Dehradun is a beautiful place with lots of picnic spots. Two of these are quite famous, namely Robber’s Cave (also known as Guchhupani) and Lachhiwala. Though they have different attractions to entice people, both these places are ideal examples of the treasures of nature in Uttarakhand. Guchhupani is basically a natural cave with an ice cold spring where erstwhile robbers used to hide from Britishers. Lachhiwala, on the other hand, is a picnic spot with just enough uncovered area amongst the forests with a river flowing nearby. Read on to know more about them.

Guchhupani
Guchhupani or Robber’s Cave is located in Vijaypur near Anarwala, about eight kilometers from Dehradun Clock Tower. Since it is quite in the interiors of Anarwala village, one sometimes has to trek or take a sturdy vehicle to reach the place. This place as a picnic spot was established by the British Officials in the mid of their rule here. It is popular and is considered unusual because the freezing spring goes underground at someplace, reappearing a few meters away from the underground tunnel. This stream passes through cave, a natural rift in the mountains.

Lachhiwala
Lachhiwala is also a famous outing destination between the locals. It is located just three kilometers from Doiwala and about 22 kms from Dehradun. The place is really serene and striking being absolutely untouched by any kind of commercialization. Though many people prefer to go only for the day but the government has set up a guest house for overnight visitors.

One can take a dip in the Suswa River, pay their obeisance at the Laxman Sidh temple and then cook food in the open air for that extra thrill. The place is full of Sal (Shorea robusta) trees and anthills; the nearby forest also has monkeys so keep a check on you food items!!

Sahastradhara picnic spots

Its name deciphered as the ‘Thousand Fold Spring’ in English, Sahastradhara is one of the most beautiful and serene picnic spots in Dehradun . It is very popular amongst both the locals as well as the tourists coming to the city. Its name emerges from the fact that the water literally drips down from limestone stalactites numbering thousands. During monsoons the water flow increases and in turn the floral vegetation of the area increases significantly, much to the delight of visitors. Though at first the water came from a hill but over the years these stalactites have formed a sort of grotto or cave.

Location
Sahastradhara is situated around 15 kms east of Dehradun Bus Stand in the state of Uttarakhand.

Curative Reservoir
The 9 m fall of water of Sahasradhara through the lime shelf unconsciously summons the visitors. It has an aged appeal and magnificence which only matches the healing powers of its waters. Sahastradhara also has a Sulphur spring near falls which has the medicinal properties and supposedly cures skin diseases or ailments. In addition to curing the skin disorders, the healing aqua also has additional restorative distinctiveness. Due to these properties of the waters, many people come here just to take a dip and then relax.

Nature’s Bounty
Very near to the springs is located the Baldi River which is an ideal place for excursions and picnics with your family and friends. After the day out in sometimes chaotic and business prone Sahastradhara, a rejuvenating picnic near Baldi River would prove a welcome change for all. And since the river area overlooks the Sahasradhara, it turns out to be an ideal place to laze around in the splendor of natural world.