Nanda
Devi National Park
The
Sanctuary has been converted to a National Park and temporarily
closed for visitors on environmental considerations. It
has an average altitude exceeding 4500 mts. and is surrounded
by as many as seventy lofty peaks, the Nandadevi (7817 mts.)
being the highest. It is in the form of cup with lush green
meadows, chuting white waterfalls, and rich wild flora and
fauna. Sir Edmund Hillary described the  Sanctuary as a god-gifted
wilderness - India's training ground for adventure - and
truly so. Eric Shipton wrote, amongst many superlatives
for the Sanctuary, "All around us was mountain architecture
more magnificent even than the great southern battlements
of Everest ".
Joshimath
is the base for collection of stores, provisions, porters,
guides etc. One route approaches the Sanctuary from Lata,
on the Joshimath-Malari Route. One trek from there to Lata
Kharak, an open, wild and grassy hilltop, providing a fabulous
mountainscape all around.
The
Lata Kharak - Dharansi Pass appears to be a long trek with
many ascents and descents yet everything is forgotten when
Nandadevi comes into view on crossing the pass. The trek
follows a ridge traversing rocky surface till Malatuni Pass,
where the other trek route from Rini (near Lata) following
the Rishi Ganga river generally, via Kalikuna and Chinwari,
meets. It is continuous descent of about 800 metres through
alpine grassland thereafter, before Rishi Ganga is crossed
at Deodi, wherefrom Trishul - Base camp trek via Bethartoli
and Tridang bifurcates. Debrugheta meadow with its floral
designs and the grandstand view of peaks around it is exhilarating.
The Deodi - Ramni trek passes through dense forests of Junipers
and Varieties of Rhododendrons. The Sanctuary opens up there.
Nanda
Devi National Park
The wildlife to be found in the park include Snow Leopard,
Brown and Himalayan Black Bears, Bharal, Himalayan Tahr,
Serow,Monal and Chir Pheasants.
Air: Nearest
airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 315 kms (approx).
Road: Nearest
road head is Lata, 30 kms from Joshimath, also connected
by bus services. Joshimath is linked by road to Rishikesh
and other centres in the region
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