The Nanda Devi National Park is located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It is surrounded by some magnificent Himalayan ranges. The National Park is located at an altitude of about 2,400 to 6,800 metres above sea level. The Nanda Devi Biosphere has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO as well. This park also encompasses the Nanda Devi Sanctuary which is a glacial basin and is surrounded by some beautiful and high altitude peaks.
The Nandadevi Wildlife Sanctuary can be divided into two sections; the inner and the outer parts. Together, they make up the main sanctuary. The inner sanctuary occupies about two-thirds of the eastern side of the park while the outer sanctuary contains the remaining part of the sanctuary. The outer sanctuary is separated from the inner by high ridges, through which Rishi Ganga flows.
The Nandadevi National Park has a wide variety of animals. However, most popular among them are Leopard, Snow leopard, Himalayan Black Bear, Brown Bear and Bharal. One can also find Himalayan Tahr, Himalayan Musk Deer, Common Langur, Goral, Serow, etc. inside the park. Not only animal, there are many bird species that can be found in the park as well. Over 80 species of birds are found in the sanctuary, most significant ones being the Warblers, Gresbreaks, Rose Finches and Ruby Throat.
The Nandadevi National Park is also home to as many as 312 species of plants. Out of these, approximately 17 are believed to be quite rare. A major portion of the vegetation consists of fir, birch, rhododendron, and juniper.
