Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, was established in 1982 and is located in the Himalayan mountains in the northern part of the country, includes core areas of Nanda Devi mountain park and Valley of Flowers national parks, both of which are World Heritage site. The National Park was inscribed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988. It was later expanded and renamed as Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks in 2005. Together they encompass a unique transition zone between the mountain ranges of the Zanskar and Great Himalaya. The reserve is situated around the Nanda Devi peak in the state of Uttarakhand, India. The entire park lies at an elevation of more than 3,500 m above mean sea level.
The first attempt to explore the sanctuary was in 1883 by W. W. Graham, who could proceed only up to Rishi Ganga. Other attempts were made by explorers in 1870, 1926, 1927 and 1932. Eric Shipton and H. W. Tilman entered the inner sanctuary through Rishi Ganga in 1934, thus opening the extensive exploration in the sanctuary. In 1939, the area was declared as a game sanctuary. This rich biodiversity is evident in the park, that is home to numerous rare and endangered animals, including Common larger mammals like Himalayan musk deer, mainland serow, Himalayan tahr, Goral, snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, and brown bear. Langurs, rhesus macaque, and blue sheep are also found here.
The gentle landscape of ‘Valley of Flowers National Park complements the rugged mountain wilderness of Nanda Devi National Park with its numerous varieties of flowers. Valley of Flowers National Park, known for outstanding natural beauty and endemic alpine flowers is located in area between North Chamoli and Pithoragarh, is globally known for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and the variety of birds found in the park including the rare Himalayan monal pheasant and other high-altitude birds. In a scientific expedition in 1993, a total of 114 bird species. The biosphere is home to a wide variety of flora, including some 1,000-plant species of which 17 are rare species and 312 floral species found here including fir, birch, rhododendron and juniper. The percentage of native and endemic species is high compared to non-native species in the biosphere. Over 55% of the species are native to Himalaya, over 10 are endemic and 225 are near endemic. Among these plant resources, of which 224 species are used by locals for medicine, food, and animal fodder.
The National Park can be divided into two parts, Inner and Outer. Together, surrounded by main sanctuary wall, which forms a roughly square outline, with high, continuous ridges on the north, east and south sides. The Inner Sanctuary occupies roughly eastern two-thirds of total area, and contains Nanda Devi itself and the Uttari (north) Rishi Glacier and the Dakshini (south) Rishi Glacier. These are fed by the smaller Uttari Nanda Devi and Dakshini Nanda Devi Glaciers respectively. The Outer Sanctuary accessible from the outside, occupies western third of the total sanctuary, and is separated from the Inner Sanctuary by high ridges, through which Rishi Ganga flows. It is split in two by Rishi Ganga; on the north lies Ramani Glacier, flowing down from slopes of Dunagiri and Changabang, and on the south lies Trishul Glacier, flowing from the namesake peak.
What makes these parks even more spectacular are the rivers Alaknanda and its tributaries, including Rishi Ganga, Dhauli Ganga, Pushwapati and Khiro Ganga, which criss-cross the area. Tourism in the park was banned in 1983 by the Central government as excessive climbing expeditions to the mountain peak, undertaken before 1983 had damaged the delicate ecology of the Nanda Devi Biosphere. Even there has been no livestock grazing inside these parks since 1983. Both parks are subject to very low levels of human use, with only some community-based ecotourism that is regulated and facilitated by the park management. The best time to visit is from May to October. Each group of medically fit visitors for trekking or climbing can consist only 5 members and only 2 groups are allowed daily. To climb any of the peaks in the sanctuary, permission from the Mountaineering Foundation in India is a must.
The reserve is home to numerous snow- capped peaks, all of the are above 6000 mtrs and few above 7000 mtrs. The peaks in and around the biosphere reserve are Hanuman: 6,075 m, Dunagiri: 7,066 m, Changabang: 6,864 m, Kalanka: 6,931 m, Rishi Pahar: 6,992 m, Mangraon: 6,568 m, Nanda Devi: 7,816 m, Deo Damla: 6,620 m, Bamchu: 6,303 m, Sakram: 6,254 m, Latu Dhura: 6,392 m, Sunanda Devi: 7,434 m, Nanda Khat: 6,611 m, Panwali Doar/Panwali Dwar: 6,663 m, Maiktoli: 6,803 m, Devtoli: 6,788 m, Mrigthuni: 6,855 m, Trishul I: 7,120 m, Trishul II: 6,690 metres, Trishul III: 6,008 m, Bethartoli Himal: 6,352 m, Hardeol: 7,151 m, Trishuli: 7,074 m, Nanda Kot: 6,861 m, and Nanda Ghunti: 6,309 m. aloing with peaks, glaciers create awe-inspiring spectacle. Nanda Devi group of glaciers includes 7 glaciers namely Bartoli, Kururntoli, Nada Devi North, Nanda Devi South, Nandakna, Ramani and Trishul in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.
The Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks are naturally well protected due to their remoteness and limited access. The Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary and the Reserved Forest Divisions located west, south and east of the Biosphere Reserve provide additional buffer to this Biosphere Reserve. The local communities residing in the buffer zones of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve actively participate in the conservation programmes. During the cold war era when Chin carried out their first nuclear test in 1964, followed by missile testing, US and India actively collaborated to spy on China’s nuclear capabilities. The spy agencies of both countries panted a nuclear-powered spying device on top of the Nanda Devi mountain also Nanda Devi, India’s second highest mountain; using a mountaineering expedition as cover, however the device was lost after couple of years, and apprehensions are the lost device might still be polluting the river Ganga, more than 50 years later.
The nearest town for road connectivity, where tourist can find accommodation in hotels, guesthouses and resort is Joshimath just 13 kms away, rail connectivity is provided by Rishikesh and air link by Dehradun. Tourist on trekking trip can setup camp sites along the route provided they don’t litter. Entry fee for Indians is INR 2300 / day per person and 2600 / day per person. Reservations can be made through government offices in Dehradun. The long-term protection of the fragile ecosystem of Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks is dependant on the maintenance of high levels of protection and current low levels of anthropogenic pressure beside, regular monitoring of status of wildlife and their habitats. A visit to Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve is a truly a once in a life time event for anyone.
