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| Pin Valley National Park |
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Pin Valley National Park |
With its sub-zero temperature and semi-frozen
rivers, Pin Valley is the only cold desert National Park located
in Himachal Pradesh. The park lies in the valley of the Pin
river, which gives it the name. Spreading south of Dhankar in
the Spiti district near the Tibetan border, the reserve forms
a natural interface with the Lahaul and Spiti divisions of the
state. It was set up to protect and preserve the rare and unique
Himalayan flora and fauna. Vast and sparsely populated, Pin
Valley is home to the snow leopard -- the grey ghost of the
Himalayas -- and its prey, the ibex. Set against a backdrop
of icy mountain ranges, it is snowed in for a good part of the
year and only the adventurous and the fit should attempt a trek
to this fascinating country. The Buddhist monasteries or gompas
give a strong religious flavour to the place.
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Animals you will see |
| Pin Valley is best known for the Siberian ibex
and the rare snow leopard.
The endangered snow leopard, Panthera uncia needs a vast
territory because the sparse vegetation only supports scattered
herds of ungulates. Nevertheless, about 12 of these magnificent
cats are reported to exist in the valley. Very often, its
coat camouflages it against the rocks and scrubs in the habitat.
Villagers are the best sources of information on the whereabouts
of the snow leopard.
The Siberian ibex, Capra ibex sibrica forms the main prey
base for the snow leopard. The mating season is in the winter,
when males can be spotted locking horns in a show of strength
to win mates. The area then resonates to the sound of clashing
horns. Most vegetation at this time lies buried under the
snow and the ibex face near starvation. Avalanches also take
a toll of the animals at this time. Young ibex are born in
the summer when food stocks are abundant and when the young
are protected from the harsh winter.
The Pin Valley National Park also harbours several other
interesting animals. The Tibetan wolf, Canis lupus, the Tibetan
gazelle, Royle's pika or red fox, bharal, the Himalayan brown
fox and Himalayan blue sheep are some of the species that
you may encounter here. The snow-hare, mouse-hare and the
Himalayan marmots are far more common, as are Weasels and
lizards.
Several animals migrate to and from their higher Himalayan
homes every year. They come down in the winter and migrate
to higher altitudes in the summer.
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Birdwatching |
Rare birds like the Himalayan Snowcock, Chukor, Snow Partridge,
Yellowbilled and Redbilled Choughs, Kestrels and the Tibet Snow
Finch flourish in the area. Hill and Snow Pigeons, as well as
the Blue Rock Pigeon are found in the area. Water birds and
butterflies of astonishing variety are found here. The Bearded
Vulture, Golden Eagle, Aquia cryaetos and ravens scour the skies.
The wild snow cock, Tetraogallus himalayensis is seen cruising
along forest paths fearlessly.
The common house sparrow, surprisingly, keeps these exotic
birds company, even at these heights.
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Best Time for Viewing |
Sightings are possible during the day. Animal
calls and bird sound accompany you everywhere. Pugmarks and
other telltale signs tell their own stories. Ideally you should
wander around the whole day absorbing this scene. During November
and early December the park is closed to visitors. This is the
rutting season and villagers say the clash of horns can be heard
miles away. In April and May most animals migrate to the hills
because food is abundant. This is when most visitors choose
to travel to the park.
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Climate |
The climate is dry with freezing, high-velocity
winds and minimal rainfall. Winter sets in early and temperatures
can drop to as low as -35°C. Summer lasts from late May
to September when temperatures reach a maximum of 25°C,
though the nights may still be freezing.
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