Gangotri National Park

About Gangotri National Park:

• Location:
  • It is located in the Uttarkashi District region of the state of Uttarakhand.
  • It sits along the upper catchment of the Bhagirathi River. 
  • The northeastern section of the park forms the international boundary of India and Tibet (China). 
• The area enclosed by the park also borders Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary and Govind National Park.
• The park spans 2,390 sq km (920 sq mi) of land across a highly mountainous part of the country.
• The mountains in the park are part of the Gangotri Group of the Garhwal Himalayas, which are a subrange of the eastern Himalayas.
• Peaks: Major peaks within the park include Chaukhamba I, Satopanth, Chaukhamba II, Chaukhamba III, and Kedarnath Main.
• The famous Gangotri Glacier is located in the park boundaries and is known for being one of the primary sources of the Ganges.
• Ecology:
  • It is home to high-altitude ecosystems that are common in the Himalayas.
  • Western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests dominate the lower elevation These forests are filled with fir trees intermixed with deodar, oak, spruce, and rhododendrons trees.
  • Higher elevations in the park are home to Western Himalayan alpine shrubs. Alpine meadows are also common beneath the massive glaciers.
• Fauna:
  • It is home to the ever-elusive snow leopard.
  • Other species include brown bear, blue sheep, musk deer, Asian black bear, and the Himalayan tahr, among others.