NATIONAL PARKS OF INDIA

Govind Pashu Vihar was established in the year 1991 to preserve the endangered species of the region. It is also known as Govind National Park.

About the park
The park is situated in Purola Tehsil in Uttarakashi district of the Uttarakhand state. Nestled in the higher elevations of Garhwal Himalayas, the park is spread over an area of about 958 sq km. Govind National Park forms the upper catchments of the river Tons, which is the chief tributary of Yamuna River in its upper elevations.
 
Flora
The endemic floras of Govind National Park are oak, cedar, chir pine, spruce, yew, rhododendron, maples, hazel, walnut, horse chestnut, silver fir and blue pine. Several varieties of medicinal plants are also found in the park. Most of these medicinal plants are used for manufacturing life saving drugs.

Fauna
Govind Pashu Vihar is home to brown bear, serow, sambhar, barking, deer, goral, hedgehog, red panda, Hodgson's flying squirrel, wild boar, Indian porcupine, Himalayan palm civet, Sikkim vole, musk deer and common otter. Snow leopards are generally found in the higher ranges of the sanctuary.

Getting there
The closest airport is the Jolly Grant in Dehradun, located almost 231 km away. The nearest railway station is situated almost 207 kms away in Dehradun. Naitwar, the entry-point to the park, is located approximately 200 km from Dehradun. Regular bus services connect Naitwar with Dehradun. The sanctuary can also be easily reached by road via Mussoorie-Purola-Saur or Rishikesh- Uttarkashi route.

General tips
Forest rest houses are available for lodging at Taluka, Naitwar, Jakhol, Satta, Istragad and Har-ki-dun. The visitors have to arrange for self-cooking in these rest houses. Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam has 2 rest houses for the tourists at Osla and Taluka. Trekking is a prominent tourist activity of the area. Some of the important trekking routes of Govind National Park are Sankri-Taluka-Osla-Ruinsara (40 km); Sankri-Taluka-Osla-Har-ki-dun (38 km); Ruinsara Tal-Yamunotri (20 km) and Naitwar-Himri-Droni-Rupin Pass-Sangla (60 km).

Tourist information
Address: Purola, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, India.
Phone: 01375-223433/ +91-9450311293
Ideal time to visit: May to October