Kishtwar High Altitude National Park has been declared as National Park vide cabinet order no. 20 FST of 4/2/1981.

One of the well-known National Parks in India – Kishtwar High Altitude National Park, Jammu and Kashmir was established in the year 1981, with the chief aim of protecting snow leopards. Located about 248 km from Jammu, Kishtwar National Park is sprawled over an area of about 425 sq. km.   Surrounded by the snow capped Himalayan Mountains, Kishtwar presents a scenic backdrop, and the numerous rivulets flowing through the park add immensely to the charm and magnetism of this Wildlife Reserve.

Kishtwar High Altitude National Park, Jammu and Kashmir is the natural habitat of 15 mammal species including the Musk Deer and Himalayan black and brown bear. One of the One of its prominent features of the park is the Hangul – a Kashmiri Stag which migrate to this region during winters from the Dachigam National Park and again returns back when the cold subsides. Some other animals that can be spotted at Kishtwar High Altitude National Park, Jammu and Kashmir are Ibex, Markhor, Leopard, Wild boar, Bharal, Indian Muntijal, Serow, and Rhesus macaque.

Kishtwar is also home to an enchanting variety of birds, amounting to almost 50 species. Some of the birds found here are the Himalayan jungle crow, bearded vulture, griffon vulture, paradise flycatcher, golden oriole, white cheeked bulbul and Indian Mynah.

Kishtwar High Altitude National Park, Jammu and Kashmir presents a fine blend of wildlife and spectacular mountain ranges. The park is covered with exposed granite and marble rocks. The vegetation at the park is not very dense as is in most cold regions. The flora mainly comprises coniferous, alpine, meadows and scrub forests. The prominent trees found include Pinus gerardiana, Cedrus deodara, Quercus spp., Pinus wallichiana, Juglans regia, Ulmus spp, etc.

While in the Kishtwar High Altitude National Park, Jammu and Kashmir, it is advisable that you indulge in trekking and various other jungle activities.  The nearest airport to reach Kishtwar High Altitude National Park in Jammu and Kashmir is at Jammu – about  and the nearestRrailhead is also at Jammu.

KISHTWAR NATIONAL PARK (General Information)

Area :                  2100 sq.kms

Altitudinal Range: 1,700 to 4,800 meters above sea level

Approach :        Airport ……………….Jammu (250 kms.)

                          Rail Head ………….Jammu (248 kms.)

                          Road …………………..Constructed motarable road for Sumo, Winger etc. up                                                                  to Ikhala, but bus services are operated up to Palmer                                                                  only 20 kms. north of Kishtwar.

Distance from Kishtwar : Beyond 40kms north-east of Kishtwar town

How to be reached : By bus or taxi upto Ikhala (40kms) and thence From on foot or horse back

Facilities available : Forest Rest houses at Ikhala, Sounder, Sirshi And Yourdu (Marwah)

Visit : Mammal viewing Bird Viewing September to March March to May

Dress : (1) Spring/Summer…. Trekking Shoes, Raincoat, and Light clothing

               (2)Winter ……………. Trekking shoes, Heavy woolens, Waterproof Windcheaters.

Kishtwar possesses a unique position in Jammu and Kashmir because of “Kishtwar National Park” spread over an area of 425 Sq.Kms providing a natural habitat to over 15 species of mammals and 50 species of birds, this sanctuary has an altitudinal range of 1700 to 4800 Meters. The National Park encompasses the catchment area of Kiber, Nanth and Kiyar Nallas, all of which drain south-west into Marwah river locally called “Mariv Sodar” which joins Chenab at Bhandarkoot Kishtwar town. The terrain is, generally rugged and steep with narrow valleys bounded by high ridges opening out in their upper glacial parts. The area lies in the central Crystalline Belt of the great Himalayas, Rocks are strongly folded in places and composed mainly of granite,gneiss and schist with the occasional bed of marble.

The influence of monsoon is weak. Mean annual rainfall at Palmar and Sirshi (1761 Meters.) located near the periphery of the ‘National Park’ is 827 mm and 741 mm. respectively, Precipitation is maximal and excess of 100 mm. per month in March and April and again in July and August.

Most of the snow falls in December to February when the whole area becomes snow-bound. Mean maximum and minimum temperature recorded at Sirshi are degree Celsius and 7 degree Celsius in January and 35 degree Celsius and 11 degree Celsius in July respectively.

The National Park has some 13 vegetation types. In general, silver fir, Abies pindrow and spruce pice wallichiana mixed with cedar cedrus deodara, blue pine pinus griffithii are pre-dominant from 2400 mtrs. To 3000 mtrs. Notable is the small expanse of ,Chilgoza, Pina p. Gerdiana in the Dachhan range. At lower altitudes (1700 to 2400 mtrs.) occur nearly pure stands of cedar and blue pine and moist temperature deciduous forests represented by horse chest nut, Aesculus Indica, Walnut, juglaus regia, Poplar populous ciliala, hazel Criglus Cornula, bird cherry, padus, cornula, ash fraxinus, comula and yew taxus wallichiana. The sub-alpini zone from 3000 meters, to the tree line at 3700 meters. supports mostly silver fir and birch betula utilis forest and this merges with Birch-Rhodoblendron Companulatum scrub above which is alpine pasture.

Hangul is an uncommon mammal in Kashmir and some scattered populations are found in Kishtwar National Park. It is categorized as critically Endangered which means that it is very likely to become extinct unless the activists affecting its status are corrected. Excessive illicit grazing, disturbance and loss of habitat are some of them. In J&K , Hangul (State Animal) is a symbol for the need for conservation of wildlife because it is endemic to J&K, meaning “found no-where else”.

Jackal is not an uncommon animal by any means. The Jackal is  an omnivorous eater- rodents, birds and reptiles but also fruits and insect when in the forest and any food from trash bins when in or near human habitations. It is distributed mostly in the lower elevations of Kishtwar National Park.

The brown bear is more reddish-brown and at times it can look almost golden. It lives in alpine and sub-alpine valleys and montane forests. It is widely distributed in the Himalaya, Asia, East Europe and even North America. It is threatened mainly due to hunting and excessive biotic interferences. Kishtwar National Park has a good population in the alpine and sub-alpine areas.

It has dense shiny black hairs and a pale V on the chest. It is smaller than the Brown Bear. It lives in sub-alpine valleys and meadows. It is also threatened due to hunting.

The Indian Gerbil is a common mammal but very cute. In western countries it is kept as a pet. It occurs in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan and Iran.

Marmot is perhaps the largest Indian rodent, measuring about 50cm tail. Males weigh about 4 kg. The tail is long bushy with a black tip. It lives at relative high altitudes in sub-alpine and alpine valleys. It is valued for its fur and even its meat by some person.

Cape Hare has fine wooly fur which is coloured blue-grey. Its feet are powerful which, along with its speed, helps escape predators. It is crepuscular, feeding on grasses, herbs and leaves.

It is generally much larger in size than its cousins Microchiropteran bats. There are over 123 different kinds of bats that occur in India and 25 of them occur in J&K. Most are insectivorous.

It is not a bloodsucking vampire. It eats insects and sometimes larger prey such as lizards and even small bats. It leaves its roost only when it is really dark. Found through much Asia including Jammu and Kashmir.

Serotine Bat (Eptesicus serotinus) is also insectivorous. It is a small medium sized Bat. It roosts in caves, abandoned buildings, barns and hollow trees. Bats are one of the most important animals to our quality of life. Do not prosecute them. They are very good animals in every way.

This martin has a long tail which is three quarters the body length. Its back and tail are brown and its throat and chest are golden yellow. It occupies monsoon forests and mountains slopes with cliffs. It occurs in Jammu and Kashmir, the Himalaya and Assam hill ranges.

A large beard and long, dramatic scimitar shaped horns (males) make this dramatic animal attractive to poachers.

Musk Deer (Moschus chrysogaster) has grey fur which is about 1.5 inches long and stands up like a brush. It is damned with a “musk” pod in its abdomen which is valuable and causes poaching and consequently decline for this shy, harmless and charming animal.

This is a thick-set monkey with a body length of 45-60 cm. Body colour is olive-brown to yellowish-brown. It is mainly active during the day and forges both in trees and on the ground, depending on the availability of food. It is widely distributed in the Indian sub-continent it is common in Asian tropical forested highlands.

Langurs are long-limbed, long-tailed, black-faced monkeys, found throughout India and in Sri Lanka. Langurs are also called Hanuman Monkey. People like to feed them at temples, but this is not a good deed. It makes the langurs dependent on human beings. Langurs live in trees normally but in some parts of India they live on rocks and cliffs. During winter they migrate to lower elevations near human habitation in Kishtwar National Park.

The snow leopard is perhaps the most dramatic and mysterious of fields. It  is medium-sized with a beautifully marked coat with thick fur of grey and white and an incredibly long, furry tail. It has huge paws for climbing over snowy mountains. The snow leopard lives in high altitudes in Alpine valleys and meadows and conifer forests. It is solitary and very difficult to sight. It is an agile climber in rocky terrain and is capable of leaping long distances. It is endangered due to hunting for trophy and fur. Kishtwar National Park harbours a good number of this species.

Leopard is found all over India and also in other parts of Asia. It has short round ears that are back on top. It is a large cat with males measuring 65cm at the shoulder. It is a solitary and nocturnal field.  The geographical distribution of the leopard is larger than any other cat family throughout Africa and Asia. It is endangered due to its popular fur for garments.  Man-animal conflict involving leopard is increasing daily, especially outside protected areas in J and K. The reason is that forests/habitat of leopard is under intense biotic pressures.

Leopard cat is one of the seven “lesser cats” of India. It is widely distributed covering all Asia preferring semi-deserts, open plains, watercourses, reed beds and cultivations. Commonly distributed in Kashmir forests in general and Kishtwar National Park in particular.

In the tourist paradise of J&K live a host of fauna and flora of which some are common (House mouse, Leopard) and some are rare (Hangul, Musk Deer). Mammals are only one “kind” of animals but are most popular because they are most like humans. While birds can fly, mammals cannot, except for bat.  It is good to know the mammals of our state.

The Wildlife Division Chenab Kishtwar, Department of Wildlife Protection, J&K state cares for all the many animals and plants which live and grow there. J&K Wildlife Department protects wildlife. Obey the rules of your Wildlife Protected Areas when you visit. You will help maintain biodiversity which is so important to quality of life for all.

Chief WildLife Warden J&K Government , TRC Srinagar Phn: 0194-2452469

Regional Wildlife Warden, Jammu Region , Dheer Park Manda, Jammu.  Phn: 0191-2544575

Wildlife Warden Chenab Valley Division, Kishtwar Phn: 01995-259617

Chief Wild Life Warden J&K Govt.

Regional Wild Life Warden Jammu.

Wild Life Warden Chenab, Kishtwar