VANAMCOVE 
Great Himalayan National Park
UNESCO wilderness of glaciers and blue sheep
Why this weekend?
The day-by-day plan
- Banjar drive
- Valley entry
- First camp
Geography & terrain
The Great Himalayan National Park lies in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, 45 km from Kullu town and 100 km from Manali — the high-altitude park of the Himalaya, its valleys and the peaks set between 1,500 and 6,000 metres in the state's central ranges.
History & culture
The park was established in 1999 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2014 — the protection of the high Himalayan ecosystems of the western ranges, with its history of the region's hunting preserves and the Tirthan valley's villages; the park's trekking routes through the Sainj and the Tirthan valleys, with the traditional grazing and the modern conservation, give it its protected-wilderness character.
Where to stay
Budget
₹1,500–3,500/nightMid-range
₹3,500–7,000/nightComfort
₹7,000+/nightThings to do
High valleys
Alpine meadows
Wildflower summers
Monal country
Snow peaks
Eat & drink
- Dham thali
- Madra (chickpea curry)
- Chha gosht
- Siddu buns
- Kaanji
Getting there
- Fly
- Kullu–Bhuntar (KUU) / Gaggal (DHM) / Shimla (SLV)
- Train
- Kalka–Shimla toy train (heritage); narrow-gauge to Joginder Nagar
- Road from Delhi
- 300–550 km depending on valley
- Getting around
- Taxis and HRTC buses on hill roads
Budget snapshot
- Total
- ₹27,500–55,500 (5 days)
- Per day · Stay
- ₹1,500–7,000/night
- Per day · Food
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Transport
- ₹1,200–1,600
- Per day · Activities
- ₹2,500–2,900
Month by month
Practical info
- Language: Hindi / Pahari dialects (English understood in tourist spots)
- Best window: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov
- Connectivity: Patchy in deep valleys — offline maps essential
- UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops
Practical tips
- The park's entries run the permit system — the trek agencies' planning
- The altitude stages ask the acclimatisation days
- The seasons (Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov) hold the clear windows
Frequently asked questions
The UNESCO high-altitude park of the Himalaya's western valleys.
The valley treks, the alpine meadows and the wildlife.
Five days of the treks — or the shorter valley days.
UNESCO wilderness of glaciers and blue sheep
Take the break. We'll take the planning.
Tell us your dates, budget and travel style — we'll build your Great Himalayan National Park plan with day-by-day routing, stays, food and bookings.