Kishtwar High Altitude National Park

Kishtwar High Altitude National Park is one of the well-known National Parks in India established in the year 1981. It lies in Doha District, about 40 km north-east of Kishtwar town. Spreading on 400 square kilometers of rolling Himalayan glory, Kishtwar High Altitude National Park of Kashmir opens up a magical wild land which is inhabited by the rare Mountain animals including hangul, snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, langur, Himalayan brown bear, markhor, hangul and musk deer. The altitude of this park is 1,700m to 4,800m which is highest among all the National Parks.

The chief aim of Kishtwar High Altitude National Park is to protect the snow leopards. This park is the natural habitat of 15 mammal species including the musk deer and Himalayan black and brown bear. Kishtwar is a 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.

The park is covered with marble rocks and exposed granites. The best attraction of this park is Waterfalls, Trekking, and Sapphire mines of Padar. Kishtwar High Altitude National Park sits on a plateau above the Chenab River and below the Nagin Sheer glacier. It is noted for the fine saffron grown in the area and for the many waterfalls close by. The best time to visit the Kishtwar High Altitude National Park in Jammu and Kashmir to view the mammals is between the months of September to March and Bird viewing between the months of March to May.