Churdhar
peak, with height of 3,647m, is the highest peak in outer Himalayas. It
is like an Oasis of Alpine area in an ocean of temperate forests. The
view from Churdhar peak is un-paralled. The sanctuary got its name from
the Chur Peak, on the top of which sits a majestic status of Lord Shiva.
One is sure to come across a large number of multi-coloured and agile
Monals in the adjoining forests.
The total covered
area of this sanctuary is 5616 hectares and this is notified on 15th
November 1985. This is one of the newest sanctuaries of the State. Now
at the point of local extinction, Churdhar still contains good habitat
for Monals and other pheasants. Other fauna includes Himalayan Black
Bear, Barking Deer, Musk Deer, Common Langur and Leopards but Musk Deer
has been severely depleted by hunting.
TREKKING
This is an
excellent area for trekking during summer and early winters. Trekking
from Nohra, Sarain and Pulbahal are tough but enjoyable.
HOW TO GET
THERE
Air: The
Jubbarhatti airport is 23-km from Shimla and major domestic airlines
cater their services from here to Shimla . One can catch direct flights
from Delhi .
Rail: Shimla has
a narrow gauge railway line on which toy train runs from Kalka to Shimla.
The train cruises its way through valleys and beautiful landscapes at a
very slow pace making the journey very pleasant. From Kalka one can take
trains to other parts of the country. The Toy train from Shimla is of
two types- one is the normal multi coach train and the other is the
single car train, which has a glass roof giving an enthralling
experience during the journey.
Road: Roads
connect this capital city of Himachal with other places in the state as
well as other major towns and cities. There is regular bus service from
Delhi and Chandigarh as well as ordinary, semi deluxe, deluxe and AC
coaches for Shimla are available too. One can also cross over to Leh and
Ladakh via Rohtang pass from here.
