The Sanctuary
has been converted 
to
a National Park and temporarily closed for visitors
on environmental considerations. It has an average altitude exceeding
4500 mts. and is surrounded by as many as seventy lofty peaks, the Nandadevi
(7817 mts.) being the highest. It is in the form of cup with lush
green meadows, chuting white waterfalls, and rich wild flora and
fauna. Sir Edmund Hillary described the Sanctuary as a god-gifted
wilderness - India’s training ground for adventure - and truly so.
Eric Shipton wrote, amongst many superlatives for the Sanctuary,
“All around us was mountain architecture more magnificent even than
the great southern battlements of Everest .
Joshimath is the base for collection of stores, provisions, porters,
guides etc. One route approaches the Sanctuary from Lata, on the
Joshimath-Malari Route. One trek from there to Lata Kharak, an open,
wild and grassy hilltop, providing a fabulous mountainscape all
around.
The Lata Kharak
- Dharansi Pass appears to be a long trek with many ascents and
descents yet everything is forgotten when Nandadevi comes into view on
crossing the pass. The trek follows a ridge traversing rocky surface
till Malatuni Pass, where the other trek route from Rini (near Lata)
following the Rishi Ganga river generally, via Kalikuna and Chinwari,
meets. It is continuous descent of about 800 metres through alpine
grassland thereafter, before Rishi Ganga is crossed at Deodi,
wherefrom Trishul - Base camp trek via Bethartoli and Tridang
bifurcates. Debrugheta meadow with its floral designs and the
grandstand view of peaks around it is exhilarating. The Deodi - Ramni
trek passes through dense forests of Junipers and Varieties of
Rhododendrons. The Sanctuary opens up there.
Nanda
Devi National Park
The wildlife to be found in the park include Snow Leopard, Brown and
Himalayan Black Bears, Bharal, Himalayan Tahr, Serow,Monal and Chir
Pheasants.
Air:
Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 315 kms (approx).
Road:
Nearest road head is Lata, 30 kms from Joshimath, also
connected by bus services. Joshimath is linked by road to Rishikesh
and other centres in the region
