Kedarnath Wild Life Sanctuary
Encyclopedia
Kedarnath Wild Life Sanctuary, in Uttarakhand
, India
, is a national sanctuary established in an area of 975 square kilometre. It was established primarily to protect the endangered Himalayan Musk Deer
. Hence, it is also called the Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary. It is an IUCN grade IV category (Managed Nature Reserve) sanctuary in the Biogeographical Province 2.38.12 (Himalayan Highlands).
Between 1916 and 1920, it was a notified reserve forest. This notification was subsequently changed to a sanctuary on January 21, 1972, covering an area of 967 ha (2,390 acre) between elevation 1160 m (3,805.8 ft) (near Phata) to the Chaukhamba peak at 7068 m (23,189 ft) within the ambit of 30°26′00"N 78°54′00"E30°26' and 30°45′00"N 79°36′00"E. The area under the park has undergone change from 967–975 ha (2,389.5–2,409.3 acre) as per Kedarnath Forest Division records.
The sanctuary takes its name from the famous Hindu temple
of Kedarnath which is just outside its northern border. There are many other Hindu temples of great religious pilgrimage importance. The entire 14 km (9 mi) route from Ghauri Khund to Kedarnath temple (3584 m (11,759 ft)) passes through the sanctuary. It is also the largest protected area in the western Himalayas. Its international importance is attributed to the diversity of its flora and fauna (particularly of ungulate species).
s of Uttarakhand, the sanctuary is impressive with spectacular natural assets of snow covered mountain ranges, lakes and glaciers, scenic valleys with remarkable landforms and famous river systems with climatic diversity in "varied several transitional environments". It abounds in religious places (part of the 'Deva Bhumi' – "the land of the gods") of immense significance, with rich biodiversity in floral and faunal varieties.
The sanctuary lies within the larger Western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows
of alpine
ecoregion
of India
, Nepal
and Tibet
. The western portion of the Himalayan
range, is situated between the tree line and the snow line
. The alpine shrub and meadows lie between approximately 3000–5000 m (9,842.5–16,404.2 ft) elevation. Below 3000 m (9,842.5 ft) lie the Western Himalayan sub-alpine conifer forests. Permanent ice and snow line has been deciphered as 5000 m (16,404.2 ft).
The sanctuary is host to temperate
forests in the middle altitudes; higher elevations are dotted by coniferous, sub-alpine and alpine forests, and further up by alpine grasslands and high-altitude Bugyal
s. The sanctuary is also reputed as one of the world’s richest bio-reserves.
The northern catchment of the Alaknanda River
where the sanctuary is located originates 12 km (7.5 mi) beyond Kedarnath temple. The river valleys, generally in a north-south direction, are formed by the Mandakini
, Kali, Biera, Balasuti and Menan rivers. It constitutes the Upper Ganges river valley. The geological formation in the catchment is made up of "Central Crystallines" that are metamorpic rocks such as gneisses, granites and schists.
The highest peaks in India are located in the Garhwal
Himalayas
where the sanctuary is delimited. The much venerated Kedarnath temple
is situated in this forest reserve and is visited by a very large number of pilgrims. The great variety of vegetation types reflects the complex and diverse nature of the climate, geology and topography. IUCN has reported that:
The high altitude areas of the sanctuary are also characterised by glaciers. Glacial action (melting) of the glaciers over the centuries has resulted in formation of the upper tracts of the reserve. The fast current of the flows is attributed as the cause for creation of deep "V" shaped valleys.
temples located within its precincts. Kedarnath temple
is the most historic of these temples, which is dated to the 8th century (credited to the Guru Adi Shankaracharya who built it) but has even more hoary legend linked to the Pandavas of the epic Mahabharata
fame. Other temples, though not of matching importance, have strong legends related to the epic Mahabharata days. These are the Mandani
, Madhyamaheshwar, Tungnath
, Ansuya Devi and Rudranath. The local Hindu culture is also imbibed by the Bhotiyas (may be with some Tibetan
link) who have pastoral work culture and are an integral part of the valleys.
to sub-arctic climate
prevails in the locale of the sanctuary. The South West summer monsoon
rains recorded is the mean annual precipitation
of 3093 mm (122 in). This high value of precipitation is due to the fact that the hill ranges to the south, of about 3000 m (9,842.5 ft) height, are open without much of rain-shadow effect. On the basis of rainfall of 3050 mm (120.1 in) recorded near Tungnath
in 1979-81, the monsoon rain (June to September) was about 81 % while snow
precipitation during December–March was 11%. Summer
temperature recorded is 25 °C (77 °F), the highest in May or June; a mild and pleasant condition. The lowest winter
temperature recorded in the first half of January is -10 C, when heavy snowfall is received in the upper region. This results in severe cold conditions. For about three months, following heavy snowfall in December, the sanctuary is snow covered.
, oak
, birch
, rhododendrons and alpine meadows with incidence of numerous Himalayan flowering plants. However, the sanctuary does not have tropical zone, as this zone is generally reported below 1200 m (3,937 ft). Chir pine Pinus roxburghii is the main subtropical zone's vegetation recorded up to 2000 m (6,561.7 ft). In the dry southern slopes, Euphorbia royleana occur up to 1500 m (4,921.3 ft). In the temperate zone, at different elevations, ban Quercus incana (1500–2100 m (4,921.3–6,889.8 ft)), moru Q. dilatata (2130–2750 m (6,988.2–9,022.3 ft)) and karsu Q. semecarpifolia (2,500-3,300m) oak
forests have been reported. Rhododendron arboreum
is generally seen at the second level. Oak
combined with fir
Abies pindrow are recorded at higher elevations (2600–3400 m (8,530.2–11,154.9 ft)). The sub alpine zone consists of Betula utilis
(Bhojpatra, or Himalayan Birch) (3100–3350 m (10,170.6–10,990.8 ft)) with an "understorey" of Rhododendron
campanulata. Rhododendron extends into the alpine zone, from above the forest limit to 3500 m (11,482.9 ft). At Tungnath, the flowering plants consisting of two sedges, Carex
lacta and C. munda, have been reported. In the past, these were reported only in the far west region of Nepal. Pasture land and medicinal plants and other plants have been reported between the bush line and permanent snow line. The herb community of the subalpine and alpine meadows are dominated by Danthonia
cumminsii, which forms tussocks
of grass over extensive areas.
The sanctuary is rich in faunal, avifaunal and aquafaunal species (some are pictured in the gallery). Details are explained below.
Some of the mammalian species
of the carnivore
s are: jackal
(Canis aureus), fox
(Vulpes vulpes), Himalayan black bear (Selenarctos thibetanus) (V), yellow-throated Marten (Martes flavigula), leopard cat
(Felis bengalensis), common leopard
(Panthera pardus) (T) and snow leopard
(Uncia uncia). Many of them are found above 3000 m (9,842.5 ft) elevation.
Ungulates found are: Wild boar (Sus scrofa), Himalayan musk deer
(Moschus leucogaster), Indian muntjac
(Muntiacus muntjak), sambar (Cervus unicolor), goral (Nemorhaedus goral), serow
(Capricornis sumatraensis), Himalayan Tahr
(Hemitragus jemlahicus) and bharal
(Pseudois nayaur).
The primates recorded are: rhesus macaque
(Macaca mulatta) and common langur (Presbytis entellus).
Smaller mammals noted are: Hodgsons's Brown-toothed Shrew
(Soriculus sp.), red giant flying squirrel
(Petaurista petaurista), Royle's Mountain Vole
(Alticola roylei), crested porcupine (Hystrix indica) and Royle's Pika
(Ochotona roylei), snow cock (Tetraogallus himalayensis).
Reptile
species recorded are: Himalayan pit viper
(Gloydius himalayanus syn. Ancistrodon himalayanus) (common) and Boulenger's keelback (Amphiesma parallelum
).
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(Ficedula westermanni), Grey-cheeked Warbler
(Seicercus poliogenys) and Nepal Tree-creeper
(Certhia nipalensis), Himalayan Monal
(Lophophorus impejanus) (it is the state bird of Uttarakhand, considered as endangered), Kalij Pheasant
(Lophura leucomelanos) and Koklass
Pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha).
, fishes recorded include Schizothorax
sp., mahseer
Tor tor, Labeo spp., Gara spp., Barilius spp., Nemacheilus sp. nov.
, Glyptothorax spp. and Balitora brucei.
which has the scientific name of Moschus leucogaster with the synonym Moschus chrysogaster is found as an endangered specie in the Kedaranth Musk Deer Sanctuary in the demarcated area between the Mandal-Ukhimath road and the high snow peaks to the north. The taxon
of this specie was deduced by scientists as the Himlayan sub species of Alpine Musk deer
, on the basis of diverse proportions of the skull. Declining population (over 40% in 21 years) of this specie and large scale poaching for profit, dictated the decision to declare it as an endangered animal (EN) in 1973 (Halloway, 1973) and the specie was listed vulnerable in the red data book of IUCN in 1974. It is found, not only in Uttarakhand in the Himalyan belt up to lowest elevation of 2500 m (8,202.1 ft) (within a restricted zone), but also in some parts of the Himalayan belt starting from Northern India in Jammu and Kashmir
and Sikkim
, and in Bhutan
, Nepal
and China
(southwest Xizang) with small numbers reported in China.
In the terrestrial habitat of barren plateau at high altitudes, the deer's habitat is "in meadows, fell-fields, shrublands or fir forests", roams around generally singly. Grasses, shrubs, leaves, moss, lichens, shoots, and twigs reportedly form its main diet.
The colour of the deer is faintly grayish sandy brown with a body length of 86–100 cm (33.9–39.4 in), shoulder height of 51–53 cm (20.1–20.9 in), tail length of 4–6 cm (1.6–2.4 in) in the weight range of 11–18 kg (24.3–39.7 lb) and do not have antlers. They are most active from morning till evening with frequent breaks for feeding. They breed during December–November. They do not change their defined habitat range even under severe weather conditions and their population density is recorded to be 3-4 animals per square kilometer 1 square kilometre.
The male species of the endangered musk deer in the Kedarnath Wild Life Sancturay carries the much valued pods musk
pod (glands). They are poached for its pod, which is valued at US$45,000 (Indian Rs 2 million) per 25 kg (55.1 lb) that is used in cosmetics
. It has reportedly pharmaceutical properties also. In view of this economic value and consequent great demand it is extensively poach
ed. Its meat is also consumed as a delicacy.
and World Wide Fund for Nature
have worked together for the conservation of the Himalayan musk deer under the specific programme of the “Threatened Deer Programme” of the IUCN, in Kedarnath Wild Life Sanctuary. Further, in order to propagate the endangered specie of Himalayan musk deer, Forest Department of Uttarakhand Government established a breeding centre at Kharchula Kharak in 1982, about 10 km (6.2 mi), from Chopta, on the outer limits of the sanctuary and 32 km (19.9 mi) from Gopeshwar on the road to Ukhimath. The main objective setforth was to a) carry out an ecological study of the musk deer in order to identify its conservation requirements and b) to breed the musk deer in captivity with the purpose of reintroducing it in different natural habitats. The breeding centre reported success in breeding in captivity, in 1984. Till late 1987, nine musk deers were reared here, out of which only one was outside of captivity. This centre has an area of 5 square kilometre and provides excellent views of rare Himalayan wildlife. In addition, Kharchula Kharak is also well known for its dense forests and aromatic flowers.
Other scintifc activities centered around the sanctuary have been: the high-altitude botanical field station established at Tungnath (3500 m (11,482.9 ft)) by the Garhwal University; further ecological studies of the ungulates; WWF
on ecology of the Himalayan musk deer and other ungulates near Tungnath, together with surveys of the mammalian fauna and avifauna; and fish fauna studies in the Mandakini River.
Since the sanctuary was established mainly to protect the musk deer, only 746 ha (1,843 acre) of the sanctuary area was permitted for use for commercial exploitation of chir pine. Further management plan was suggested in a core area of 30000 m (98,425.2 ft) by upgrading the sanctuary to the status of a national park.
The nearest airport is at Jolly Grant Airport
at Dehradun
at a distance of 227 km (141.1 mi) from Chopta, the entry point to the sanctuary. Rishikesh is the nearest rail head at a distance of 212 km (131.7 mi) from Chopta. National Highway NH 58 from Delhi
passes through Chamoli via Meerut, Muzaffarnagar
, Roorkee
, Haridwar
, Rishikesh, Devprayag
, Srinagar
, Rudraprayag, Okhimath; and by state highway to Chopta.
Within the sanctuary area, the road distances from Kedarnath are to: Rambara
6 km (3.7 mi), Gaurikund 15 km (9.3 mi), Soneprayag 20 km (12.4 mi), Guptkashi 49 km (30.4 mi), Kund
54 km (33.6 mi), Tilwara 83 km (51.6 mi), Rudraprayag 92 km (57.2 mi), Chopta 89 km (55.3 mi), Mandal
117 km (72.7 mi) and Chamoli 138 km (85.7 mi).
Visitors could stay at the forest hut at Madhyamaheshwar for which prior reservation needs to be done through the DFO, Kedarnath Wildlife Division, Gopeshwar. The Temple Committee maintains Dharamshalas
(rest houses or inns) for use by pilgrims and tourists at Trijuginarayan, Dougalbitta, Mandal
, Gaurikund and Kedarnath. There is also a guest house at Sonprayag.
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, is a national sanctuary established in an area of 975 square kilometre. It was established primarily to protect the endangered Himalayan Musk Deer
Himalayan Musk Deer
The Himalayan Musk Deer is a species of musk deer. It used to be considered a subspecies of the Alpine musk deer.It is found in parts of northern Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, and in northern parts of India such as Kashmir, Kumaon and Sikkim. It inhabits high alpine environments,...
. Hence, it is also called the Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary. It is an IUCN grade IV category (Managed Nature Reserve) sanctuary in the Biogeographical Province 2.38.12 (Himalayan Highlands).
Between 1916 and 1920, it was a notified reserve forest. This notification was subsequently changed to a sanctuary on January 21, 1972, covering an area of 967 ha (2,390 acre) between elevation 1160 m (3,805.8 ft) (near Phata) to the Chaukhamba peak at 7068 m (23,189 ft) within the ambit of 30°26′00"N 78°54′00"E30°26' and 30°45′00"N 79°36′00"E. The area under the park has undergone change from 967–975 ha (2,389.5–2,409.3 acre) as per Kedarnath Forest Division records.
The sanctuary takes its name from the famous Hindu temple
Hindu temple
A Mandir, Devalayam, Devasthanam, or a Hindu temple is a place of worship for followers of Hinduism...
of Kedarnath which is just outside its northern border. There are many other Hindu temples of great religious pilgrimage importance. The entire 14 km (9 mi) route from Ghauri Khund to Kedarnath temple (3584 m (11,759 ft)) passes through the sanctuary. It is also the largest protected area in the western Himalayas. Its international importance is attributed to the diversity of its flora and fauna (particularly of ungulate species).
Geography
Geographically situated in the Chamoli and Rudraprayag districtRudraprayag District
Rudraprayag district, is a district of Uttarakhand state of northern India. The district occupies an area of 2439 km². Rudraprayag town is the administrative headquarters of the district....
s of Uttarakhand, the sanctuary is impressive with spectacular natural assets of snow covered mountain ranges, lakes and glaciers, scenic valleys with remarkable landforms and famous river systems with climatic diversity in "varied several transitional environments". It abounds in religious places (part of the 'Deva Bhumi' – "the land of the gods") of immense significance, with rich biodiversity in floral and faunal varieties.
The sanctuary lies within the larger Western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows
Western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows
The Western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows is an montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion of Nepal, India, and Tibet, which lies between the tree line and snow line in the western portion of the Himalaya Range.-Setting:...
of alpine
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....
ecoregion
Ecoregion
An ecoregion , sometimes called a bioregion, is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than an ecozone and larger than an ecosystem. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural...
of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
and Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
. The western portion of the Himalayan
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
range, is situated between the tree line and the snow line
Snow line
The climatic snow line is the point above which snow and ice cover the ground throughout the year. The actual snow line may seasonally be significantly lower....
. The alpine shrub and meadows lie between approximately 3000–5000 m (9,842.5–16,404.2 ft) elevation. Below 3000 m (9,842.5 ft) lie the Western Himalayan sub-alpine conifer forests. Permanent ice and snow line has been deciphered as 5000 m (16,404.2 ft).
The sanctuary is host to temperate
Temperate
In geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally relatively moderate, rather than extreme hot or cold...
forests in the middle altitudes; higher elevations are dotted by coniferous, sub-alpine and alpine forests, and further up by alpine grasslands and high-altitude Bugyal
Bugyal
A Bugyal is a high altitude alpine grass lands, or meadows, in Uttarakhand, India. They are locally referred to as 'nature’s own gardens'. They can be flat or sloped, and are carpeted with green grass and seasonal flowers. These provide an excellent grazing ground and pastures for tribal herdsmen...
s. The sanctuary is also reputed as one of the world’s richest bio-reserves.
The northern catchment of the Alaknanda River
Alaknanda River
The Alaknanda is a Himalayan river in the state of Uttarakhand, India that is one of the two headstreams of the Ganges, the major river of Northern India and the holy river of Hinduism...
where the sanctuary is located originates 12 km (7.5 mi) beyond Kedarnath temple. The river valleys, generally in a north-south direction, are formed by the Mandakini
Mandakini River
Mandakini is a tributary of the Alaknanda River. Mandakini originates from the Charabari Glacier near Kedarnath in Uttarakhand, India. Mandakini is fed by Vasukiganga River at Sonprayag. Mandakini joins Alaknanda at Rudraprayag...
, Kali, Biera, Balasuti and Menan rivers. It constitutes the Upper Ganges river valley. The geological formation in the catchment is made up of "Central Crystallines" that are metamorpic rocks such as gneisses, granites and schists.
The highest peaks in India are located in the Garhwal
Garhwal Division
Garhwal is the north-western region and administrative division of the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand which is home to the Garhwali people. Lying in the Himalayas, It is bounded on the north by Tibet, on the east by Kumaon region, on the south by Uttar Pradesh state, and on the north-west by...
Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
where the sanctuary is delimited. The much venerated Kedarnath temple
Kedarnath Temple
Kedarnath Mandir is one of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located atop the Garhwal Himalayan range near the Mandakini river in Kedarnath, Uttarakhand in India. Due to extreme weather conditions, the temple is open only between the end of April to Kartik Purnima...
is situated in this forest reserve and is visited by a very large number of pilgrims. The great variety of vegetation types reflects the complex and diverse nature of the climate, geology and topography. IUCN has reported that:
From 44.4% to 48.8% of the sanctuary is forested, 7.7% comprises alpine meadows and scrub, 42.1% is rocky or under permanent snow and 1.5% represents formerly forested areas that have been degraded.
The high altitude areas of the sanctuary are also characterised by glaciers. Glacial action (melting) of the glaciers over the centuries has resulted in formation of the upper tracts of the reserve. The fast current of the flows is attributed as the cause for creation of deep "V" shaped valleys.
Religious and social aspect
The sanctuary has a large number of HinduHindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
temples located within its precincts. Kedarnath temple
Kedarnath Temple
Kedarnath Mandir is one of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located atop the Garhwal Himalayan range near the Mandakini river in Kedarnath, Uttarakhand in India. Due to extreme weather conditions, the temple is open only between the end of April to Kartik Purnima...
is the most historic of these temples, which is dated to the 8th century (credited to the Guru Adi Shankaracharya who built it) but has even more hoary legend linked to the Pandavas of the epic Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
fame. Other temples, though not of matching importance, have strong legends related to the epic Mahabharata days. These are the Mandani
Mandani
Mandani is a town and union councilin Charsadda District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.Mandani is located at 34°20'46N 71°47'10E and has an altitude of 376 metres....
, Madhyamaheshwar, Tungnath
Tungnath
Tungnath is the highest temple in the world and is one of the five and the highest Panch Kedar temples located in the mountain range of Tunganath in the Rudraprayag district of Tehri Garhwal, in Uttarakhand, India. The Tunganath mountains form the Mandakini and Alaknanda river valleys...
, Ansuya Devi and Rudranath. The local Hindu culture is also imbibed by the Bhotiyas (may be with some Tibetan
Tibetan culture
Tibetan culture developed under the influence of a number of factors. Contact with neighboring countries and cultures- including Nepal, India and China - have influenced the development of Tibetan culture, but the Himalayan region's remoteness and inaccessibility have preserved distinctive local...
link) who have pastoral work culture and are an integral part of the valleys.
Climate
A typical temperateTemperate
In geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally relatively moderate, rather than extreme hot or cold...
to sub-arctic climate
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
prevails in the locale of the sanctuary. The South West summer monsoon
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
rains recorded is the mean annual precipitation
Precipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
of 3093 mm (122 in). This high value of precipitation is due to the fact that the hill ranges to the south, of about 3000 m (9,842.5 ft) height, are open without much of rain-shadow effect. On the basis of rainfall of 3050 mm (120.1 in) recorded near Tungnath
Tungnath
Tungnath is the highest temple in the world and is one of the five and the highest Panch Kedar temples located in the mountain range of Tunganath in the Rudraprayag district of Tehri Garhwal, in Uttarakhand, India. The Tunganath mountains form the Mandakini and Alaknanda river valleys...
in 1979-81, the monsoon rain (June to September) was about 81 % while snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
precipitation during December–March was 11%. Summer
Summer
Summer is the warmest of the four temperate seasons, between spring and autumn. At the summer solstice, the days are longest and the nights are shortest, with day-length decreasing as the season progresses after the solstice...
temperature recorded is 25 °C (77 °F), the highest in May or June; a mild and pleasant condition. The lowest winter
Winter
Winter is the coldest season of the year in temperate climates, between autumn and spring. At the winter solstice, the days are shortest and the nights are longest, with days lengthening as the season progresses after the solstice.-Meteorology:...
temperature recorded in the first half of January is -10 C, when heavy snowfall is received in the upper region. This results in severe cold conditions. For about three months, following heavy snowfall in December, the sanctuary is snow covered.
Flora
The diverse climate and topography in the sanctuary area has created dense forests of chir pinePine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
, oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
, birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
, rhododendrons and alpine meadows with incidence of numerous Himalayan flowering plants. However, the sanctuary does not have tropical zone, as this zone is generally reported below 1200 m (3,937 ft). Chir pine Pinus roxburghii is the main subtropical zone's vegetation recorded up to 2000 m (6,561.7 ft). In the dry southern slopes, Euphorbia royleana occur up to 1500 m (4,921.3 ft). In the temperate zone, at different elevations, ban Quercus incana (1500–2100 m (4,921.3–6,889.8 ft)), moru Q. dilatata (2130–2750 m (6,988.2–9,022.3 ft)) and karsu Q. semecarpifolia (2,500-3,300m) oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
forests have been reported. Rhododendron arboreum
Rhododendron arboreum
Rhododendron arboreum is an evergreen shrub or small tree with a showy display of bright red flowers. It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Rhododendron arboreum is also the national flower of Nepal.-Description:Its name means "tending to be woody or growing in a...
is generally seen at the second level. Oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
combined with fir
Fir
Firs are a genus of 48–55 species of evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae. They are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in mountains over most of the range...
Abies pindrow are recorded at higher elevations (2600–3400 m (8,530.2–11,154.9 ft)). The sub alpine zone consists of Betula utilis
Betula utilis
Betula utilis is a Birch tree native to the Himalayas, growing at elevations up to . The specific epithet, utilis, refers to the many uses of the different parts of the tree. The white, paper-like bark of the tree was used in ancient times for writing Sanskrit scriptures and texts...
(Bhojpatra, or Himalayan Birch) (3100–3350 m (10,170.6–10,990.8 ft)) with an "understorey" of Rhododendron
Rhododendron
Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...
campanulata. Rhododendron extends into the alpine zone, from above the forest limit to 3500 m (11,482.9 ft). At Tungnath, the flowering plants consisting of two sedges, Carex
Carex
Carex is a genus of plants in the family Cyperaceae, commonly known as sedges. Other members of the Cyperaceae family are also called sedges, however those of genus Carex may be called "true" sedges, and it is the most species-rich genus in the family. The study of Carex is known as...
lacta and C. munda, have been reported. In the past, these were reported only in the far west region of Nepal. Pasture land and medicinal plants and other plants have been reported between the bush line and permanent snow line. The herb community of the subalpine and alpine meadows are dominated by Danthonia
Danthonia
Danthonia is a genus of grass species. Grasses of this genus are sometimes referred to as oatgrass, but that common name is not restricted to this genus.Species include:*Danthonia alpina Vest*Danthonia cachemyriana Jaub. & Spach...
cumminsii, which forms tussocks
Tussock (grass)
Tussock grasses or bunch grasses are found as native plants in natural ecosystems, as forage in pastures, and as ornamental grasses in gardens....
of grass over extensive areas.
Fauna
Some of the mammalian species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of the carnivore
Carnivore
A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...
s are: jackal
Golden Jackal
The golden jackal , also known as the common jackal, Asiatic jackal, thos or gold-wolf is a Canid of the genus Canis indigenous to north and northeastern Africa, southeastern and central Europe , Asia Minor, the Middle East and southeast Asia...
(Canis aureus), fox
Red Fox
The red fox is the largest of the true foxes, as well as being the most geographically spread member of the Carnivora, being distributed across the entire northern hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and the steppes of Asia...
(Vulpes vulpes), Himalayan black bear (Selenarctos thibetanus) (V), yellow-throated Marten (Martes flavigula), leopard cat
Leopard Cat
The leopard cat is a small wild cat of South and East Asia. Since 2002 it has been listed as Least Concern by IUCN as it is widely distributed but threatened by habitat loss and hunting in parts of its range...
(Felis bengalensis), common leopard
Leopard
The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
(Panthera pardus) (T) and snow leopard
Snow Leopard
The snow leopard is a moderately large cat native to the mountain ranges of South Asia and Central Asia...
(Uncia uncia). Many of them are found above 3000 m (9,842.5 ft) elevation.
Ungulates found are: Wild boar (Sus scrofa), Himalayan musk deer
Himalayan Musk Deer
The Himalayan Musk Deer is a species of musk deer. It used to be considered a subspecies of the Alpine musk deer.It is found in parts of northern Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, and in northern parts of India such as Kashmir, Kumaon and Sikkim. It inhabits high alpine environments,...
(Moschus leucogaster), Indian muntjac
Indian Muntjac
The Common Muntjac , also called the Red Muntjac, Indian Muntjac or Barking deer is the most numerous muntjac deer species. It has soft, short, brownish or greyish hair, sometimes with creamy markings. This species is omnivorous, feeding on fruits, shoots, seeds, birds' eggs as well as small...
(Muntiacus muntjak), sambar (Cervus unicolor), goral (Nemorhaedus goral), serow
Mainland Serow
The Mainland Serow is a species of goat antelope native to China and Southeast Asia. The name "mainland serow" was formerly referring to Capricornis sumatraensis, which used to be the scientific name for all serows in the mainland and Sumatra when they were all considered to be the same species...
(Capricornis sumatraensis), Himalayan Tahr
Himalayan Tahr
The Himalayan Tahr or Common Thar is a large ungulate related to the wild goat.-Habitat:...
(Hemitragus jemlahicus) and bharal
Bharal
The bharal or Himalayan blue sheep or naur, Pseudois nayaur, is a caprid found in the high Himalayas of Nepal, Tibet, China, India, Pakistan, and Bhutan...
(Pseudois nayaur).
The primates recorded are: rhesus macaque
Rhesus Macaque
The Rhesus macaque , also called the Rhesus monkey, is one of the best-known species of Old World monkeys. It is listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and its tolerance of a broad range of habitats...
(Macaca mulatta) and common langur (Presbytis entellus).
Smaller mammals noted are: Hodgsons's Brown-toothed Shrew
Hodgsons's Brown-toothed Shrew
The Hodgsons's Brown-toothed Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in China, India, and Myanmar.-References:* Insectivore Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
(Soriculus sp.), red giant flying squirrel
Red Giant Flying Squirrel
- Distribution :The Red Giant Flying Squirrel is a species of flying squirrel, which ranges from the eastern regions of Afghanistan, into northern India and Pakistan through to Java, and Taiwan, and also Sri Lanka. It can also be found in parts of Borneo. This species was recorded in Peninsular...
(Petaurista petaurista), Royle's Mountain Vole
Royle's Mountain Vole
Royle's Mountain Vole is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.It is found in China and India....
(Alticola roylei), crested porcupine (Hystrix indica) and Royle's Pika
Royle's Pika
The Royle's Pika is a species of mammal in the Ochotonidae family. It is found in China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan....
(Ochotona roylei), snow cock (Tetraogallus himalayensis).
Reptile
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
species recorded are: Himalayan pit viper
Gloydius himalayanus
Gloydius himalayanus is a venomous pitviper species found along the southern slopes of the Himalayas in Pakistan, India and Nepal. No subspecies are currently recognized.-Geographic range:...
(Gloydius himalayanus syn. Ancistrodon himalayanus) (common) and Boulenger's keelback (Amphiesma parallelum
Amphiesma parallelum
The Yunnan keelback is a snake species found in India, primarily in the province of Sikkim, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. It is also found in Myanmar, Vietnam, Yunnan province of southern China, Tibet and Nepal.-Description:...
).
Birds
Important bird species reported are: Little Pied FlycatcherLittle Pied Flycatcher
The Little Pied Flycatcher is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family. It is found in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, ranging across Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.Its natural habitats are...
(Ficedula westermanni), Grey-cheeked Warbler
Grey-cheeked Warbler
The Grey-cheeked Warbler is a species of leaf warbler . It was formerly included in the "Old World warbler" assemblage....
(Seicercus poliogenys) and Nepal Tree-creeper
Rusty-flanked Tree-creeper
The Rusty-flanked Treecreeper or the Nepal Treecreeper is a species of bird in the Certhiidae family.It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal.Its natural habitats are boreal forests and temperate forests....
(Certhia nipalensis), Himalayan Monal
Himalayan Monal
The Himalayan Monal, Lophophorus impejanus also known as the Impeyan Monal or Impeyan Pheasant or Danphe is a bird of genus Lophophorus of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. It is the national bird of Nepal, where it is known as the Danfe, and the state bird of Uttarakhand.Traditionally, the...
(Lophophorus impejanus) (it is the state bird of Uttarakhand, considered as endangered), Kalij Pheasant
Kalij Pheasant
The Kalij Pheasant, Lophura leucomelanos, is a pheasant found in forests and thickets, especially in the Himalayan foothills, from the Northern India to western Thailand. Males are rather variable depending on the subspecies involved, but all have an at least partially glossy bluish-black plumage,...
(Lophura leucomelanos) and Koklass
Koklass
The Koklass Pheasant is a species of the Pheasant family, the Phasianidae, and is the only species in the genus Pucrasia....
Pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha).
Aquatic life
In the Mandakini RiverMandakini River
Mandakini is a tributary of the Alaknanda River. Mandakini originates from the Charabari Glacier near Kedarnath in Uttarakhand, India. Mandakini is fed by Vasukiganga River at Sonprayag. Mandakini joins Alaknanda at Rudraprayag...
, fishes recorded include Schizothorax
Schizothorax
Schizothorax is a genus of cyprinid fish from Central and East Asia. Their scientific name means "cleft-breast", from Ancient Greek schízeïn "to cleave" + thórax "breast-plate"...
sp., mahseer
Mahseer
Mahseer is the common name used for the genera Tor, Neolissochilus, and Naziritor in the family Cyprinidae . The name Mahseer is however more often restricted to members of the genus Tor...
Tor tor, Labeo spp., Gara spp., Barilius spp., Nemacheilus sp. nov.
Nemacheilus sp. nov.
Nemacheilus sp. nov. is a species of ray-finned fish in the Balitoridae family.It is found only in Israel.Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-Source:* Goren, M. 2005. . Downloaded on 19 July 2007....
, Glyptothorax spp. and Balitora brucei.
Himalayan musk deer
The Himalayan Musk DeerHimalayan Musk Deer
The Himalayan Musk Deer is a species of musk deer. It used to be considered a subspecies of the Alpine musk deer.It is found in parts of northern Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, and in northern parts of India such as Kashmir, Kumaon and Sikkim. It inhabits high alpine environments,...
which has the scientific name of Moschus leucogaster with the synonym Moschus chrysogaster is found as an endangered specie in the Kedaranth Musk Deer Sanctuary in the demarcated area between the Mandal-Ukhimath road and the high snow peaks to the north. The taxon
Taxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...
of this specie was deduced by scientists as the Himlayan sub species of Alpine Musk deer
Musk deer
Musk deer are artiodactyls of the genus Moschus, the only genus of family Moschidae. They are more primitive than the cervids, or true deer, in not having antlers or facial glands, in having only a single pair of teats, and in possessing a gall bladder, a caudal gland, a pair of tusk-like teeth...
, on the basis of diverse proportions of the skull. Declining population (over 40% in 21 years) of this specie and large scale poaching for profit, dictated the decision to declare it as an endangered animal (EN) in 1973 (Halloway, 1973) and the specie was listed vulnerable in the red data book of IUCN in 1974. It is found, not only in Uttarakhand in the Himalyan belt up to lowest elevation of 2500 m (8,202.1 ft) (within a restricted zone), but also in some parts of the Himalayan belt starting from Northern India in Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
and Sikkim
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
, and in Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
(southwest Xizang) with small numbers reported in China.
In the terrestrial habitat of barren plateau at high altitudes, the deer's habitat is "in meadows, fell-fields, shrublands or fir forests", roams around generally singly. Grasses, shrubs, leaves, moss, lichens, shoots, and twigs reportedly form its main diet.
The colour of the deer is faintly grayish sandy brown with a body length of 86–100 cm (33.9–39.4 in), shoulder height of 51–53 cm (20.1–20.9 in), tail length of 4–6 cm (1.6–2.4 in) in the weight range of 11–18 kg (24.3–39.7 lb) and do not have antlers. They are most active from morning till evening with frequent breaks for feeding. They breed during December–November. They do not change their defined habitat range even under severe weather conditions and their population density is recorded to be 3-4 animals per square kilometer 1 square kilometre.
The male species of the endangered musk deer in the Kedarnath Wild Life Sancturay carries the much valued pods musk
Musk
Musk is a class of aromatic substances commonly used as base notes in perfumery. They include glandular secretions from animals such as the musk deer, numerous plants emitting similar fragrances, and artificial substances with similar odors. Musk was a name originally given to a substance with a...
pod (glands). They are poached for its pod, which is valued at US$45,000 (Indian Rs 2 million) per 25 kg (55.1 lb) that is used in cosmetics
Cosmetics
Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...
. It has reportedly pharmaceutical properties also. In view of this economic value and consequent great demand it is extensively poach
Poaching
Poaching is the illegal taking of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international conservation and wildlife management laws. Violations of hunting laws and regulations are normally punishable by law and, collectively, such violations are known as poaching.It may be illegal and in...
ed. Its meat is also consumed as a delicacy.
Conservation
The Government of IndiaGovernment of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
and World Wide Fund for Nature
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
have worked together for the conservation of the Himalayan musk deer under the specific programme of the “Threatened Deer Programme” of the IUCN, in Kedarnath Wild Life Sanctuary. Further, in order to propagate the endangered specie of Himalayan musk deer, Forest Department of Uttarakhand Government established a breeding centre at Kharchula Kharak in 1982, about 10 km (6.2 mi), from Chopta, on the outer limits of the sanctuary and 32 km (19.9 mi) from Gopeshwar on the road to Ukhimath. The main objective setforth was to a) carry out an ecological study of the musk deer in order to identify its conservation requirements and b) to breed the musk deer in captivity with the purpose of reintroducing it in different natural habitats. The breeding centre reported success in breeding in captivity, in 1984. Till late 1987, nine musk deers were reared here, out of which only one was outside of captivity. This centre has an area of 5 square kilometre and provides excellent views of rare Himalayan wildlife. In addition, Kharchula Kharak is also well known for its dense forests and aromatic flowers.
Other scintifc activities centered around the sanctuary have been: the high-altitude botanical field station established at Tungnath (3500 m (11,482.9 ft)) by the Garhwal University; further ecological studies of the ungulates; WWF
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
on ecology of the Himalayan musk deer and other ungulates near Tungnath, together with surveys of the mammalian fauna and avifauna; and fish fauna studies in the Mandakini River.
Since the sanctuary was established mainly to protect the musk deer, only 746 ha (1,843 acre) of the sanctuary area was permitted for use for commercial exploitation of chir pine. Further management plan was suggested in a core area of 30000 m (98,425.2 ft) by upgrading the sanctuary to the status of a national park.
Issues
There are several issues concerning the threats posed to the sanctuary, which needs to be addressed. These are:- In spite of declaring the forest area as a sanctuary to protect musk deer, poaching, particularly of musk deer and pheasants, in remote areas has been reported
- Grazing by domestic livestock (goats, sheep and water buffaloWater buffaloThe water buffalo is a domesticated bovid widely kept in Asia, Europe and South America.Water buffalo can also refer to:*Wild water buffalo , the wild ancestor of the domestic water buffalo...
), burning of pastures and collection of forest products and medicinal herbs remain uncontrolled - Tourism, mostly religious, connected with pilgrimage to temples such as Kedarnath in the Mandakini Valley results in substantial extraction of minor forest and scrub, and also results in noise and litter
- Inadequte security to pilgrims and other people, since it was reported that people and livestock were injured/killed by leopard, bear and wild boar.
Visitor information
Visitors are mostly Indian nationals on pilgrimage to various temples, though a few international tourists also visit the area. The approach to Kedarnath Temple is only through the sanctuary. Visiting season is from April to June and again from September to November. The number of visitors to the Kedarnath shrine, who passed through the sanctuary, was 5,57,923 in 2007 as against 87,629 in 1987, a quantum jump in 20 years. The Chameli-Ukhimath road skirts this sanctuary from the south and serves as an excellent approach.The nearest airport is at Jolly Grant Airport
Jolly Grant Airport
Jolly Grant Airport , also known as Dehradun Airport, is an airport serving Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.-Overview:The airport is located about southeast of the city of Dehradun. Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, the airport, after a runway extension to accommodate larger aircraft,...
at Dehradun
Dehradun
- Geography :The Dehradun district has various types of physical geography from Himalayan mountains to Plains. Raiwala is the lowest point at 315 meters above sea level, and the highest points are within the Tiuni hills, rising to 3700 m above sea level...
at a distance of 227 km (141.1 mi) from Chopta, the entry point to the sanctuary. Rishikesh is the nearest rail head at a distance of 212 km (131.7 mi) from Chopta. National Highway NH 58 from Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
passes through Chamoli via Meerut, Muzaffarnagar
Muzaffarnagar
Muzaffarnagar is a major city and a municipal board in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city was established in Mughal period by a Sayyid Jagirdar, Munawar Lashkar Ali, and so named in honour of his father, Muzaffar Ali Khan. It is the headquarters of the Muzaffarnagar district. It is a...
, Roorkee
Roorkee
Roorkee is a city and seat of a municipal council in Uttarakhand, in far northern India. It is located on the banks of the Ganges canal on the national highway between Delhi and Dehradun. Roorkee is known for Roorkee Cantonment, one of the country's oldest cantonments, and the headquarters of...
, Haridwar
Haridwar
Haridwar is an important pilgrimage city and municipality in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India...
, Rishikesh, Devprayag
Devprayag
Devprayag is a town and a nagar panchayat in Tehri Garhwal district in the state of Uttarakhand, India, and is one of the Panch Prayag of Alaknanda River and where the Ganges River is formed.-Overview:Traditionally, it is considered to be the place where sage Devasharma led his ascetic life,...
, Srinagar
Srinagar
Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...
, Rudraprayag, Okhimath; and by state highway to Chopta.
Within the sanctuary area, the road distances from Kedarnath are to: Rambara
Rambara
Rambara is a genus of moth in the family Geometridae. It is considered a synonym of Derambila.-References:*...
6 km (3.7 mi), Gaurikund 15 km (9.3 mi), Soneprayag 20 km (12.4 mi), Guptkashi 49 km (30.4 mi), Kund
Kund
Kund is a village and one of the 51 Union Councils of Khushab District in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. It is located at 32°24'40N 72°12'17E.-Location:...
54 km (33.6 mi), Tilwara 83 km (51.6 mi), Rudraprayag 92 km (57.2 mi), Chopta 89 km (55.3 mi), Mandal
Mandal
is a town and municipality in Vest-Agder county, Norway. The administrative center of the municipality is the town of Mandal.The town of Mandal was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
117 km (72.7 mi) and Chamoli 138 km (85.7 mi).
Visitors could stay at the forest hut at Madhyamaheshwar for which prior reservation needs to be done through the DFO, Kedarnath Wildlife Division, Gopeshwar. The Temple Committee maintains Dharamshalas
Dharamshalas
Dharamshalas is the term for a religious resthouse. In Hindi, Dharma means religion, and shala means "sanctuary" hence dharamshala is a 'religious sanctuary' or rest-house for pilgrims, that are primarily created for a religious purpose for pilgrims, or as a religious endowment.Sometimes they are...
(rest houses or inns) for use by pilgrims and tourists at Trijuginarayan, Dougalbitta, Mandal
Mandal
is a town and municipality in Vest-Agder county, Norway. The administrative center of the municipality is the town of Mandal.The town of Mandal was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
, Gaurikund and Kedarnath. There is also a guest house at Sonprayag.