Pin Valley National Park

Established at the backdrop of semi-frozen rivers in the Pin Valley, the Pin Valley National Park is positioned in the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve that can be found in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul and Spiti district. As far as the elevation of the park is talked about, it varies from over 3,500 metres near Ka Dogri to more than 6,000 metres at the zenith of the park. Do you know what’s the most special thing about Pin Valley National Park, Lahaul & Spiti Valley? Well, it is the fact that the national park is a home to rare species such as leopards and their prey species named, Ibex that are to be found in Himalayan snow only. There is no denying the fact that Pin Valley National Park is going to be one of the best experiences and treat for all the travel-lovers. Due to the fact that Pin Valley National Park experiences snow for most the months during the year, the trekking here is one of the most thrilling and adventurous ones.

Best Time to Visit:

The best time to visit Pin Valley National Park is between the months of mid of the May to September. The reason behind this is the fact that during the months of winters, the Pin Valley National Park, Lahaul & Spiti Valley witness heavy snowfall.

How to Reach:

To reach Pin Valley National Park, Lahaul & Spiti Valley, the tourists have to reach Kaza first that is situated in Spiti and from there one can take a taxi, car or a public bus to reach Dhankar, which will lead them to Pin Valley National Park through the bifurcation at the Attargo Bridge all throughout the way. The route from the bridge is known as the Gulling-Kungri-Mikkim-Mud. This drive is for around 27 kms away and would take you for over two hours. If this route doesn’t suit you then you can go and opt for another route from Shimla, Tapri and Kaza, from where you can hire a cab or taxi.

Interesting Facts:

Pin Valley National Park, Lahaul & Spiti Valley is located in the cold desert arena of the region. As a section of Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area, the Pin Valley National Park was recognised long back in the year 1987. The core zone of the park is sprawling for over 675 square km and the overall area of the park is for over 1150 sq km. The altitude of Pin Valley National Park, Lahaul & Spiti Valley ranges in between 3300 and 6632 m above sea level. It is also to be noted here that the foreign nationals are not allowed to enter the park, on the other hand, Indians have to take prior permission to enter the area.

Travelling Tips:

First and the foremost thing to keep in mind is to carry along warm clothes with you even if you are travelling in summer months. Secondly, all the medical aid kit, regular medicines (if any), trekking shoes, rain gear (whether you are travelling in monsoon or not), trekking gear and equipment must be with you while you plan to come down to Pin Valley National Park. Thirdly, you must also ensure that you have got all the necessary permits well in advance. In case you are carrying your camera along with you, make sure to carry extra batteries with you as there is no electricity where you can charge it. Get a well-informed and trained guide along with you in order to avoid any sorts of misunderstanding. Moreover, it is always the best idea to carry your eatables with you as there is no eatery joint. Pin Valley National Park doesn’t offer any proper accommodation for the trekkers, so you have to carry your own sleeping bags as well as tents, which you can camp at Mud Farka. Last but not the least and in fact, very important is to carry your own water though you can refill your water from the rivers flowing during the trek.

Traveller Information:

• Trekking distance (both sides): 20 kms (Approx.)

• Region: Spiti Valey

• Starting point of trek: Manali

• Base Camp: Mikkim

• Highest point of trek: 4,551 m

• Nearest Airport: Bhuntar, Kullu

• Nearest Railhead: 443 km

• Time Required: 5-6 hours

• Entry Fee: No

• Weather: -12 Degree Celsius

Nearby Attractions:

People travelling to Pin Valley National Park can also explore the nearby places such as Chandratal Lake, Key Monastery, Kunzum Pass, Suraj Tal, Dhankar Monastery, Tabo Monastery, Dhankar Lake, Kibber, Baralacha La, Trilokinath Temple, Spiti Valley Bike Trip, Shashur Monastery, Gandhola Monastery, Keylong Market, Tayul Monastery, Tangyud Monastery, Kardang Monastery, Kungri Monastery, Gue, Fossil Hunting, Yak Safaris, Sarchu, Tashigang and many others.