Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary

Mandi is a small district in the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh in India. There are a number of tourist attractions in the district and Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary, Mandi is one of these. The wildlife sanctuary is located near the Shikari Devi Temple in Mandi which is dedicated to the Goddess that blesses the hunters. The Shikari Devi Temple is located within the wildlife sanctuary and houses some exotic flora and fauna. There are thick coniferous forest and oak trees all around the temple which makes up for the sanctuary. It is located on top of the hill and is not just a site to explore wildlife but also a place to view the picturesque beauty of nature. Perched at a height of 3,200 meters, the Shikari wildlife sanctuary is a place for all nature enthusiasts. You can spot many animals like the snow leopard, barking deer, squirrels, cat leopard, black deer, etc., hiding in the dense coniferous forest and subalpine pastures.

Traveler Tips

Make sure to wear comfortable clothes so that you can walk around the wildlife sanctuary or trek through the hills. Apart from that, also make sure to wear comfortable and relaxing shoes to trek the hills easily.

Things to Do

In order to reach the wildlife sanctuary, you need to go for a trek. Trekking is an activity that you can indulge in when you are going to the Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary. You can witness a number of animals inside the wildlife sanctuary that include but are not limited to animals like the snow leopard, barking deer, musk deer, leopard, black bear, black deer, goral, cat leopard, monal, Himalayan black bear. Apart from that, you can also explore some other animals like the Kashmiri flying squirrel, common squirrel, Himalayan palm civet, Indian porcupine, common langur, and many more. Apart from that, you can also view the mesmerizing sunrise and sunset from the wildlife sanctuary. Once you have reached the top of the wildlife sanctuary, you will definitely feel like being on top of the world.

History

The legends surrounding the Shikari Devi Temple in the Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary date back to the mythological times of the Pandavas. It is believed that the Pandavas were chasing a deer when they landed on the Shikari Devi Temple. In 1962, this complex was transformed into a wildlife sanctuary.

Best Time to Visit

Located in the mountainous region of Mandi District in Himachal Pradesh, the best time to visit Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary depends largely on what you desire. If you desire to experience chills of the winter, you can visit here during winter. However, avoid the months of December and January as they are pretty cold. If you want to experience the pleasant weather and cold of the mountains and hills or beat the summer heat, no place could be better than Mandi.

How to Reach

In order to reach Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandi, you need to reach from Karsog via Chindi. You can get down at Bhuntar to reach Karsog which is at a distance of 62 kilometers from the area. If you are visiting via road, you can reach the Karsog bus stop by taking any local bus from Mandi. You can also reach here via Barkot or Gohar to reach the Karsog region.
In order to reach the Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary, Mandi, you need to travel through the steep and dense Kamru Nag / Shikari Devi ranges in Central Himalayas. Once you have reached here, the view of the Simla Hills and the entire Dhauladhar ranges is worth all the effort put into reaching there.