Kugti Sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh

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Himachal Pradesh Kugti Sanctuary :

The Kugti sanctuary is rich in high-altitude Himalayan wildlife, and is one of the last homes of Himalayan tahr in Himachal Pradesh. It is also well-known as a source of many medicinal plants. Abundant water resources, many originating from glaciers, and a diverse topography add to the attraction of the area. To the west it is connected with Tundah Sanctuary by a forest corridor. There is an annual pilgrimage by thousands of people to the Mani Mahesh Temple inside the sanctuary.

Kugti Himachal Pradesh Area and Zoning :

237,886.68 ha. ( 378.87 sq. km ). No zoning.

Kugti Sanctuary Location :

District Chamba; Latitudinal range 32°25´ to 32°35´ N; Longitudinal range 76°44´ to 76°53´E; Nearest Town Chamba ( 87 km ); Nearest railhead Pathankot ( 209 km ).

Approaches :

From Pathankot to Chamba (122 km), Chamba to Brahmaur (61 km), then to Harser (13 km), then on by foot to kugti village inside the sanctuary (14 km).

Kugti Topography And Climate :

Altitude 2250 to 6044 m; Temperature –10°C to 25°C; Mean annual rainfall 445 mm.

Flora in Himachal Pradesh :

Forest types include Moist Deodar Forest 12/C1 ( c ) spread over 5,800 ha., Western Mixed Coniferous Forest 12/C1( d ) over 6,028 ha., and Alpine Pastures 15/C3. The herbs Gentiana kuroo ( Karu ) and Jurinea macrocephala ( Dhup ) are believed to be locally threatened due to over-extraction. Plantation work over 133 hectares has been carried out from 1979 to 1984. Kail and Deodar were planted for commercial timber; other species planted are Poplar, Robinia, Walnut, Fir, and Spruce. Of these, Popular and Robinia are introduced. There is a forest department nursery at Kugti.

Himachal Pradesh Fauna :

Mammals Bear, Himalayan Black Ibex Bear, Brown Langur, Common Cat, Leopard Deer, Musk Marten, Himalayan Yellow throated Fox, Indian / Red Serow Goral Tahr, Himalayan.

Birds in Himachal Pradesh :

Common Name	Scientific Name
Babbler	Jungle Turdoides striatus
Babbler	Redbilled Stachyris pyrrhops
Barbet	Crimsonthroated Megalaima rubricapilla
Barbet	Great Hill Megalaima virens
Bea-eater	Green Merops orientalis
Bul-Bul	Black Hypsipetes madagascariensis
Bul-Bul	Redvented Pycnonotus cafer
Bul-Bul	White cheeked Pycnonotus leucogenys
Bunting	Crested Melophus lathami
Bunting	Greyheaded Emberiza fucata
Buzzard	Honey Pernis ptilorhyncus
Buzzard-eagle	White-eyed Butastur teesa
Chat	Blue Erithacus brunneus

Kugti Sanctuary Information for Visitors :

The best periods for visiting the sanctuary are May-June and September-October, when the weather is good. There is no regulation on entry to the sanctuary. There is one rest house inside with 2 beds and one on the outskirts with 4 beds.