Tundah Sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh

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Himachal Pradesh Tundah Sanctuary

Tundah Sanctuary Features

A high altitude sanctuary with good, though disturbed, habitat for Himalayan tahr, Ibex and pheasants. The area also supports a small population of Musk deer. It is connected to Kugti Sanctuary by a forest corridor to the east.

Area and Zoning of Tundah Sanctuary :

6422.08 ha. ( 64.22 sq. km ). There is a proposal to combine Tundah Sanctuary with Kugti Sanctuary, by adding some area. No zoning.

Tundah Location :

District Chamba; Latitudinal range 32°27´ to 32°40´ N; Longitudinal range 76°27´ to 76°37´E; Nearest Town Chamba ( 59 km ); Nearest railhead Pathankot ( 184 km ).

Tundah Approaches :

From Delhi to Pathankot ( Train / Road 485 km ), on to Chamba ( 80 km ), and from Chamba to Durgathi ( 44 km ), then on foot ( 15 km ). Alternately from Shimla to Chamba ( 370 km ), and on by same route as above.

Topography And Climate of Tundah :

Altitude 2074 to 5532 m; Temperature –10°C to 30°C; Mean annual rainfall 800 mm.

Flora in Tundah :
Forest type include Moist Deodar Forest 12/C1 ( c ), Western Mixed Coniferous Forest 12/C1( d ), Moist Temperate Deciduous Forest 12/C1 ( e ), and Alpine Pastures 15/C3.ala ( 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 Popular, Robinia, Walnut, Fir, and Spruce. Of these, Poplar and Robinia are introduced. There is a forest department nursery at Kugti.

Fauna in Tundah :

Mammals Bear, Himalayan Black Ibex Bear, Brown Langur, Common Cat, Leopard Deer, Musk Weasel, Himalayan Fox, Indian / Red Serow Goral Tahr, Himalayan Macaque, Rhesus Marmot, Longtailed Cat, Jungle,Marten Mouse-hare, Himalayan Shrew, Grey Deer, Barking Vole, Royle’s Weasel, Himalayan Wolf Rat, Indian Bush Langur, Common Vole, Royle’s Squirrel, Common Giant Flying Jackal.

Birds in Tundah 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

Information for Tundah Sanctuary 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.

Contact Address :

DFO ( WL ) Chamba Division, Chamba – 176 310 Himachal Pradesh Deputy Range Officer ( WL ), Tundah Village, Tehsil Brahmaur, District Chamba Himachal Pradesh.