Wildlife Sanctuary
Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district that’s home to many rare and medicinal plants, as well as endangered Himalayan fauna. Its situated at an altitude ranging from 2,195 m to 5,040 m. On the west side, Tundah Sanctuary surrounds this sanctuary by a forest corridor. The landscape of the sanctuary varies, and it is blessed with an abundance of flora and fauna.
he area houses a number of medicinal plants along with some of the rare floral species.
High altitude Himalayan fauna species have made this sanctuary their home, including the endangered Himalayan tahr.
There are plenty of water resources here and many of them originate from the glaciers. Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary also houses the famous Manimahesh Temple that is annually visited by thousands of pilgrims.
Area
[edit]
Its area is 378 km2[4]
Route
[edit]
The Kugti sanctuary is accessible via Pathankot, Chamba, Bharmour, and Hadsar. From Pathankot to Chamba (122 km), Chamba to Bharmour (65 km), then to Hadsar (13 km). A 13 km trek leads you to Kugti village in the sanctuary.
By Rail: The nearest railhead is Pathankot which is connected to all of the major cities in India. There are buses and taxis available from Chamba and Bharmour until Hadsar.
Now Kugti is reachable by Bus until the Kugti Village and planned to connect the road to Kartik Swami temple.
Best time to visit
[edit]
April–June and October–November
Other information
[edit]
Tundah Wild Life Sanctuary: Tundah Sanctuary is located around 59 km from Chamba, and is connected with Kugti Sanctuary in the east.
It plays host to a number of rare and endangered species of Indian wildlife, including Himalayan tahr, ibex, and pheasants. Also, it is home to musk deer.
Bharmaur: This picturesque small town is bounded by high mountain ranges, and is known for its ancient temples and monuments.
Bharmaur is the base for the Manimahesh Yatra, and there are a number of trekking trails that start from here. Apples grow here in plenty.