Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary

About Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary

Location

• Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Central Himalayan region in the Almora district of the Kumaon region in Uttarakhand.

Specifications

• Area: The sanctuary spreads across about 47.59 sq km in the Kumaon region.
• Topography: The sanctuary has rugged ridges and deep gorges, while the altitude ranges from 900 metres to 2,500 metres.
• Zero Point: Zero Point or Jhandi Dhaar is the highest point of the sanctuary and offers panoramic views of Nanda Devi, Kedarnath, Trisul, Panchachuli and Shivling peaks.
• Vegetation: The sanctuary is dominated by dense oak and deodar forests along with rhododendrons that bloom ruby-red during spring.
• Flora: The sanctuary contains about 25 tree species and 24 bush species, which support rich Himalayan biodiversity.
• Fauna: The sanctuary is home to leopards, Himalayan gorals, musk deer, Sumatran serow, red foxes and wild boars.
• Bird Diversity: The sanctuary is an Important Bird Area with more than 200 bird species, including Himalayan Monal, Kalij pheasant, Koklass pheasant and Eurasian jay.

Significance

• Historical Significance:
  • Binsar served as the summer capital of the Chand rulers of Kumaon between the 11th and 18th centuries.
  • During the British period, Sir Henry Ramsay established administrative centres in the region.
• Religious Significance: Locals believe that Binsar was named after the Bineshwar Mahadev Temple, a 16th century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• Ecological Significance: The sanctuary protects the fragile Himalayan ecosystem and provides habitat to several rare and threatened species.