Rakchham-Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary

News: An international bird-watching programme was organised at Rakchham in the Rakchham-Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary by local administration and partners, with delegates from 15 countries.

About Rakchham-Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: It is in Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh , situated between Sangla Valley and Chhitkul.
  • It is a part of western Himalaya range.
  • It lies in a dry zone and does not experience the monsoon much, allowing year-round exploration.
• Other name: It is also known as Sangla Valley (Rakcham Chitkul) Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Area: The reserve forest spreads over an area of about 304 square kilometres.
• Altitude: It is located around 5,500 m in elevation.
• River: The Baspa River flows through the Baspa (Sangla) Valley, the corridor where Rakchham and Chitkul are situated.
• Key Pass: The Lamkhanga Pass route passes through the sanctuary and connects Kinnaur with the Gangotri Glacier of Himachal Pradesh..
• Fauna: It is habitat of black beer, brown beer, musk deer, leopard, snow leopard, monal, chakor.
• Flora: Vegetation features rhododendron thickets, oak–pine woodlands, patches of juniper, and diverse alpine herbs valued for medicine.