| Kishtwar National Park | |
|---|---|
   | |
 Interactive map of Kishtwar National Park | |
| Location | Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| Coordinates | 33°37′N75°59′E / 33.61°N 75.99°E /33.61; 75.99 |
| Area | 2,190.5 km2 (845.8 sq mi) |
| Established | 1981 |
Kishtwar National Park is anational park located 40 km fromKishtwar town in theKishtwar district ofJammu and Kashmir,India. It is bounded to the north by Rinnay river, to the south by Kibar Nala catchment, to the east by the main divide ofGreat Himalaya, and to the west by Marwah river.[1]
It was declared a National Park on 4 February 1981 (Notification no. 21/FST of 1980-1981).
The National Park encompasses the catchments of Kiar, Nath and Kibar Nalas, all of which drain south-west into Marwah River (also known asMarusudar River) which joins the Chenab River just below the Kishtwar Town atBhandarkoot village. The terrain is generally rugged and steep, with narrow valleys bounded by high ridges opening in their upper glacial parts. The area lies in the Central Crystalline belt of the Great Himalayas. Rocks are strongly folded in places and composed mainly of granite, gneiss and schist, with the occasional bed of marble. The shallow, slightly alkaline soils are mostly alluvial with gravel deposits.[2][3]
The influence of the monsoon is weak. Mean annual rainfall at palmar and Sirshi (1,761 m), located near the periphery of the national park, is 827 mm and 741 mm, respectively, precipitation is maximal and in excess of 100 mm per month in March and April, and again in July and August. Most snow fall in December and January when the whole area becomes snowbound. Mean maximum and minimum temperatures recorded at Sirshi are 130 and -70 in January and 350c and 110c in July respectively.[2][3]
Based on revised classification of Champion and Seth (1968), some 13 vegetation types are represented.[3] In general, silver fir 'Abies pindrow' and spruce 'Picea wallichian', mixed with cedarCedrus deodar and blue pinePinus griffithii are predominant from 2,400m to 3,000m. Notable is the small expanse of chilgoza pinePinus geradiana in the Dachan Range. At lower altitudes (1,700-2,400m) occur nearly pure stands of cedar and blue pine, and moist temperate deciduous forest, represented by horsechestnut,Aesculus indica, walnutJuglans regia, maple,Acer spp. poplar,Populus ciliata, hazelCorylus cornutam bird cherryPasus corfnuta, ashFraxinus cornuta and yewTaxus wallichiana. The sub-alpine zone, from 3,000m to the tree line at 3,700m, supports mostly silver fir and birchBetula utilis forest and this merges with birch -rhododendronRhododendron campanulatum scrub, above which is alpine pasture.
Among the animals that make their home here include theHimalayan snowcock and thebrown bear.
Racial groups includeKashmiris,Thakurs,Gujars,Rajputs andBrahmans,Bhagats.[3]
There are permanent settlements but some 1,115 families of nomadic graziers, with 25,000 head of livestock, and an unspecified number of families from nearby villages, with 10,000 head, have grazing rights in the national park. Some agriculture is practised in peripheral areas.[3]
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