The Nanda Devi National Park is one of the most spectacular wilderness areas in the Himalayas. It is dominated by the peak of Nanda Devi, which rises to over 7,800 mts. Established in 1980, it is the habitat of several endangered mammals, especially the snow leopard, Himalayan musk deer and bharal. It was declared a National Park in 1982 to save it from excessive human interference, and recently, it was also proclaimed a World Heritage Site.

FThe first men on record to have reached this Sanctuary, while yet in its pristine form, were the British Mountaineers Eric Shipton and Bill Tilman. Though in 1883 it had been explored by W W Garden, subsequently followed by several other trekkers indulging in climbing expeditions.

A unique mix of flora and fauna is characteristic of this park. The fauna includes the brown and Himalayan black bears, Himalayan Tahr, snow leopards and chir pheasants. The Nanda Devi Sanctuary although open to the public, entertains very few visitors who need a special permit to enter, in a conscious attempt by officials to preserve the region. In keeping with this lack of outside influence, the villagers in the area have retained their traditional habits, considering the landscape and nature that surround them as sacred.