Nanda Devi National Park

Nanda Devi rises to 7,816 metres, the highest mountain entirely within India, and it stands inside a natural amphitheatre closed by a ring of peaks over six thousand metres broken only by the Rishi Ganga gorge, which kept the sanctuary unentered until 1934. Heavy trekking damage led to closure of the core zone in 1982, and it has stayed closed, which has allowed the inner sanctuary to recover. The UNESCO listing pairs it with the Valley of Flowers. Buffer areas around Lata and Tolma villages are open with permits and community guides, offering high meadows, forest and views of the peak.

What you actually see

• Nanda Devi - the 7,816-metre peak seen from buffer-zone viewpoints.
• The ring of peaks - the wall of six-thousanders enclosing the sanctuary.
• The buffer treks - routes above Lata and Tolma with community guides.
• The high meadows - bugyal grassland and forest in the open areas.

When to go

June to September for the open trekking season; the monsoon brings rain but also the flowering meadows. Winter closes the high routes entirely. Permits must be arranged in advance.

Honest expectations

The inner sanctuary is closed and cannot be visited at all; only buffer areas are open. Permits and local guides are required. Trails are steep and remote with basic village homestays.

Nearby

The Valley of Flowers lies northwest; Joshimath is west.