The Govind Wildlife Sanctuary is located between 35*55 and 31*17 30 latitude and 77*47 30 and 78*37 30 longitudes at Purola tehsil, Uttarkashi district of Garhwal in the state of Uttarakhand. It was established on 1st of March 1955. It is spreads over an area of 953 sq km. The sanctuary forms the upper catchments of the Tons River in the upper reaches of its area. Thus the area has a significant value as a major watershed for river Yamuna.
The sanctuary has a rich forest cover and the neighboring forest divisions help in maintaining genetic diversity in the forest. The area is very rich source of some of the medicinal plants, many of which are the important life saving drugs. The area provides a natural habitat to a lot of endangered animals.
The Snow Leopard inhabits the inner Himalayas above the altitude of 3500 m. The Government of India launched the Snow Leopard Project in its Eighth Plan. The Govind Wildlife Sanctuary was identified as one of sites of the Snow Leopard in the Himalayas. The upper reaches of the sanctuary are the natural habitat of the Snow Leopard and were intentionally notified as a National Park.
The park is home to more than 15 species of mammals and 150 species of birds. The important mammals are Bharal, Black Bear, Brown Bear, Common Leopard, Himalayan Thar, Musk Deer, Serow and Snow Leopard. The endangered birds found in the area are Bearded Vulture, Black Eagle, Himalayan Snow Cock, Golden Eagle, Monal Pheasant, Koklas Pheasant, Steppe Eagle and Western Tragopan. Other important bird found here are Buntings, Bulbuls, Cuckoos, Finches, Minivets, Owls, Pigeons, Parakeets, Thrushes, Tits and Warblers.
How to Get there:
Air : The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 231kms.
Rail :The nearest railhead is Dehradun, 207 kms.
Road : Accessible by road via Rishikesh-Uttarkashi or via Mussoorie - Purola - Saur. Bus services aire available from Uttarkashi, Barkot, Dehradun, Naitwar to Saur-Sankri.