The first biodiversity park of the Himachal to conserve threatened herbs as part of the National Mission of Himalayan Studies (NMHS) project of the HP Forest Department.

Key Points:

• The state’s first biodiversity park, established at a cost of Rs 1 crore at Bhulah in the Janjehli valley of Mandi district, will prove to be a boon for research as well as for the conservation of endangered Himalayan herbs.

• This is the first national park to focus on the conservation of endangered herbs.It has been designed to link tourism activities and provide new opportunities to researchers to study various medicinal herbs found in the Himalayas that are on the verge of extinction, a spokesperson for the state government.

• Besides, a fenced park has been built on five hectares and has several basic amenities. Amphitheaters have also been built for the convenience of researchers and tourists visiting the nursery. Apart from this, two log huts, water harvesting structure, internal tank, 5 KW power generation project, bird nest, foot-bridge and sales centre have been set up.
• Two tree-huts have also been prepared in the park for tourists, from where they can enjoy a picturesque view of the park. Nature trails of about two km, 25-feet-high and 160-meter-long tree-walk and seven foot bridges are the other attractions.

By: Atul Dhimann