It was 1988 when Binsar Wild Life Sanctuary came into official existence. Located close to Almora, this is one of the most magnetic sanctuaries situated in India. This reserve forest is located at the height of 2270 meters. The peak point of Binsar is Zhandi Dhar which is at 2412 meters. During British time, it was considered as summer capital of India. In present times, there are 5 villages inside the sanctuary. Villagers are pure hearted people who are always ready to help you but it is highly recommended to not to use them for illegal or most importantly immoral purposes.
Entering to Binsar
It is 33 Kms north from Almora, Uttarakhand. There is a big board displaying the Dos and Don’ts inside the sanctuary, follow it as the cops are watching you. Following is the break-up of entry fee for different classes of visitors:
Per Head: INR 150 per day per person
Student: INR 75 per day
Foreign Nationals: INR 600 per day
Vehicle Entry: INR 250
Medium Vehicle: INR 500
Heavy Vehicle: INR 800
Inside Binsar
Just after entering, after a 6KM long travel you’ll find a 17th Sanctuary Binsar Mahadev Temple. It was built by Kalyan Chand. Sunset view point is one of the most picturesque things here. How beautiful and relaxing it could be watching the hills swallowing sun.
Now comes the adventure, the trekking part. Usually, tourists do a 1.8 Km track which is available since early morning. There is not much climbing involved so it is easy for those who can walk for 2 Kms. But this 1.8 Km way is unbelievably mesmerizing. This journey shall blow your senses for sure. Don’t forget to take water bottle and light food with you.
Also, you can have a good view of Himalayan peaks in a clear weather.
Accommodation
Accommodation is not a problem as there are many resorts and hotels located near Binsar. But, I suggest staying with villagers should be preferred as you may discover something new from their culture. Exchanging cultures will benefit you and money will benefit them.
*Image Source: Images are taken from popular websites.
