Simbalbara Wildlife Sanctuary, Sirmour

Major Attractions: Cheetal, Goral, Sambhar, barking deer, leopard, wild boar, Partridges, red jungle fowl

Area: Dhaula Kuan, Sirmour district, 100 km from Nahan, Himachal Pradesh

Best Time to Visit: April to November

Coverage Area: 27.88 sq km

Simbalbara Wildlife Sanctuary is the right place to see the captivating wild world. The sanctuary is situated in the middle of thick Sal forest in the Paonta Valley, quite close to the Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary. It is a peaceful, isolated wildlife holiday perched in the lower reaches of the Shivalik hill ranges. The sanctuary falls under the regulation of Department of Forests, Himachal Pradesh government.

Simbalbara is an amazing place to have fun as it is set against the backdrop of a river, dense forest and deep green valleys. From the periphery of the forest, tourists can catch the glimpses of the picturesque Puruwal valley. Rhesus Macaque, Leopard, Indian Muntjac, Goral and Crested Porcupine, Himalayan Black Bear, Wild Boar and common Langur are some of the animals which people can easily sight on a short tour to Simbalbara Wildlife Sanctuary.

Simbalbara Wildlife Sanctuary was established as a wildlife reserve in 1958 and later was re-established as a sanctuary in 1974. Once upon a time, the sanctuary was the hunting retreat of later Maharaja's of Sirmour. The streams criss-crossing the green Grassy pastures give the sanctuary a picturesque look.

For avid bird lovers, the sanctuary is worth a visit as they can discover and spot some of the rare and migratory birds. The sanctuary is home to a colourful variety of birds, all thanks to its geographic features.

Other places to see nearby the Simbalbara Wildlife Sanctuary are Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary and Gurudwara Paonta Sahib. Here, tourists can enjoy many adventure sports. Trekking is a prominent activity which tourists can enjoy here. Trekking is probably the best way to explore the ins and outs of the sanctuary as it offers scenic landscapes and views.

Ambling through the verdant sanctuary area, one can spot some wild animals roaming freely in their natural habitat. With the variety of flora and fauna that Simbalbara Wildlife Sanctuary incorporates, it is probably holds a place of pride among the wildlife sanctuaries in India.