Askot Wildlife Sanctuary, situated in Uttarakhand, is a majestic destination for the nature enthusiast. The term "Askot" is derived from `Assi Kot` or Eighty Forts, many of which are located in Nepal. Askot Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the India"s most famous wildlife sanctuaries and is rightly known as the "green paradise of India". The sanctuary is blessed with the richest collections of flora and fauna. The sanctuary was established in 1986 with the aim of conserving the musk deer and its habitat. Though the musk deer are present in significant numbers in the sanctuary, they require further protection as they are an endangered species.
Location of Askot Wildlife Sanctuary
Also known as the Ascot Muscat Sanctuary, Askot Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the middle of a snow covered peak in the Kumaon Himalayan at an elevation of 5412 feet in the Uttarakhand state of India. The wildlife sanctuary is positioned 54 km from Pithoragarh near Ascot in Uttarakhand. The sanctuary covers an area of 284 square kilometres.
Flora and Fauna of Askot Wildlife Sanctuary
The Askot wildlife sanctuary has a great variety of flora and fauna. It comprises of a large collection of herbs, shrubs, trees and climbers. The rich vegetation in this locality such as Teak, Grevelia, and Eucalyptus makes it one of the most prolific places to visit.
There are also many birds, reptiles and many other kinds of animals that make the Askot Wildlife Sanctuary a must visit place for all nature lovers. The major species include turtles, spectacled cobras, deer, gaur, horns, antlers, monkeys and lemurs. The Askot Wildlife Sanctuary also houses bonnet macaques, kraits, darters, vipers, bison, little cormorants, and black eagles. In addition to these, there are many other animals like Himalayan leopard, black beer, spotted deer, snow cock, kakar, tahr, musk spotted deer, chukoras, pheasant, serow and a number of species of birds and many more. The Askot Wildlife Sanctuary is also famous for its tiger reserve.
Connectivity of Askot Wildlife Sanctuary
The best time to visit the sanctuary is from mid of November to the mid of June. The weather during this time is very pleasant and charming. The nearest airport is Naina Sani (less than 60 kms) in Pithoragrah. The closest railway station is Tanakpur (204 kms).
